Institutions don’t last 100 years without dedicated employees
Oct 22, 2009 10:15 AM, By Ron Smith, Farm Press Editorial Staff
One cannot chronicle the history of an institution that has provided its constituency with significant achievements for 100 years without paying homage to the dedicated people who invested their time, intellect and more than a little bit of sweat to effect needed change.
Jaroy Moore, director, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Lubbock, honored many of the scientists who contributed substantial advancements in agricultural science during the center’s Centennial Celebration.
The center was made possible by the 1887 Hatch Act — legislation that established agricultural research centers across the country. The center at Lubbock came online in 1909, following appropriations by the Texas Legislature and donation of 160 acres of land by the Commercial Club and citizens of Lubbock. The acreage came with a 5-room cottage.
Moore, director since 1998, recognized his predecessors. W.S. Hotchkiss was the center’s first director; followed by A.L. Paschall, who took over in 1909 and served until 1912. He was succeeded by E.C. Souther, who served in 1912. V.L. Cory was director from 1912 through 1915; R.E. Karper followed from 1915 through 1925. D.L. Jones served from 1926 through 1957. Charles Fisher was director from 1957 through 1969; George McBee from 1969 through 1975; Bill Ott from 1975 through 1985; John Abernathy from 1985 through 1997; and Art Onken from 1997 through 1998.
The center has expanded considerably since the beginnings with the research station on 4th Street in 1909. Headquarters moved to its current location in 1959 and includes both AgriLife Extension and USDA-ARS. In 1975, the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Lubbock became affiliated with the High Plain Research Foundation at Halfway.
In 1990, the center joined forces with the Ag-CARES Farm in Lamesa and added the Helms Farm at Halfway in 1999.
Grain sorghum and cotton breeding and production efforts have been critical areas of research since the early days. Moore said R.E. Karper, director from 1915 through 1925, focused on grain sorghum. But work began earlier.
In 1910 the station began a sorghum improvement effort and released Dwarf Yellow Milo. In the 1920s a Kafir mutant was used to develop combine-height varieties. The station released five varieties that year.
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