Block & Bridle Honorary Members

The members of the Clemson University Block and Bridle Club organize and participate in a variety of social and educational events to promote all aspects of agriculture. Each year, the club awards an honorary membership to one or more individuals who have supported and promoted the agriculture industry in South Carolina.

Honorary Members of the Clemson Block and Bridle Club

The individuals mentioned here have been awarded honorary membership to the Block and Bridle Club for their outstanding dedication to agriculture in South Carolina, and to the club itself. They are integral components of Block and Bridle's rich history at Clemson University.

1959

F. B. Davis, Jr.

Mr. Davis graduated with a BS from Yale University. After a successful career, he retired from his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the U. S. Rubber Company. Mr. Davis served as director of the American Aberdeen Angus Association, President of the American Aberdeen Angus Breeders Association, and Director of the International Livestock Exposition. In 1937, he became the owner and operator of Brays Island Plantation in Yemassee, South Carolina, a 6000-acre plantation where he developed one of the nation’s most outstanding Angus herds. Through his generous donations, he was largely responsible for the formation of the Clemson College Aberdeen Angus herd.

J. R. Hawkins

Mr. Hawkins earned both his BS and MS degrees from Iowa State University. In 1925, he began working for the Clemson Extension Service as an Extension Livestock Specialist in Florence, SC. He later moved to Columbia, where he became Leader of Livestock Extension Work. Mr. Hawkins was a major contributor to the beef cattle industry in South Carolina thanks to his promotion of a sound pasture program for livestock.

1965

R. W. Carter

Dr. Carter was a native of Denver, Colorado. He received his DVM from Texas A&M in 1941. In 1954, he was appointed as Director of the State-Federal Livestock Disease Eradication Program, where he conducted influential research on brucellosis. Dr. Carter also served as the Chairman of the National Tuberculosis Committee of the U.S. Livestock Sanitary Association. He was a member of the National Cattlemen’s Association and the Public Health Association, and he was the Special Appointee by the Governor of South Carolina to study the Southern Livestock Sanitary Association.

1967

J. T. Addison

Addison graduated from Presbyterian College in 1936. He purchased the Joanna Hereford Farm in Joanna, SC in 1939, where he raised several top selling bulls and females. In 1958, Addison began an annual calf sale with the help of Clemson’s Performance Testing Program. He served as president of the SC Hereford Breeders Association and the Laurens County Livestock Producers Association, as well as director of the Farm Bureau Livestock Committee, the SC Beef Producers Association, the Southeastern Polled Hereford Association, and the SC Polled Hereford Association.

R. L. Jones

Jones graduated from Clemson in 1936 with a BS in Animal Husbandry. After graduation he worked as a laboratory technician at Clemson, then spent his next three years at the Coastal Experiment Station in Summerville, SC, working with hogs and Angus cattle. In 1940, he moved to the Mount Pleasant Plantation in Andrews, SC, where he started developing two herds of cattle – Angus and Guernseys. He also served as President of the SC Angus Association.

1969

J. J. James

J. J. James was born in Darlington County, SC in 1926 and earned his BS in Business from the University of South Carolina in 1950. He was a renowned swine producer, raising Hampshire and Yorkshire hogs on Long Marsh Farm in Darlington. In 1967 and 1968, he registered more Hampshires than any other farm in the state, and in 1967, he was the fifth largest recorder of Yorkshires in the U. S. Mr. James served as President of the American Yorkshire Club, the SC Swine Producers Association, and the SC Hampshire Breeders Association. He was also Chairman of the SC Farm Bureau Swine Committee and Member of the Board of Directors of the National Pork Producers Council.

W. H. McPhail

McPhail was born in 1902 and attended Clemson from 1920 to 1921, at which point he returned home to his farm to help finance his brothers’ education. At the age of 16, McPhail took over his father’s 150-acre farm and eventually increased it to 600 acres. In 1936 he began what became a 250-head herd of purebred Angus cattle. He served twice as President of the SC Angus Association and held every other office in the association, as well.

1970

P. F. McAlhaney

Mr. McAlhaney was a native of Orangeburg County, SC, where he worked as a farmer and a swine producer. He was the first breeder in South Carolina to certify a Poland China boar. McAlhaney served as the president and director of the Orangeburg Livestock Show and Sale. In 1969, he earned the National Poland China Record Association Certificate of Merit for having seven sows with certified litters.

H. T. Warner

Mr. Warner was born in 1893 in Greenwood, SC. He attended Clemson College from 1911 to 1913. He developed an early interest in agriculture, and in 1918, he began farming on his own. After his service in World War I, Mr. Warner operated a dairy of registered Jerseys from 1920 to 1930, along with his cotton and corn acreage. In 1930, however, he began raising Herefords and continued in beef cattle production until his retirement in 1959. During his career, he expanded his farm from 250 to 1600 acres, and in 1948, he and his sons opened the Greenwood Stockyard. Mr. Warner was chairman of the Greenwood Soil Conservation District for 10 years and chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce for several years. He also lectured to agricultural economics classes at Clemson on the operation of stockyards.

1971

Dr. R. C. Edwards

Dr. Edwards was born in 1914 in Fountain Inn, SC. He graduated from Clemson in 1933 with a BS in Textile Engineering and an ROTC Second Lieutenant Commission. Dr. Edwards worked for several textile companies before serving on active duty with the Army beginning in 1942. He was discharged with the rank of Major in 1946. In 1956, Dr. Edwards became the Vice President for Development of Clemson University, and in 1959, he was named as the university’s president. He held this position for 21 years and was known for his skills as a businessman and negotiator, as well as his special bond with students and his love of Clemson sports. Dr. Edwards was awarded Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from both the Citadel and Wofford College, and in 1966, he was named Man of the Year in Service to South Carolina Agriculture by the Progressive Farmer magazine.

D. L. Handlin

Handlin was born in 1929 in Geneseo, Kansas. He earned his BS from Kansas State University in 1951 and his MS from Texas A&M University in 1954. Handlin began working at Clemson in 1954 as an Assistant Professor of Animal Science and the coach of the Livestock Judging Team. Dr. Handlin was instrumental to the success of Clemson’s Animal Science students, serving as advisor to the Block and Bridle Club and assisting with job placement. He was also in charge of the Clemson University Swine Research Center and served as a judge at many state, regional, and county swine shows.

1972

W. W. Henderson

Mr. Henderson was born in 1886, and he dedicated his life to farming and livestock production in Greenwood County. He raised sheep, cattle, and swine at Brood Acres Farm in Ninety-Six, SC. He was a state record holder in corn and cotton production, and in 1928, he was named in the first class of Master Farmers in the state. Henderson served as president of the South Carolina Foundation Seed Association and the South Carolina Crop Improvement Association, and he was named the Man of the Year in South Carolina Agriculture by the Progressive Farmer magazine.

1973

Dr. N. J. Ayers

Dr. Ayers was a native of Hart County, Georgia. He received his DVM from the Indiana Veterinary College in 1920, and in 1923, he moved to Greer, SC. He continued to practice veterinary medicine in SC until 1960 and served as president of the SC Veterinary Medicine Association. Dr. Ayers was also an active member of advisory and action committees for Extension at both the state and county level. In the early 1950s, Dr. Ayers began his time on the board of directors of the Greenville Livestock Association, serving as president on five different occasions. Through his efforts, it grew tremendously, becoming the largest county livestock association in SC.

1974

W. J. Huntley

Huntley was born in Mt. Croghan, SC, in 1925. He earned his BS in Agriculture from Clemson in 1945, then served as an Assistant County Agent in Darlington for three years and as a specialist with the South Carolina Livestock Marketing Service for another year. Mr. Huntley then took on the role of Livestock Buyer with Greenwood Packing Company, where he worked for 22 years. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Greenwood Beef Producers Association, South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association, and the Governor’s Livestock Study Committee, Mr. Huntley was a prominent member of the South Carolina livestock industry. He also assisted Clemson in many livestock research projects and helped provide livestock for numerous college, 4-H, and FFA judging events.

1975

N. W. Trask

Mr. Trask was born in 1900 in Wilmington, NC. He later moved to Beaufort, SC, and began his successful career as a cattleman in 1930, establishing a valuable herd of Polled Hereford cattle. In 1938, he acquired a farm near Calhoun Falls, SC, and developed an impressive breeding herd. Mr. Trask sold animals to over 25 states, and he was known for his unsurpassed recordkeeping.

1976

Dr. J. B. Martin

Dr. Martin was a practicing medical doctor in Anderson, SC. He owned and operated Windover Farm in Pendleton, SC, where he had two of the best Quarter horse stallions in the state. Before Clemson’s horse program was fully functional, Dr. Martin allowed students from judging classes visit his farm and use his horses for judging practice. Once the university had established a horse herd, Clemson’s Quarter horse brood mares were bred to Dr. Martin’s stallions to improve the quality of Clemson horses.

1977

E. D. Kyzer

Kyzer graduated from Clemson College in 1916. He later worked as Superintendent of the Coast Branch Experiment Station until his retirement in 1958.

E. D. McDowell

Mr. McDowell was a successful pork producer from Lee County, SC. He raised purebred Hampshires and Yorkshires and served as President of the South Carolina Hampshire Association. Mr. McDowell was also a member of the Clemson University Pork Advisory Committee and a life member of the State Agriculture and Mechanical Society of South Carolina.

Dr. G. C. Skelley

Dr. Skelley earned his BS in animal husbandry from Oklahoma Panhandle State College. He then earned his MS and PhD in animal science from the University of Kentucky. He joined the Clemson faculty in 1962 and began serving as an advisor for the Block and Bridle Club. Dr. Skelley authored or co-authored over 100 professional publications and was active in the Clemson Faculty Senate.

1978

J. C. McCrocklin

McCrocklin was born in 1903 on a farm near Bardstown, Kentucky. He graduated from St. Joseph College and moved to Louisville shortly after. McCrocklin later worked for the Kennett Murray Company operating a daily livestock market in Ohio, but in 1939, the company transferred him to Florence, SC. There, McCrocklin started operating the Florence Union Stockyard, which he helped grow and develop considerably throughout his career.

G. E. Wasson

Mr. Wasson was born in 1919 in Laurens County, SC. He served as a director of the Laurens County Farm Bureau, the South Carolina Livestock Association, and the South Carolina Polled Hereford Association. He was also President of the Laurens County Livestock Association and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Clemson Bull Test Station. In 1948, Mr. Wasson started a small registered Polled Hereford herd, and in 1974, he was awarded the Cattleman of the Year Award at the first annual Spotlight on Agriculture for Laurens County.

1979

D. T. Hardin

D. T. Hardin earned his BS from Clemson and his MS from the University of Tennessee in dairying and animal husbandry. He served as County Agent and District Agent for East Tennessee and Chairman of the Board of the Chattanooga Production Credit Association. He spent a lifetime promoting the livestock industry and was a successful livestock farmer, managing a herd of over 700 beef cattle. Hardin was also a loyal supporter of Clemson University, and he helped organize the first Clemson Alumni Club in the Chattanooga area.

W. J. Jackson

Jackson was born in 1918 in Sumter County, SC, but he and his family soon moved to Clarendon County. He began his farming career as a sharecropper in 1936, in the midst of the Depression. He developed a farming operation of about 5400 acres of corn and soybeans and a livestock operation that produced 17,000 top hogs per year. He served on the Clarendon County Farm Bureau as Vice President, President, and member of the Board of Directors. He was also a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council and worked closely with the Soil Conservation Commission. Mr. Jackson was given the Outstanding Conservationist Award by the Pee Dee Association of Conservation Districts in 1978.

1980

S. F. Reid, Sr.

Mr. Reid was born in 1919 in Fort Mott, SC. He graduated from Clemson College in just 3 years with a degree in Animal Husbandry. While at Clemson, he was a charter member of the Block and Bridle Club. During World War II, Mr. Reid was second in command of a U.S. submarine in the South Pacific. He received several honors for his service, including the Bronze Star and the Secretary of the Navy Unit Citation.

1981

E. G. Edmunds

Mrs. Edmunds was the first woman to be named an honorary member of the Clemson University Block and Bridle Club. A native of Clover, SC, she managed the Circle E Farm, where she and her family raised turkeys and Angus cattle. Mrs. Edmunds served as co-chairman of the York County Farm Bureau Ladies’ Committee, a leader of the York County Livestock Club, an advisor of the SC Jr. Angus Association, secretary of the SC Angus Association, and a voting delegate at the National Livestock Exposition. She was also a member of the York County and SC Cattleman’s Associations, as well as both the SC and National Turkey Federations.

1983

Joe F. Hayes

Born in 1928, Hayes was a native of Starr, South Carolina. He founded Hayes Star Brand beans and peas and owned Dolly’s Chicken and Biscuits, a restaurant in Anderson, South Carolina. He served as Director of the Eastern Carolina Angus Association and Trustee of North Greenville college, as well as President of the South Carolina Angus Association, the Boy’s Home of the South, and the Salvation Army.

Bryan Patrick

Mr. Patrick was born in 1929. He served as President of Emerald Lea Farms, Inc., the Orangeburg County Dairy Herd Improvement Association, and the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture. He also formed the Southeastern Livestock Export Association, the SC Watermelon Board, and the SC Horse Council. In 1976, he was named the South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. He helped the SC agriculture industry avoid potential disasters such as Med-fly problems, aflatoxin mold in corn, and picloram in tobacco fertilizer. Furthermore, he influenced the President and the Secretary of Agriculture to end embargos and ease FHA loan collection.

1984

Dr. Carl E. Thompson

Dr. Thompson was born in 1941 in Pennsylvania. He earned his BS and MS degrees from Pennsylvania State University and his PhD from Virginia Tech in 1971. Dr. Thompson joined the Clemson faculty in 1975, where he taught several graduate and undergraduate courses in Animal Breeding and Genetics and Beef Production. He also served as an advisor to the Block and Bridle Club, Rodeo Club, and Ag Council, and he was actively involved in beef cattle breeding research.

John F. Wise

Mr. Wise was a native of McCormick County, SC. He graduated from Clemson with a BS in Animal Husbandry in 1949. He also served in the US Navy during World War II. Mr. Wise first worked an Assistant County Agent in Laurens County, but in 1956, he became an Extension Livestock Specialist and later, a Beef Cattle Specialist. He earned his Masters from Clemson in 1964. For many years he was in charge of the feeder cattle sale, and he helped start the bull performance testing at Clemson. Mr. Wise also served as a member of the Board of Directors and the sales manager of the S. C. Polled Hereford Association.

1985

Fred Dobbins

Fred Dobbins was from Townville, SC. He worked for the Soil Conservation Service until 1947, then began raising cotton and cattle. As the owner and operator of Dobbins Cattle Company, he sold about 1500 steers annually. Dobbins also served as the governor’s appointee to the South Carolina Agriculture Study Committee for six years. He was instrumental to the success of the Block and Bridle Club’s judging team by allowing the students to use his livestock facilities for practice.

Zane Woodfin

Mr. Woodfin was a native of Inman, SC. He served as the manager of Inman Mills Farm for 32 years, which backgrounded about 2,000 steers annually. Mr. Woodfin served as President of the South Carolina Cattleman’s Association and Director of the National Cattleman’s Association. In 1969, he was named the Livestock Breeder Journal’s “Cattleman of the Year.”

1986

C. L. Shuler

After graduating from Clemson University, Mr. Shuler became a successful pork producer. He served as both President and Director of the South Carolina Pork Producers Association, and in 1978, he was named “Pork Producer of the Year.” He also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the South Carolina Duroc Association and as a member of the Agricultural Advisory Board for the Clemson Extension Service.

G. M. Smith

Dr. Smith was a native of Mauldin, SC. He graduated from Clemson University and went on to earn his DVM from Ohio State University. He served as President of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians and was named “Veterinarian of the Year” by the association in 1975. He also served as President of the South Carolina Shorthorn Association and the Southeastern Shorthorn Association. Dr. Smith established the Triway Farms registered polled Shorthorn herd in 1955.

1987

J. J. Griffin

Griffin was born in 1908 in Newberry County, SC. In 1936, he and his wife moved to a farm in Greenwood County, where they raised hogs and cattle. Griffin was instrumental in the advancement of agriculture in the area through his pioneering with different grasses and hays and crossbreeding cattle. He later owned and operated J. J. Griffin’s Feed and Seed in Greenwood. In 1943, Griffin helped form the Greenwood Beef Producers Association, for which he served as both President and Treasurer. He was a member of both the Animal Science Action Committee and the Agricultural Program Committee of the Clemson University Extension Service in Greenwood. His son, J. H. Griffin, was instrumental in the formation of the Block and Bridle Club during his enrollment at Clemson, and the J. H. Memorial Scholarship Fund was started in 1965 for Animal Science students in his honor.

J. G. McElmurray

Mr. McElmurray was born in 1906 and attended Clemson A&M College from 1926 to 1928. He was a resident of Beech Island, SC, and a 59-year member of the Beech Island Agricultural Club, the oldest agricultural club in the U.S. From 1937 to 1971, McElmurray operated a cotton gin and was a fertilizer dealer. In 1967, he and his sons established McElmurray Farms, Inc., which was in operation until 1980. They farmed 1500 acres of land and started a swine operation that eventually expanded to 500 sows. They also maintained a herd of 300 Hereford cattle.

1988

Dr. R. F. Wheeler

Dr. Wheeler began his education at Clemson University in 1937 and developed an interest in Animal Husbandry. In 1941, he began his 5-year service in the US Army Air Corp, but after World War II, he returned to Clemson and graduated in Animal Husbandry in 1947. He then received his Masters and PhD from Mississippi State University and returned to Clemson as an Assistant Professor. In 1956, Dr. Wheeler became Head of the Animal Husbandry Department, which changed to the Animal Science Department during his tenure. Dr. Wheeler also helped develop an MS degree program, along with programs in Nutrition and Animal Physiology.

1989

Dr. R. L. Edwards

Dr. Edwards received his BS from Berea College and his MS and PhD from North Carolina State University. He came to Clemson in 1958 as a professor of Animal Science and became involved in both graduate and research programs and made numerous contributions to the College of Agriculture and to the Block and Bridle Club.

Dr. W. C. Godley

Dr. Godley was a native of Miley, SC. He graduated from Clemson with his BS in agriculture in 1943, and he went on to earn his MS and PhD from NC State University. He returned to Clemson to serve as a professor of Animal Science, Associate Dean, and Associate Director of the South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Dr. Godley also was a member and chairman of many state, regional, and national agricultural research committees. He retired from Clemson in 1986, but his many years of dedication to the Clemson mission earned him the Distinguished Service in Agriculture Award in 1987, the Centennial Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Agricultural Sciences in 1988, and the University’s Distinguished Service Award in 1994. His name was also given to the Godley-Snell Award for excellence in agricultural research, and to the Godley-Snell Research Center.

J. M. Rast

Mr. Rast was a successful boar producer who was instrumental in developing and promoting the pork industry in South Carolina. He served as President of the Southeastern Duroc Breeders Association and Soil Conservation Commissioner, and he was a 35-year member of the Calhoun County Forestry Commission.

1990

T. R. Bartee

Ted Bartee was born in 1938 in Holt, Missouri. He graduated from William Jewell college in 1960, then worked as a grain manager for the Center Soya Company in Chattanooga, Tennessee from 1964 to 1970. He began his role as vice president of Harris-Crane, Inc., in Charlotte, NC, in 1970, then became president in 1995. He served as advisor of the South Carolina Junior Angus Association in Clover, SC, President of the South Carolina Angus Association, and President of the York County Cattlemen’s Association.

Ed Corbin

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

1991

Curt Gwinn

Mr. John “Curt” Gwinn, Sr., was born in Spartanburg, SC. He graduated from the Citadel in 1950, then joined the Army as an Engineer and a 1st Lieutenant. In 1953, he began his career as a contractor, and under his leadership, Congaree Construction Co. built over three dozen of Columbia’s major landmarks. However, Gwinn also had a love of agriculture, so he started the Dixieland Arabian Stud farm, which trained and bred Arabian horses for 25 years. He also raised premier Angus cattle at Congaree Farms Angus Cattle.

Dr. Eugene Wright

Dr. Wright was a 1956 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. He worked as an extension veterinarian at Clemson University until his retirement in 1991. He served as president of the American Association of Extension Veterinarians and vice president of the American Association of Retired Veterinarians. In 1976, he was named Veterinarian of the year by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians.

1992

Dr. Poag Reid

Dr. Reid earned his BS from Clemson University and his DVM from the University of Georgia. In 1974, he and his wife purchased land to build what would soon be his own practice, Creek Run Veterinary Clinic, in Anderson County. Dr. Reid is a renowned equine veterinarian and a breeding expert.

Robert Vaughn

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

1993

Ken Smith

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

Dr. Henry Webster

Dr. Webster was born in 1938 in Robeson County, North Carolina. He earned his BS in animal science from NC State University in 1960, then served two years in the Marine Corp. He earned his MS from NC State in 1973, then a PhD from Clemson in 1976. Under Dr. Webster’s leadership, the South Carolina Performance Testing program for bulls became one of the best in the nation. He also helped the South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association grow into a large and influential organization. He received the Extension Superior Performance award in 1984 and the Extension Master Teacher award in 1988. He was recognized by the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science with the 1989 Extension Award.

1994

Ralph Bell, Jr.

Bell was born in Lydia, SC, in 1926. He left Clemson University to serve in the Merchant Marines during World War II, but then returned to Clemson and graduated with a BS in agricultural engineering in 1949. Buck purchased land in the Taw Caw Creek area of Clarendon County and actively farmed this land until 2011. He was instrumental in the founding of Summerton Baptist Church School in 1965, which later became Clarendon Hall School, where he served as chairman of the school board for 25 years. In 1990, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the SC Farm Bureau. Bell was also chairman of the National Beef Industry Council and the S.C. Beef Board, and he was on the executive board of the S.C. Farm Bureau for more than 20 years. He served five years on the board of trustees of the Baptist College of Charleston, now Charleston Southern University. He was on the Summerton Town Council for 16 years and served 12 years as Mayor Pro Tem.

S. W. Kennedy, Sr.

Kennedy was born in 1938 in Utica, New York. He enrolled in Animal Husbandry at Clemson College in 1958 and soon began working full time as the Clemson sheep herdsman. He graduated from Clemson in 1962. He was instrumental in the initiation, growth, and success of Clemson’s equine research, teaching, and extension programs. In 1970, he began using the trails of the Clemson Experimental Forest to teach students to ride, and to train young horses that would later be sold by the university or used for teaching or research. He was responsible for establishing the majority of the Fants Grove portion of the Clemson Experimental Forest Trail System. He retired from Clemson in 1994 but continued to assist in the horse farm teaching and research programs until 1997.

1995

Gene Brown

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

Jim Brown

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

1996

Willyne McGill

Mrs. McGill grew up on a cotton and dairy farm in southern Anderson County, where she was active in 4-H and showing dairy cows. She graduated from Clemson in 1964 and was one of the university's first female graduates. Mrs. McGill was a 4-H leader for many years, and she was active in forming SC CattleWomen, an organization for which she served as President, Vice President, Cook-Off Chair, and Beef Ambassador Coordinator. She was also a founding member of the SC Beef Round-Up Committee, a member of the Board of Directors for the Anderson County and South Carolina Cattlemen's Associations, a member of the Anderson County FSA Committee, and Secretary and Youth Advisor for the Southeast Shorthorn Association. Mrs. McGill served two terms as a South Carolina representative to the Cattlemen's Beef Boards. She was one of the 2000 Women of the Year Nominees for the Clemson Chapter of Sigma Alpha, and one of the women in agriculture recognized in 1989 by the SC Department of Agriculture during Ag Week. Mrs. McGill is now involved in the daily activities of Gill-Starr Farm, a commercial cow/calf operation that was recognized as the Commercial Producer of the Year by the SC Cattlemen's Association in 2003. Willyne and her husband, Ned McGill, have two children and six grandchildren.

1997

Doris Blackmon

Mrs. Blackmon and her sister, Shirley Brown, were given bred Angus cows in 1958 as a gift from their father. As the sisters’ herd expanded, they began taking their heifers to junior and open Angus shows throughout the Southeast and won numerous prizes. In 1962, they purchased 300 acres to found Famoda Farm in Tigerville, SC, where they raised many high selling animals for the Clemson and Edisto bull tests. The sisters have been named the South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association seedstock producers of the year and have been inducted into the South Carolina Angus Hall of Fame. Their herd has been honored as a Historic Angus Herd by the American Angus Association.

Shirley Brown

Ms. Brown and her sister, Doris Blackmon, were given bred Angus cows in 1958 as a gift from their father. As the sisters’ herd expanded, they began taking their heifers to junior and open Angus shows throughout the Southeast and won numerous prizes. In 1962, they purchased 300 acres to found Famoda Farm in Tigerville, SC, where they raised many high selling animals for the Clemson and Edisto bull tests. The sisters have been named the South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association seedstock producers of the year and have been inducted into the South Carolina Angus Hall of Fame. Their herd has been honored as a Historic Angus Herd by the American Angus Association.

Dr. James McConnell

Dr. McConnell earned his BS and PhD degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee. In 1971, he joined the faculty of the Animal Science Department at Clemson University as Assistant Professor.

1998

Mike Cunningham

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

1999

Eranda Bradshaw

Mrs. Bradshaw worked as a secretary in the Clemson Animal Science Department for 19 years beginning in 1989. She was instrumental in the successful functioning of the Block and Bridle Club and other departmental clubs.

Dr. Gene Cornett

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

2000

Dr. T. G. Westmoreland

Dr. Westmoreland is a native of Shelby, NC. Following two years of pre-veterinary study at Clemson, he was accepted at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, where he earned his DVM in 1958. He was commissioned as a Captain in the US Air Force and served as base veterinarian and assistant preventive medicine officer at Charleston Air Force Base. Dr. Westmoreland has spent over 50 years practicing veterinary medicine in Shelby. In addition, his River Hill Angus Farm produced renowned breeding stock for purebred herds across the US and Argentina. In 1991, he donated the bulk of his herd to Clemson. In 1996, he established the T. G. Westmoreland Scholarship Endowment for Animal and Veterinary Sciences students, and in 2012, he donated $1.5 million to endow the academic success program at Clemson’s Class of 1956 Academic Success Center.

2001

Dr. Stan Clements

Dr. Clements worked as a Clemson Extension Animal Scientist in Abbeville County. In 1983, he was awarded the Certificate of Merit for excellence in Extension programming, and in 1991, he was awarded the Extension Distinguished Service Award.

O. T. Price, Jr.

Price was a native of Ridge Spring, SC. He graduated from Clemson College in 1956 with a BS degree in Agricultural Education. He then served in the U.S. Army in Seoul, Korea, before returning home to take over the family farm. During his 37 years of operating the farm; O.T. was honored as Outstanding Young Farmer 1962, Cattleman of the Year in 1979, and Commercial Producer of the Year in 1992. He served as president of the Saluda County Cattleman’s Association many times and was instrumental in starting the Saluda County Heifer Sale.  He also served on the South Carolina Beef Board for 13 years. He was one of six farmer who started Ridge Farmers Mutual Coop and served on its board for 23 years. O.T. was a member of the Ridge Spring Volunteer Fire Department; a founding member of Wyman King Academy and charter member of its Board; and helped organize the Ridge Spring - Monetta Little League baseball program where he coached for 18 years.

2002

Dr. John Albrecht

Dr. Albrecht graduated with his BS from Delaware Valley College in 1965. He went on to earn both his MS and PhD from NC State University in 1968 and 1971, respectively. Dr. Albrecht then began his career at Clemson as an Extension Animal Science Specialist at the Pee Dee Experiment Station in Florence, SC, where he assisted county agents with livestock production and marketing programs. In 1987, he was named an Honorary State Farmer by the SC FFA.

2003

Harold D. Hupp

Dr. Hupp worked as an Extension Livestock Specialist at Clemson from 1984 until his retirement in 2011. He was also an advisor for the Block and Bridle Club. Dr. Hupp now serves on the Board of Directors of the Pickens County Cattlemen’s Association.

Dr. John W. Irwin

Dr. Irwin worked for the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service as an Extension Animal Scientist.

2004

Gary Burns

Mr. Burns serves as the manager of the Clemson Beef Cattle Unit, as well as the Sheep Unit.

2005

Dr. A. B. Bodine

Dr. Bodine earned his BS, MS, and PhD from Clemson University and became a professor of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Clemson. He taught several courses, including nutrition, immunobiology, laboratory techniques, and biochemistry, and his researched focused on the biochemistry and immunology of sharks, rays, and skates. Dr. Bodine was also instrumental in the creation of the Creative Inquiry undergraduate research program at Clemson. He was the recipient of the Alumni Master Teacher Award, as well as the Outstanding Teacher Award from the National Association for Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

2006

Earle Thrailkill

Mr. Thrailkill graduated from Clemson in 1965 with a degree in Animal Science. He owned and operated a 1400-acre operation with cattle, turkeys, hay, and timber. He was a National Cattlemen’s Association delegate, a National Wild Turkey Federation member, an SC Cattlemen’s Association president, and the AgSouth board director. He was also a mayor and council member of Fort Lawn, director of the Chester County Farm Bureau, director of the Chester County Board of Commerce and Development, and a member of the Clemson Extension Advisory Council.

Charles Williams

Mr. Williams is a native of Pendleton, SC. He graduated from Clemson in 1976 with a degree in Animal Industries. He has served as director of Clemson’s T. Ed Garrison Arena since 1991, and under his direction, the several expansions added to the arena have made it one of the largest in the Southeast.

2007

Harold Abercrombie

Mr. Abercrombie served as the farm manager for Clemson University’s Starkey Swine Center. He was extremely supportive of the Block and Bridle Club and provided assistance for many of their projects and functions. During his time at Clemson, he was instrumental in forming a partnership between the university and Big Dave’s Barbeque in Clemson designed to offer Clemson residents a higher quality of meat. The hogs were raised at the Starkey Swine Center under Abercrombie’s supervision, then slaughtered at the Clemson Meats Lab and sold to the restaurant.

Patricia Martin

Mrs. Martin worked as a secretary for the Clemson Animal Science Department. She was an asset to the administration of the Clemson chapter of the Block and Bridle Club. Mrs. Martin retired in May of 2007.

2008

Dr. Doris Helms

Helms began her career at Clemson in 1973 as a professor of biology. She later became the Associate Dean of the College of Sciences. Helms then spent 13 years as the university’s provost. Many of Clemson’s accomplishments are attributable to her vision and leadership, including the success of the Bridge to Clemson program, Creative Inquiry, and the Academic Success Center. She retired in 2013.

Jerry Munns

Mrs. Munns was born in 1951 in Greenwood, SC. She was the manager of Big Sky Farm and an active volunteer with FFA and 4-H. She was awarded the Friend of Extension award by the SC Association of County Agriculture Agents.

2009

David Parker

Parker earned his MS in animal science from Clemson and began working as a Clemson Extension Agent for Cherokee County in 1978. He retired in 2009.

2016

Dr. W. A. Barnette

Dr. Barnette was a native of York, SC. He earned his BS from Clemson in 1910 and a degree in veterinary medicine from Ohio State University in 1913. After teaching at Clemson College from 1913 to 1917 and later at Ohio State and the University of Georgia, Dr. Barnette moved his family to Greenwood in 1920 and began practicing veterinary medicine. That same year, he founded the Greenwood Packing Plant, which began manufacturing meat products in 1927. He retired from his veterinary practice in 1942 to devote his time fully to the packing plant.

F. L. Barton

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

T. E. Bell, Jr.

Mr. Bell was a native of Lydia, SC. He graduated from Clemson College in 1939, then worked as a school teacher and coach. Bell served in the US Army during World War II for 39 months in the South Pacific Theater. He earned numerous awards for his service, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. Bell then worked as a farmer and livestock buyer for Hygrade Food Corporation and the Ralston-Purina companies. In 1988, he received Clemson University’s Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Agricultural Sciences.

A. L. Durant

Durant worked as an Extension Livestock Specialist in Florence, SC as early as 1925.

E. G. Godbey

Mr. Godbey served as an associate animal husbandman at Clemson College. He also served as secretary of the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Production.

F. B. Mathias

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

E. D. Monroe

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

W. B. Oswald

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

R. R. Ritchie

Mr. Ritchie was an instructor of Animal Husbandry at Clemson beginning in the 1930s. In 1948, he went on a two-year leave to travel to Japan with the US Army in an effort to rehabilitate Japanese agriculture.

Dr. T. Joe Shirley, Jr.

Dr. Shirley earned his bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and his DVM from the University of Georgia. He practiced veterinary medicine in Pendleton, SC, for over 48 years. Dr. Shirley was a volunteer with the Anderson Humane Society and the Clemson University Bull Test Station, and he helped establish the veterinary tech program at Tri County Tech.

L. V. Starkey

Starkey was named the head of the Clemson Animal Husbandry Department (later renamed the Animal Science Department) in 1918. He held this position until 1956. He served as President of the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science from 1933 to 1934. Clemson University’s Starkey Swine Center now carries his name.

H. F. Tindall

Limited biographical information is available for this individual. If you have additional knowledge of this person, please contact the Clemson University Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.