Anderson, Kimbrell Honored During NCC Annual Meeting
February 10, 2015 Woody Anderson and the late Miles Kimbrell were honored for their industry leadership and achievements by the National Cotton Council during the organization’s annual meeting in Memphis February 6-8.
Anderson, a cotton producer from Colorado City, TX, received the 2014 Harry S. Baker Distinguished Service Award. The award, named for the late California industry leader and past NCC President Harry S. Baker, is presented annually to a deserving individual who has provided extraordinary service, leadership and dedication to the U.S. cotton industry.
Kimbrell, a nationally-recognized North Carolina textile manufacturer and cotton industry leader, was honored with the 2014 Oscar Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award. Established in 1997, the award is named for Oscar Johnston, whose vision and tireless efforts led to the organization and shaping of the NCC.
It is presented posthumously to an individual who served the cotton industry through the NCC over a significant period of his or her active business career. It also recognizes those who exerted a positive influence on the industry and who demonstrated character, integrity, perseverance and maturation during that service.
Anderson, co-owner of Anderson Farms since 1974, has a long history of dedicated industry service. He was NCC chairman in 2004, its vice chairman in 2003, and served as a NCC director in 2002 and as the Southwest Region’s vice chairman of American Cotton Producers from 1996-02. He chaired the NCC’s Crop Insurance Committee from 1995-01.
In presenting the Baker award, NCC Chairman Wally Darneille, a West Texas cooperative marketing executive, said Anderson – during his tenure as NCC chairman – led the organization’s efforts at avoiding damaging amendments to U.S. farm law and protecting the interests of U.S. cotton in international trade agreements.
Following his service as chairman, Anderson has remained active in NCC leadership. He was elected vice chairman of the Committee for the Advancement of Cotton in 2010, and continues to chair the NCC Farm Policy Task Force – a position he has held since 2005.
Anderson has also served as chairman of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation since 1997, and was the state committee chairman of the Texas Farm Service Agency from 1997-01. He has received many other industry honors, including Cotton Grower magazine’s Cotton Achievement Award in 2007.
Kimbrell, who was the chairman of Parkdale Mills, was ranked as the second most influential textile executive in the 20th century by Textile World magazine. Under his leadership, Parkdale Mills became the world’s largest spun-yarn manufacturer during the second half of last century.
In presenting the award, outgoing NCC Chairman Wally Darneille said Kimbrell also was known as a man of great integrity, as a man who valued his employees, and as a man who gave back very generously to his community. Through those contributions, said Darneille, “Mr. Kimbrell helped not only prominent public and private institutions, he also reached out to individuals and local organizations and foundations that help serve the needs of others.
“It was clearly demonstrated over and again that he was a staunch supporter of the community he loved.”
Kimbrell also provided leadership and strong financial support to the NCC and other cotton organizations. At the NCC, he served continuously from 1984-2006 as either a vice president or Board member for the manufacturing segment and was a Board advisor from 2007-2014. He was also an active member on several NCC standing and special committees.
Kimbrell was the recipient of numerous industry awards, including the NCC’s Harry S. Baker Distinguished Service Award in 1998, the Leader of the Year Award in 1991 by Textile World magazine, and the American Textile Manufacturer’s Institute’s prestigious Samuel Slater Award. In 2004, he was named to the American Textile Hall of Fame.
Andy Warlick, Kimbrell’s son-in-law, accepted the award on behalf of the family.
Source – National Cotton Council
GET THE NEWSLETTER TODAY!
