Extension Superior Service Awards

Columbiana, Dec. 12, 2003---The Alabama Cooperative Extension System held its annual awards luncheon recently at the 4-H Youth and Development Center in Columbiana. Extension Director Dr. Gaines Smith presented the 2003 Superior Service and Length of Service Awards.

Dr. Smith said presenting the superior awards is one of the highlights of Extension’s year.

“I look forward to this occasion every year because it gives Extension the opportunity to recognize personnel and programs that have made significant contributions to the citizens of Alabama. It is also a time when we recognize employees for their length of service to Extension.”

This year is a watershed time in Extension as 69 employees are either retiring or separating from the System. This group represents more than 1,900 years of service, expertise, wisdom and achievement.

The 2003 Superior Awards included individual and team awards. Awards were presented in the following categories to the following personnel.

County Extension Agent

Helen Herdon-Jones, county Extension coordinator, Bibb County, in recognition of her outstanding leadership and commitment of the planning and procurement of innovative projects and for impressive resource funding for programs to youth and adults.

Marilee Tankersley, county Extension coordinator, Elmore County, in recognition of outstanding efforts and accomplishments in the development of community projects and programs and relentless efforts in securing grant funds to hire additional staff members to meet the needs of Elmore County.

Cynthia Whittaker, county Extension agent, Jefferson County, in recognition of exemplary work and creative teaching techniques in reaching under-served communities with the Urban Affairs and New Non-Traditional program areas.

Specialist/Educator

Kathy Linn Flanders, Extension entomologist and assistant professor, of Entomology and Plant Pathology, in recognition of outstanding innovative, meaningful, tireless, personable and successful Extension programming.

Paul L. Mask, Extension agronomist and professor, of Agronomy and Soils, in recognition of excellence in agricultural education and demonstrated service at the local, national and international levels to improve the lives of many.

Organizational Support

Karen Crews, coordinator, Extension budget services and federal records, Administrative Services, in recognition of exemplary performance of duties in civil service and federal fringe benefits counseling to employees, retirees and spouses of each.

Office Support - State/District/Area

Dianne S. Murray, administrative assistant, Southwest Regional Extension Office, in recognition of a cooperative spirit with a willingness to accept responsibility for difficult tasks, for going beyond her call of duty to help improve office productivity in the southwest Alabama region and for outstanding support, patience and willingness to help agents and support staff in the region.

Office Support - County

Betty C. Chatman, administrative assistant, Madison County, in recognition of 35 years of diligent service to the citizens of Madison County and the friendly, helpful manner that made each person entering the county Extension office door feel welcome.

Distinguished Career

Gary E. Murray, county Extension coordinator, Etowah County, for creative horticulture programming and innovative leadership in county, regional and statewide Extension System projects.

Team awards were presented to the following personnel.

Laura B. Booth, Extension associate, environmental programs, Community and Resource Development, and Barbara W. Mobley, Extension program specialist, Family Programs, in recognition of superior service provided to Alabama Cooperative Extension System agents and the citizens of Alabama in the Children’s Environmental Health Project.

Julio E. Correa, Extension animal scientist, Alabama A&M University, Jean Hall Dwyer, Extension communications specialist, AAMU and Juana I. Macias, multi-county Extension agent, Marshall County, in recognition of outstanding service rendered to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and to the Spanish-speaking citizens and English-speaking providers of Alabama and the nation—Programacion en Espanol.

The following length of service awards were presented:

35 years — Horace Milner, publications warehouse associate, Extension Communications/Auburn

30 years — Carrie C. Baker, program office administrator, Extension Communications/ Auburn; Linda R. Berry, administrative assistant, Jackson County; Celedonio M. Gapasin, Extension specialist, Community Resource Development/AAMU; Katie M. Halfacre, program assistant, Jefferson County; Sue P. Moman, program assistant, Marshall County and Florel T. Stenson, office administrator, Entomology and Plant Pathology/Auburn.

20 years -- Trelle W. Cavallaro, administrative assistant, Russell County; Catherine Sabota, Extension horticulture specialist/AAMU and Emma H. Willis, agent assistant, Macon County.

10 years — Ellen B. Abell, Extension specialist, Human Development/Family Studies/Auburn; Marian M. Beck, Extension agent, Colbert County; Rachel W. Brooks, Extension agent, Outreach, Ft. Rucker; Robert Drakeford, Extension specialist, Volunteer Programs, 4-H/Auburn; Jo Ann Dunn, administrative assistant, Blount County; Verhonda G. Embery, administrative assistant, Talladega County; Gary D. Gray, Extension agent, Chilton County; Grace L. James, agent assistant, Russell County; Suzette M.Jelinek, Extension specialist, network and marketing, ACENEP/Auburn; Earnestine Cooper Jones, program office administrator, 4-H/Auburn; Girma Kebede, computer support and network manager, Program Assignments/AAMU; Joseph M. Kemble, Extension horticulture specialist, Horticulture/Auburn; Lisa Anne Krise-Anderson,Extension animal scientist, Animal and Dairy Science/Auburn; Barbara Mills, agent assistant, Covington County; Charles Dale Monks, Extension crop physiologist, Agronomy and Soils/Auburn; Callie N. Nelson, Extension agent, Chilton County; Parico G. Osby, Extension agent, Montgomery County; Sondra M. Parmer, project manager, ACENEP/Auburn; Jerry S. Pierce, Extension economist, farm business management, Agricultural Economics/Scottsboro; Jacquelyn P. Robinson, Extension specialist, CRD/Auburn; Pearlie M. Swift, ACENEP agent, Dallas County; Susan Taylor, ACENEP agent, Coffee County; Tommie B. Teacher, Extension agent, Franklin County; Eloise Temple, agent assistant, Macon County; Sarah A. Thomas, agent assistant, Etowah County; Delores A. Tiner, administrative assistant, Geneva County; J. Kevan Tucker, Extension agent, Marengo County; Kerry B. Walker, info tech specialist, Computer Technology/Belle Mina; Sondra Jean Weese, Extension food science specialist, Nutrition and Food Science/Auburn; Ethel D. Williams, agent assistant, Macon County; Willie E. Williams, Extension agent, Butler County; M. Anne Woodsmall, program office administrator, Administration and Program Leadership/Auburn; and Nelson D. Wynn, Extension agent, Shelby County.

Civil Service Length of Service Awards were presented to the following personnel:

35 years — Donald M. Ball, Extension agronomist, Agronomy and Soils/Auburn; Robert A. Burdett, Extension agronomist, Agronomy and Soils/Auburn and Harry B. Strawn, Extension economist, CRD/Auburn.

30 years — Charles E. Andrews, Extension agent, Colbert County; Dena L. Barnes, Extension agent, Pike County; Reeta A. Christopher, Extension agent, Limestone County; Angela G. Hughes, Extension agent, Coffee County; Katie W. Jackson, Extension program specialist, ACENEP; Ronald D. Lane, county Extension coordinator, Lauderdale County; Jackie M. Ramsey, county Extension coordinator, Jefferson County and Gayle C. White, county Extension coordinator, Crenshaw County

20 years -- Valerie Y. Conner, county Extension coordinator, Autauga County; Warren G. Griffith, Extension agent, Fayette County; Michael D. Henshaw, county Extension coordinator, Winston County; Beulon R. Moss, Extension animal scientist, Animal and Dairy Science/Auburn; Gloria R. Musson, Extension agent, Monroe County; Charles B. Pinkston, Extension agent, Cullman County; Roger C. Vines, Extension agent, Coosa County; Oscar S. Wiggins, county Extension coordinator, Pickens County and Stanley T. Windham, Extension agent, Coffee County.

For the first time, special recognition was given to personnel receiving extramural funding awards and grants and contracts on and off campus and for new and continued funding.

On campus new funding awards were presented to Donnie L. Cook, health and nutrition specialist, AAMU, and Eve Brantley, agriculture program associate I, Agronomy and Soils/Auburn.

On campus continuation of funding awards went to Harry B. Strawn, economist, CRD/Auburn, and Edward J. Sikora, plant pathologist, Entomology and Plant Pathology/Auburn.

Off campus new funding awards went to Sallie-Lide Hooker, Extension agent, Perry County; Charles M. Simon, county Extension coordinator, Covington County; Sandra Coffey, county Extension coordinator, Coffee County; Arthur L. Threatt, county Extension coordinator, Washington County and Sonya W. Marhler, county agent, Baldwin County.

Continuation funding awards went to Melinda Luker, county Extension coordinator, Coosa County; Rodie M. Ruffin, county Extension coordinator, Monroe County and Thelma E. Gottler, county agent, Morgan County.

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