02/25/2006

Six Recognized During AU Ag Alumni Association's Hall of Honor Banquet

AUBURN, Ala. — Six outstanding Alabama agriculturalists were honored for their contributions to the state’s farming industry recently when the Auburn University Agricultural Alumni Association held its 2006 Alabama Agricultural Hall of Honor Banquet in Auburn.

Three of the honorees were inducted into the association’s Hall of Honor, which pays tribute to living Alabamians for their contributions to Alabama agriculture. They included John Dorrill of Pike County, retired executive director of the Alabama Farmers Federation; J Lee Alley of Montgomery, retired state veterinarian and past president of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association; and the late B.B. Spratling Jr., a Macon County soybean producer and past president of the American Soybean Association. Spratling was selected for induction into the Hall of Honor in the fall of 2005. He passed away Jan. 9.

Also honored with a special Founders Award was Bill Alverson, assistant dean for the College of Agriculture, who was instrumental in establishing the Ag Alumni Association and who will be retiring this summer. The one-time award was given by the Ag Alumni Association board to honor Alverson for his many contributions to the organization.

Two other Alabamians were given Pioneer Awards, which posthumously honor the state’s agricultural leaders. They were the late O.L. Green of Dothan, for his impact on the catfish industry as a fish culturist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the late John H. Mathews of Decatur, long-time general manager of the Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

The inductions and award presentations were made in February during the Ag Alumni Association’s annual meeting and awards banquet, which drew some 160 people to honor the 2006 winners.

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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

For immediate release