Baton
Rouge, LA – Dr. Leodrey Williams, Chancellor of the Southern University Ag
Center, was presented with a Certificate of Recognition for 50 years of service
in the field of Agriculture by the Baton Rouge Metro Council on June 10 during
the council’s meeting.
East
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Melvin L. “Kip” Holden also honored Dr. Williams by
proclaiming him ‘Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish’ for the day.
Dr.
Williams has been an employee of the Cooperative Extension Service for 50 of
its 100 years. He was the last person hired to hold the title of “assistant
county agent for the work with Negroes” in Richland Parish in 1965. Six weeks
after being hired the title was deemed illegal because of the passing of the
Civil Rights Act.
During
his lengthy career, Williams has held positions at both Southern University and
Louisiana State University. He also served on several national committees and
was appointment as the ombudsman of a national task force organized to ensure
the “upward mobility of extension.” Williams would go on to become the national
director of this task force where he was in charge of the funding for extension
programs at 104 land-grant universities.
In
1995 Williams returned to Southern in the position of extension director. In
2001, Williams was asked to lead the newly-formed Southern University
Agricultural Research and Extension Center as the fifth campus of the Southern
University System.
Williams
has been the only person to serve as Chancellor of the SU Ag Center since its
inception. He will retire June 30.
###
No comments:
Post a Comment