News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5051 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE February 20, 2009

ABAC ALUMNI TO BE HONORED ON MARCH 7

TIFTON— Former students of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will be honored at the annual ABAC Alumni Association awards ceremony as a part of the Celebrate ABAC weekend on March 7 at 10 a.m. in Howard Auditorium on the ABAC campus.

Open to anyone who would like to attend at no charge, the event will recognize ABAC alumni who impacted the college and their communities in significant ways.  Other activities of the day include a luncheon for all alumni and friends of the college at noon in Gressette Gym. Hot lunches are $10 each. Everyone who plans to eat lunch must pre-register by Feb. 27 by calling (229) 391-4900.

For more information on the Celebrate ABAC weekend, contact the ABAC College Advancement office at (229) 391-4900 or visit the web site at http://www.abac.edu/ca/alumni/CelebrateABAC/.  

ABAC Alumni Association award winners this year include Gene Ragan, Distinguished Alumnus; Christa Galloway Steinkamp, Outstanding Young Alumnus; Dick Byne, Master Farmer; Debbie Phillips, Helen B. Sasser award; Peggy Ozias-Akins, J. Lamar Branch award; J. Patrick Atwater, Jr., Outstanding Educator; Jack C. Drew, Jr., Outstanding Business Leader; John and Clara Hollis Davis family, Family Legacy award; and Melvin Merrill and Andrea Pate Willis, Honorary Alumnus awards.

Ragan is a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Hall of Fame. His stint of 40 plus years of farm television is believed to be the longest in the nation at a single station. Also a graduate of the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agriculture with a major in animal husbandry and a lifetime member of the UGA Alumni Association, Ragan completed his first two years at ABAC, earning his degree in 1943. He is the recipient of more than 70 awards and honors. He and his wife, Marilyn, have two sons, Russell and Middleton.

Steinkamp graduated from ABAC in 1997 with a degree in Ag Business. She is currently working as an Area Livestock Teacher in the North Region Agriculture Education Office as a part of the Department of Education. She also serves as a liaison for Agriculture Education teachers in North Georgia with any livestock concerns. Steinkamp coordinates all State Junior Livestock shows in Perry, Macon, Gwinnett County and many other small and regional livestock shows throughout north Georgia. She and her husband, Ted, have a two-year old son, Colter.

Byne, originally from Waynesboro, graduated from ABAC in 1973. He completed his degree in Agriculture at UGA. Byne created Byne Blueberry Farm in 1980 and has been producing berries ever since. Byne, his wife, Linda, and his four daughters, Diane, Janie, AnnNelle, and Marion, all participate in the daily efforts at the farm. In 2007, the family won first place in the Flavor of Georgia contest for Blueberry Salsa.

Phillips graduated from ABAC in 1983 and completed her BS in Home Economics and Journalism at UGA in 1985. In 1987, she received her MS in Housing, Home Management and Consumer Economics from UGA. Phillips currently is a part-time instructor at both UGA and Georgia Tech. She is the owner and founder of Quadrillion, a marketing and image development company in Stockbridge. Phillips received the UGA Creswell Award in 2007 for leadership in motivating and guiding students.

Ozias-Akins attended ABAC in 1972 before receiving her B.S. degree Magna Cum Laude with Honors from Florida State University. She currently works as a professor in the Department of Horticulture at UGA’s Tifton campus. Some of her many accolades include the Georgia Research and Education Award in 1993 from the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Peanuts; the Senior Research Scientist Award from the UGA Tifton Campus in 2002; and the Distinguished Service Award from the Sigma Xi Tifton Chapter in 2004. The American Peanut Research and Education Society named her a Fellow in 2005. She and her husband, Paul, have one son, Rob.

Atwater (Class of 1988) graduated from ABAC with a degree in business administration. He currently serves as the Superintendent of Tift County Public Schools. Atwater is a member of the Tifton Planning Committee and is a participant in Leadership Tifton and Leadership Georgia. His recognitions include the National Business Education Association Award of Merit which he received in 1991. Atwater has been married for 17 years to his wife, Francis. They have a son, Patrick (16), and a daughter, Anna Lee (12).

Drew graduated from ABAC in 1979 with a degree in agricultural economics. He continued his education at UGA, receiving a BSA in agricultural economics. He also attended The Graduate School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University. Drew serves as Chief Operating Officer of AgGeorgia Farm Credit-ACA in Perry. He has served with AgGeorgia in various management capacities for 28 years. Drew serves on the Tift County United Way Board of Directors and the First United Methodist Church on the Administrative Board and Finance Committee. He and his wife, Lana, a counselor at Tift County High School, have two sons, Samuel and William.

Since 1910, the John and Clara Hollis Davis family has been deeply rooted in ABAC. Twenty-five family members are proud ABAC alumni and have continued to contribute to ABAC’s lasting heritage. John and Clara had six children, all of whom attended ABAC. After her husband died, Clara boarded students at her Davis Road home. The Davis family has included President’s Club members, an ABAC football player, an ABAC baseball player, President of the FFA and ABAC staff members. A seating area in honor of the Davis family is found on the ABAC Pedestrian Mall.

Willis graduated in 1974 with a degree in health and physical education from Georgia Southern College. She has been employed at ABAC since 1974 as a faculty member; served as director for the ABAC Golddusters for 26 years; and currently serves as the chair of the Division of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and as an Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education. She and her husband, Vernon (ABAC Class of 1969), have two children Hallie and Paten.

Merrill is the Chief Advancement Officer for ABAC. He had previously served ABAC as Director of Development and has been a part of the college since 1978. He received his B.S. and MBA in business administration from Berry College. He is a member of the Tifton Rotary Club and served in the United States Army Reserves. He and his wife, Anita, have two sons, Chris and Mark.

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