First Class Selected for Cotton Research and Promotion Program Hall of Fame

Five honorees have been elected to the first class of Cotton Incorporated’s newly-created Cotton Research and Promotion Program Hall of Fame.

Cotton Incorporated recently announced establishment of the Hall of Fame to annually recognize U.S. cotton industry leaders that have made significant contributions to the Program or to the cotton industry in general.

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“As the Research and Promotion Program approaches its 50th year, we felt the time was right to acknowledge the contributions of those who have helped shape the modern cotton industry,” says Berrye Worsham, president and CEO of Cotton Incorporated.

The five members of the initial Hall of Fame class are:

  • J. Dukes Wooters, the first President of Cotton Incorporated, is recognized for his innovative marketing of cotton to consumers, including the development of the now iconic Seal of Cotton trademark.
  • Morgan Nelson, known as “Mr. Cotton” in his home state of New Mexico, was among the first directors of Cotton Incorporated. He is honored for his strong leadership and lengthy tenure in this role, in which he was instrumental in generating and maintaining grower support and helping to shape the direction of Cotton Incorporated.
  • Marshall Grant, a staunch advocate of boll weevil eradication, is recognized for his foresight and tenacity in convincing local and national leaders to address one of the greatest threats ever to face the U.S. cotton industry. Heralded as one of the most successful USDA projects, the Boll Weevil Eradication Program also contributed to a reduction in pesticide applications and the implementation of Integrated Pest Management among U.S. cotton growers.
  • Professor Lambert Wilkes (deceased), along with his team at Texas A&M University, is responsible for the engineering of the cotton module builder, which dramatically increased the efficiency of cotton collection and storage. In 2000, the state of Texas acknowledged the module builder as one of the four most significant economic achievements of the 1970’s, which also included Southwest Airlines and the opening of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
  • Fred Starrh provided many years of leadership to the industry, first as Chairman of Cotton Incorporated and later as President and Chairman of Cotton Council International. He is honored for his strong leadership and for shepherding Cotton Incorporated through a transition of partnership with Cotton Council International to promote U.S. upland cotton around the world.

The 2014 Hall of Fame honorees were nominated by Certified Producer and Importer Organizations and elected by the Chairman’s Committee of the Cotton Incorporated Board of Directors. They will be recognized at the combined Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Board of Directors meeting in St. Petersburg, FL in December.

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Source – The Cotton Board

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