JOHN LINDER: “as a Georgian, I am proud to cosponsor this bill to rename the Southern Piedmont Conservation Research Center in…”

“as a Georgian, I am proud to cosponsor this bill to rename the Southern Piedmont Conservation Research Center in Watkinsville, GA as the J. Phil Campbell, Senior Natural Resource Conservation Center. For those who may not be familiar with Mr. Campbell and his contributions to Georgia and the Nation, let me give you a brief history of this great man. Born in Dallas, GA in 1878, J. Phil Campbell became a teacher of men at the early age of 17. By age 26, he had worked his way up to assistant superintendent at the first demonstration school in Georgia. In 1913, Mr. Campbell began working with the Department of Agriculture's Extension Service Demonstration Projects. Demonstrating his zeal for teaching and his enthusiasm for agriculture, J. Phil Campbell, in 1915, became Georgia's first Farm Extension Service Director, a position that he maintained until the 1930's. He then gave his educational efforts a national focus. After serving as a consultant to President Roosevelt's Department of Agriculture, Mr. Campbell was appointed as the Assistant Chief of the Soil Conservation Service, a position in which he proudly served until his death in 1944. Not only did J. Phil Campbell act as a catalyst to begin and sustain the farm education effort in Georgia, he focused the Nation's attention in this direction. Among other accomplishments, his efforts resulted in the establishment of the Southern Piedmont Conservation Center in Watkinsville.”