Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame Induction is Feb. 28 in Auburn

Alabama 4-H will celebrate its Centennial in 2009. Many events are being planned to celebrate and remember 4-H accomplishments and people from those 100 years beginning this month and running through December 2009.

The first event leading up to the Centennial will be placing 24 inductees into the Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame. An induction reception and ceremony will be held Thursday, Feb. 28 at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art on the Auburn University campus.

“The 4-H Wall of Fame, honors people and organizations that have made a significant impact on Alabama 4-H and helped make Alabama 4-H what it is today,” said Betty Gottler, coordinator of the 4-H Centennial celebration. Anyone who has made a significant contribution to the development of the 4-H program or 4-Her’s in Alabama is eligible. Nominees may be living or deceased but current 4-H faculty and staff are not eligible. All current and future inductees are selected through a nomination process.

“We plan to have 100 inductees by the end of the Centennial celebration,” Gottler added. This induction is the first of three scheduled. Other induction ceremonies are set for October 2008 and October 2009.

The first 24 inductees include Alabama’s representatives to the National 4-H Hall of Fame -- Ann Barr, Thomas M. Campbell Sr., George Washington Carver, Bertha M. Jones, Cecil Mayfield and Lem Morrison.

Inductees include 4-H volunteers, former 4-H’ers, retired Extension agents, county coordinators, state specialists and friends of 4-H. The inductees are Baldwin County 4-H volunteers Helen Bauer and Thelma and John Gottler; Calhoun County 4-H volunteer Alice Heard; Houston County volunteer Malta F. (Scooter) Conners; John D. McCrorie, a Jefferson County 4-H volunteer; Lee County 4-H volunteer Deborah Stabler; Morgan County 4-H volunteer Vicki Linley; Fayette County 4-H alumnus Ryan Sprinkle; retired Extension Director Ann Thompson; retired state Extension staffers Rosalie and Earl Kennamer; John E. Jones, a retired Shelby County Extension agent; James A. McLean, a retired Pike County Extension coordinator; Bob Whittenburg, a retired Extension animal scientist; Jack Odle, chair of Alabama 4-H Foundation, Inc.; Alabama Farmers Federation and Alabama Power Company Foundation.

Tom Burnside and W.D. (Demp) Jones, Alabama nominees to the National 4-H Hall of Fame also will be recognized.

Posted by dreynold at February 5, 2008 03:45 PM | TrackBack