02/23/1993

Three New Members Installed in AU Agriculture Hall of Honor

AUBURN, Ala. - Martin Moates, a farmer from Coffee County; Ben Hagler, former Extension leader and horticulturist from Auburn; and Ham Wilson, longtime director of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association from Montgomery, were enshrined into the Auburn University Agricultural Hall of Honor in ceremonies held February 24 in Auburn.

Since its inception in 1985, the Hall of Honor has added three leaders of Alabama's Agriculture industry to membership each year. Hall of Honor inductees are nominated by members of the Auburn University Ag Alumni Association and voted on by the group's board of directors. Those elected are honored each year at the Association's annual meeting in February and a plaque is hung in their honor in Comer Hall, headquarters for the AU College of Agriculture.

This year's inductees represent diverse interests in agriculture. However, each personifies the commitment to agriculture and service to the industry that is shared by the previous 24 inductees into the Hall of Honor.

Martin Moates, who operates a dairy, raises cattle, and grows peanuts in Coffee County near Enterprise, is the consummate farmer. In addition to his successful farming operation, Moates is well known for his work with conservation. He has worked with the Soil Conservation Service on soil erosion projects since 1947, and has been instrumental in the development of conservation practices that are in harmony with farming in the Wiregrass area.

Ben Hagler worked for many years in extension horticulture programs and headed their plant science division until his retirement in 1981. He is widely known around the state for his work with Garden Clubs, though he worked extensively with commercial fruit and vegetable producers as well.

Ham Wilson served for 34 years as head of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association, and in large part, put it and Alabama beef producers on the map. He was also instrumental in founding the Southeast Livestock Exposition, which is the largest livestock show in the state. And, he founded Alabama Cattleman, one of the largest and most successful association magazines in the country. After retiring from the Cattlemen's Association, Wilson headed Auburn University's legislative liaison program for several years prior to his second retirement last December.

Each of these leaders were enshrined into the Agriculture Hall of Honor at the Annual Meeting of the AU Ag Alumni Association held Feb. 23 at the AU Hotel and Conference Center.

-30-

News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Roy Roberson

02/23/93