[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14010]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO GEORGE UPTON, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 11, 2006

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. George 
Upton, Jr. for his remarkable 50 years of service in the Sampson County 
Agricultural Extension Service. George's tremendous spirit, dedication 
and work in the agricultural industry has greatly helped the citizens 
of Sampson County and the State of North Carolina, and George should be 
commended for his service.
  George demonstrated a strong work ethic and commitment to improving 
the agricultural industry from an early age. After receiving his degree 
in Animal Science from North Carolina State University in 1959, George 
began his career as a 4-H agent with the Sampson County Agricultural 
Extension Service. Later, George went on to become a livestock agent 
and is now the Sampson County Cooperative Extension director.
  George has brought exemplary service and visionary leadership to 
every position he has held throughout his career. Not only has he 
served as an educator and mentor, but George has helped make 
significant advancements in agriculture during the last 50 years. For 
instance, George has helped implement innovative programs, contributed 
to the utilization of new technologies in the livestock area, and he 
has been instrumental in obtaining additional funding for agriculture. 
George has been essential to the creation of the Sampson County Friends 
of Agriculture.
  George has received numerous awards recognizing his contribution to 
agriculture and to Sampson County. He has received awards from the 
Cooperative Extension Service, has been recognized by the beef and pork 
industry, and he has been inducted into the Sampson County Hall of 
Fame. In addition, the Sales Arena and Show Ring at the Sampson County 
Livestock Facility are named in his honor.
  There may be no greater tribute to George, however, than the recent 
creation by his friends and colleagues of the George Upton, Jr., 
Livestock Endowment for Sampson County. This endowment honors George's 
outstanding 50 years of service and brings together his commitment to 
Sampson County and its people with his passion for the livestock 
program. The endowment will be housed by the North Carolina Cooperative 
Extension Service Foundation and will provide programmatic funding for 
adult and youth livestock programs, awards and recognition for 
competitive activities, and educational scholarships in animal science. 
This endowment will help ensure that George's commitment to providing 
improvement to and opportunities for livestock programs in Sampson 
County will continue for generations to come.
  We thank George, on behalf of the citizens of Sampson County, NC, and 
the Nation for his remarkable service to agriculture. May God's 
strength, joy and peace be with him always.

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