News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

In 40 years at ABAC, Jimmy Grubbs has accomplished quite a bit, including winning the

Kiss-A-Pig contest one year.

IMMEDIATE JANUARY 14, 2005

GRUBBS A STAPLE AT ABAC FOR 40 YEARS

TIFTON— Kentucky native Jimmy Grubbs has been a staple at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College since his student days in 1963. And it all began with a visit to his aunt’s house in Brunswick.

“I met Bill Rayburn and his son, Wayne,” Grubbs said. “They both kept telling me how great ABAC was so I got a ride with Bill, who was a professor here at the time.”

Grubbs worked at the student center part-time and for faculty member Jesse Chambliss to pay his way through ABAC. The AET Building was later named after Chambliss.

“While I was a student many of the faculty and staff had a great influence on me. I knew most of the people the buildings on campus are named for,” Grubbs said.

Upon graduating in 1965 with a degree in Agricultural Equipment Technology, Grubbs did a brief stint working for a local Ford dealership before returning to ABAC in 1966 to take the position of Lab Technician.

“One of my job requirements for the position was to know how to operate a bulldozer. I later found out it was because I was going to help in the building of Lake Baldwin,” Grubbs said. Grubbs worked on Lake Baldwin until its completion in 1968.

He was also active in the Sunbelt Ag Expo, even as a student. “Then, it was called ‘Dealer Days’ and was held on the campus,” Grubbs said. “When it moved to Spence Field, I helped with the layout and irrigation. The whole AET Division did.”

Grubbs also helped to establish the Tractor Pull Club. “We competed on the national level and won the title two years in a row; 1977 and 1978,” he said. The Tractor Pull Club was a part of ABAC for 15 years.

In his latter years at ABAC, Grubbs worked more and more in the classroom. He taught part-time in classes such as welding and power equipment.

“The students are all I know,” Grubbs said. “I just enjoy being around them. I feel I have something to pass on to them. I’ve had students tell me about their engagements before their own parents knew. That is the kind of relationship I’ve developed with them.”

The students, staff, and community have noticed. During his 40 plus years at ABAC he has received numerous honors and awards. He was given the Honorary State Farmer Award and the Carlton Outstanding Staff Award. He served as a member of the ABAC Alumni Board for 20 years, served on the Omega City Council for 16 years, was named Distinguished Alumnus in 1995, and has received a variety of other accolades from campus and nationally recognized organizations.

“My favorite awards I’ve received are the Impact Awards because they are from the students,” Grubbs said. He received the Impact Award three times - 1996, 1999, and 2000.

The students are only one of the reasons ABAC is special to Grubbs. “I met my wife Ann here. She is an ABAC alumnus, too,” Grubbs said.

Ann Grubbs is a retired business administration professor who taught at Darton College. After retiring, she got her CPA degree.

Jimmy Grubbs retired in August of 2004, but he will always be a fixture on the campus of ABAC.

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