A RESOLUTION
Commending the charter members of the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the Senate recognizes the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame charter members for their election to the Hall of Fame and for their contributions and accomplishments in education as well as agriculture at the local, state, regional, and national levels; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame was established in January, 2000, and 46 charter members were inducted on January 22, 2000, at an induction ceremony held at the State FFA Center in Covington, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, these outstanding educators represent some of the best educators in Georgia and have positively influenced the educational and economic system of this state through the teaching of the art and science of agriculture; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame members have exemplified, through their life's work, the ideals expressed in the Agriculture Teachers Creed, which reads, in part, "I am a teacher of agriculture by choice and not by chance. I believe in American agriculture; I dedicate my life to its development and the advancement of its people. I will strive to set before my students by my deeds and actions the highest standards of citizenship for the community, state, and nation."; and
WHEREAS, in the State of Georgia, for 83 years, agricultural education and agriculture teachers have prepared skilled and knowledgeable agricultural leaders; and
WHEREAS, in the United States Congress in 1917, Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia and Representative Dudley M. Hughes of Georgia established Georgia as a national leader in agricultural education by introducing and securing passage of the Smith-Hughes Act, authorizing the teaching of agricultural education in the public schools of the United States; and
WHEREAS, agricultural education provides a unique educational opportunity for students in middle school, high school, and in the adult agricultural education program; and
WHEREAS, the agricultural education program has been a successful and contributing part of the educational system through the work of dedicated teachers, educational and agricultural leaders, and the incorporation of complete programs including the FFA, Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs, New Farmers of America, classroom and laboratory instruction, short-term adult instruction, and the Georgia Young Farmer Agribusiness Program; and
WHEREAS, Georgia's Agricultural Education program is administered through the Georgia Department of Education and partners with the agricultural industry and institutions of higher education including colleges, universities, and technical institutes; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia FFA Alumni Association is to be commended for establishment and sponsorship of the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, these Hall of Fame charter members are outstanding representatives of the agricultural education profession.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend the charter members of the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame for their dedicated service to the youth and adults of Georgia agriculture and education.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that each and every charter member of the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame is commended for his outstanding service to the people of this state. These members are Benjamin Stratman Anderson, Sr., William Austin Avery, James Neal Baker, Robert E. Balkcom, John Barnes, J. Lamar Branch, James H. Braziel, Jr., Thomas D. Brown, J. G. Bryant, Robert L. Canady, Lt/Col. Earl H. Cheek, Brazle Hubert "B. H." Claxton, Dr. Ira A. Dickerson, A. O. Duncan, J. Elton Dunn, W. L. Green, Dr. Ira Hicks, Jr., C. Fred Ingram, Melvin H. Johnson, Wilbur Johnson, H. I. Jones, A. P. Lewis, George I. Martin, William Louis Mathis, J. H. Mitchell, Dr. George L. O'Kelley, Jr., Huell B. O'Kelley, Alfred O. Pearson, Sr., Josiah Phelps, Roy E. Powell, Sr., Harold J. Ragan, Victor Leon Randolph, O. H. Rhodes, L. M. Sheffer, Fred A. Singleton, Alva Tabor, Sr., H. Randall Tanner, Dr. Ralph H. Tolbert, James Tyson, Elvin Walker, T. G. Walters, Thomas Lloyd Washington, Sr., Dr. Thomas C. Weaver, Dr. John T. Wheeler, J. O. Williams, and McKinley Wilson.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to each of the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame members or to their surviving families.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to Mrs. Linda C. Shrenko, State Superintendent of Schools, Mr. James Woodard, State Director of Agricultural Education, and Mr. Norman Gay, State President of the Georgia FFA Alumni Association.
SENATE RESOLUTION 584
By: Senators Ragan of the 11th, Jackson of the 50th and Hill of the 4th
Adopted in the Senate February 21, 2000
