William Carlos (WC) CLAY

August 29, 1891 – February 17, 1964

Niece: Carolyn Clay Hudspeth

Married July 20, 1935

EDDIE SMITH CLAY

January 7, 1898 – February 13, 1999

Nieces: Virginia White Hale, Margaret White Nelson and Mary Ann White Brett (Eddie)

Eddie, as everyone knew her, was born in Wilson County and lived here for 101 years. She graduated from Oakland Elementary, Lebanon High, and Cumberland University Preparatory School. In 1917 she was a member of the first 4-H Canning Club. They were individually required to plant ½ acre of tomatoes, tend, harvest, and then can the produce. In 1918 she went to work for Union Bank and Trust where she continued until 1935. Eddie was a lady of many talents. She was a farmer, artist, designer and author. She received a degree from the Norman Rockwell School of Art in 1965 and published her book "Memories of Yesteryear" in 1992. Many of her paintings of historical buildings in Wilson County are proudly displayed in various businesses throughout the county. She was a familiar figure painting from the bed of her pickup truck. She was a member of the Town and Country Garden Club and won many awards for her floral designs.

WC Clay was born to parents, William B. Clay and Prudence Warren Clay. The Clay family came to Tennessee from Prince Edward County, Virginia in 1830. When he was young, there were no schools in the county so his father hired a tutor, Rubye Smith, to teach WC and his sister. Later he came to Lebanon public schools and graduated eighth grade. He then graduated from Jennings Business College in 1909. At 19 WC and his father travelled collecting for the Wrought Iron Range Co. He then was a teller for American National Bank and entered the United States Army in 1918 where he quickly became company clerk due to his accounting abilities. When he returned he built and opened Lebanon’s first gas station in 1920 on the corner of North Cumberland and West Market Streets. Through the years the name changed to WC Clay Oil Company/Pure Oil where he retired in 1956.

Together Eddie and WC raised sheep on their farm. They were instrumental in organizing a wool pool and on June 6, 1941 the first Lamb Festival. WC was the program chairman and served a Grand Marshall of the Lamb Festival Parade. The Clays were huge supporters of the 4-H program, particularly the steer and heifer shows. For many years Eddie presented the WC Clay Memorial trophy at the local show, which is still given every spring. The Clays were also the first farmers to sow KY 31 Fescue, harvest the seed and sell it in Wilson County. WC and Eddie were active members of the Wilson County Farm Bureau. In 1963, WC loaned the Wilson County Farm Bureau the money to buy the Nath Robertson Pony and Carriage Barn on Gay Street, which had been converted into a residence. At Clay’s death, the loan was paid in full. WC was also President of the Wilson County Chamber of Commerce in 1942.

The Clays will long be remembered for their kind and generous contributions not only to the agricultural community but to all of Wilson County.

August 25, 1924 - June 8, 2012

Married: Zuelma Simpson

Children: Barbara Bellione, Martha Norman, Mary Beard

6 Grandchildren, 3 Great-Grandchildren

Mr. Walter Goodall was born and raised on a farm in the Tuckers Crossroads Community. He graduated from Lebanon High School and attended Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. He served two years in the Army and was stationed in Italy for thirteen months. He started working for the Soil Conservation Service in 1955 in Pulaski, TN where he worked for three years. He then transferred to the Wilson County office. During his time with the Soil Conservation Office he received many awards for his outstanding service. Mr. Goodall’s primary job was to work with farmers on planning and applying conservation practices to their land. He surveyed, designed and supervised construction of ponds, terraces, diversion terraces, grass waterways, small stream channel improvement, underground tile drainage and concrete watering troughs and pipelines. He designed approximately 2000 farm ponds in Wilson County. He assisted the FFA and 4-H in land judging contests.

Mr. Goodall has been married to Zuelma Simpson Goodall for 55 years. They have three daughters, Barbara Bellione, Martha Norman, and Mary Beard. He has six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. His parents were Earl and Ada (Purnell) Goodall. Mr. Goodall has been very active in his local church by serving in many positions including serving as a song leader, teacher and elder.

1900 - 1977

Wife: Irene Passchall

Son: Kenneth Love

2 Grandchildren, 4 Great-Grandchildren

Harry Love was one of three children born on a farm in Bells, Tenn, Crockett County. He had 1 brother and 1 sister. He graduated from Bells High School in 1918 and was encouraged from teachers to attend college. He was the only one of his family to go to college. He graduated from University of Tennessee with a BS in Agriculture in 1922. His major was in animal science. After college he worked his way to Europe on a cattle boat.

He begun his career as a teacher in 1924 and taught in Jacksboro, Piney Flatts, Alexandria and Gordonsville before teaching in Watertown in 1930. He also taught 7th and 8th Science in addition to Agriculture in his early years.

In 1932 he married Irene Paschall of Brush Creek. After living in three homes on Main Street, a son was born in 1939. The family moved to the Young farm just outside the Watertown city limits on Neal Road in 1941.

As a Agriculture teacher, he was also the Future Farmer of America advisor. This included teaching parliamentary procedure, and skills such as testing milk, welding, livestock judging, and building skills. He would take boys to FFA camps, state and national conventions. He was always most proud when a student was named "State Farmer" or received the "American Farmer Degree". He would always have boys enter the skills contest in Hartsville. He and a student would appear on the farm program on WSM radio "Noontime Neighbors" with John McDonald for several years.

He would spend his summers visiting boys at their homes to see their projects. He went on several week long camping trips. Those included Dallas, Daytona Beach, and the Purina Farms in St. Louis. He always stayed in close contact with his students.

He was a member of the Comer Lodge of Watertown for 50 years where he was a 32nd Degree Mason. He was also a member of the Exchange Club, Farm Bureau and a Sunday School teacher and treasurer of the Watertown Methodist Church. He was also an active member of the Wilson County Retired Teachers Association.

He retired after 36 years teaching in June 1965. He died at his home in June 1977. Mrs. Love also taught the second grade at Watertown for several years prior to his retirement.

August 24, 1932

Married: Alice C. Moss

Children: Andy & Angela

5 Grandchildren

John R. Trice was born August 24, 1932 on his family farm on Trice Road in Wilson County which is a certified Century Farm. He was raised in a Christian family by his parents, Henry and Era. They taught him to be honest and truthful, to value his integrity and to never be a stranger to hard work.

Johnny walked to and from Oakland Elementary School each day. At that time the school had two rooms with 8 grades and 2 teachers. Summers meant going with his Daddy to run their thrasher. They traveled the community thrashing wheat, oats and barley for neighbors who paid with part of the grain.

Jim Ward was the 4-H leader and Johnny participated in the 4-H clubs where he remembers showing steers on the Public Square in Lebanon. He attended Lebanon High School, now the current Criminal Justice Center, where he graduated in 1950. While there he was active in FFA for four years under the guidance of Mr. Buck Evans. He served as an officer, and went on to earn his American Farmer Degree in 1953. In 1993 he received an award for Outstanding Service to 4-H.

After high school, Johnny went back to farming with his father. He loved farming, but realized that another occupation would allow him to make more money to help support his farming interests. For the next 19 years he worked for Bland Motors selling Massy Ferguson tractors and equipment. This allowed him to meet and work with other farmers of Wilson and surrounding counties. In 1973, he established Trice Bookkeeping and in 1993 he founded Trice Appraisals where he still goes to work every day.

Johnny married Alice Conatser Moss of Mt. Juliet on November 11, 1955. They purchased the Neal Farm on Coles Ferry Pike where they built the house in 1965 where they still live. Johnny and Alice have two children, Andy and Angela, and grandchildren Lauren, Lexie, Ryan, Allison, and Jonathan.

Johnny enjoys being involved in all aspects of community life. He helped organize Young Farmers and Homemakers and served as President. He also served as president of the Wilson County Livestock Association and as a Director of the Wilson County Farm Bureau. Johnny has been on the board of the Wilson County Farmers Co-op for 21 years.

Johnny was concerned when the old fairgrounds sold that there was no place for young people to showcase their livestock. He was instrumental in encouraging the County Court to purchase the current James E. Ward Agricultural Center. He went on to help organize Wilson County Promotions, sponsors of the Wilson County Fair and served as the first President.

Some of his civic interests led him to serve on the Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Board, Wilson County Industrial Board and the Wilson County Water Authority Board.

He was instrumental in organizing the Peoples Bank in May 1967. He also helped establish Wilson Bank and Trust where he served on the board for several years.

Johnny and Alice attend College Hills Church of Christ where he serves on the finance committee.

In addition to Trice Appraisals, Johnny operates Alanjohn Farm which consists of 400 acres. His beef cow/calf operation boasts 80 cows. Soon you will find him cutting and rolling his own hay and enjoying every minute on the farm.

December 17, 1896 – February 10, 1964

Wife: Tressa

Children: Henry Dean, Margaret Brown Reed, Kathleen Lindsley Sewell, David Anderson

Mr. Waters was born on a farm in the Greenwood community of Wilson county. He was the sixth of nine children born to Edgar and Kate Lindsley Waters. Greenwood Farm, as it was known, was given to Henry’s great, great - grandfather as a Revolutionary War Land Grant in the 1790’s.

Henry was instrumental in establishing the dairy industry not only in Wilson County, but throughout the state and nation. He was one of the pioneer Jersey breeders, and imported the foundation of his registered herd from the Isle of Jersey. Through his efforts great progress was made in the dairy industry which led to the sale of milk becoming the county’s leading income producing industry.

He was President of the Tennessee Jersey Breeders Association and a director of the American Jersey Cattle Club. He was a charter member of the Wilson County Farm Bureau and served in several official positions. He was a director of the Middle Tennessee Production Credit Association and a member of the original Wilson County committee of the Farmers’ Home Administration and served as the chairman of the county Agricultural Extension Service committee.

In 1918 he organized the Wilson County Dairy Improvement Association for which he served as secretary-treasurer for many years. During this time, Wilson was the only county south of the Mason-Dixon line that could furnish the U.S. Department of Agriculture complete records on sires, dams, and daughters. He was baptized in Spring Creek and was an elder at Bethel Church of Christ.

In 1932 the Waters family had the highest testing Jersey herd in America regardless of the size of the herd. For twelve years the herd was the highest producing of its size. Henry and his wife, Tressa, were ambassadors for the Jersey breed. They spoke at local, state and national forums on the importance of the dairy industry. Their Jersey cows and bulls were successful in the show ring and provided the basis for many other herds. Tressa was named one of 50 leading rural club workers in the nation in 1940. Perhaps their favorite community work involved 4-H and FFA students. They were great supporters of these organizations and donated breeding stock for these young people to raise and show. From 1922 to 1934 Henry served a junior dairy leader for Wilson County. Most of this time there was no county agent. In 1929 his group of young dairymen won first place in the National Dairy Show.

In 1919 under his leadership the county 4-H group won first place in the State Fair Production Show and the National Dairy Show. It is likely that he helped more Wilson County farmers get started in the dairy business with assistance in many ways, than any other individual.

1930 - September 11, 2012

Married: Dorothy Roach Willoughby

Children: Al & Don Willoughby

2 Grandchildren

Charles Willoughby was the second of five sons born to A.H. and Edna Willoughby of Morristown, Tennessee. He was raised on the family farm and began milking cows at age fifteen as part of the family’s Grade B dairy operation.

The family moved to Mt. Juliet in 1946 and purchased Greenhill Farm, which had been widely known for bringing registered Jersey cattle to the area. The family continued the dairy operation with grade Holstein cattle. Charles attended and graduated Mt. Juliet High School in 1947, before enrolling at the University of Tennessee, Martin, where he began his agriculture major while playing football for two years. He transferred to UT Knoxville and completed his degree in Animal Husbandry in 1951, and returned home to Mt. Juliet to become the principal operator of the dairy.

While at UTK, Charles met his future wife, Dorothy Roach, of Columbia. They were married in 1954, and started the family with having two sons a few years later. Charles built the home in which they still reside on part of the family farm, moving in during 1960. During these years, he continued to run the dairy operation with 80 cows, and raised the majority of corn, hay, and silage needed for feed along with tobacco. He received the honor of Outstanding Young Farmer for Wilson County.

In 1965, long-time friend and high school vocational agriculture teacher, Bill Coley, took a job with the state department of education and asked Charles to fill his vacated position at Mt. Juliet High School. He accepted the proposal and taught high school agriculture while maintaining the farming operation. With the sons growing old enough to take a greater role in the farm, Charles accepted an appointment as county Vocational Director in 1975. His duties under a federal vocational reform act were to oversee expansion of what was primarily agriculture and home economics into a diverse program to include metalwork, building trades, electronics, business, culinary arts, nursing and others.

After the dairy cattle were sold in 1980, Charles and sons transformed the farming operation into soybeans, wheat, beef cattle, and hay; which are the main commodities produced on the farm today with the help of grandchildren, Dale and Kate.

Over the years, Mr. Willoughby has been a leader and mentor to men - youth and adult. While an FFA Advisor, he touched the lives of many young men and helped them develop the skills needed for employment and everyday life. He served as scout master, and was presented with the Long Rifle award. He has served as president of Mt. Juliet Kiwanis, Mt. Juliet Little League, and Tennessee Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association. He has been a member of Hermitage and Cloyd’s Presbyterian Churches serving in Deacon and Elder positions. He has served on the Wilson County Commission, West Wilson Utility District Commission, and later on the Farm Bureau Board of Directors and UT Institute of Agriculture Development Board.

Mr. Willoughby continues to advise the operation of the farm and support agriculture in the community. He is a life member of FFA Alumni, and was recently recognized as a member of the Tennessee FFA Foundation’s Century Club.

1925 – 2004

Married: Elsie Hall – October 1949

Children: Marsha Johnston, Melinda Arnett, Mark Arnett

2 Grandchildren

Melvin H. Arnett was born on the family farm in Athens, TN. He was the youngest of ten children. His parents both died in 1936. After their death, he lived with a brother and sister until he went to college.

He attended TPI which in now Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN. He milked cows and delivered milk to help pay tuition. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1948. Later in his career, he earned a Master of Science Degree from the University of Tennessee in 1973.

Upon graduation from TPI, Mr. Arnett accepted a job with Carnation Milk Co. in Tupelo Mississippi. In 1950 he was transferred to Watertown, TN. While there he expressed interest in working with 4-H youth as an Assistant County Agent and asked to be considered for the job if the position was funded by Wilson County. First he served two years as Asst. County Agent in Wayne County. Then was hired December 18, 1954 as Asst. County Agent and moved his family to Lebanon. In 1973, Mr. Arnett was promoted to the position of County Agent for Wilson County. He served in this capacity until 1979 when he was appointed as District Supervisor over twenty-two counties is Middle TN. He retired from U.T.Extension Service in 1989.

During his career, he was the recipient of the U.T. Extension Distinguished Service Award. He was chairman of the National 4-H Talent Review. In 2003 the Education Bldg. at the James Ward Agricultural Center was named in his honor. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, serving one term as president. He was involved with the Farm Bureau. He was an active member of First Baptist Church and a 32nd Degree Mason. Upon his retirement from Extension, he was given the honor of serving as Community Coordinator at Wilson Bank & Trust. He was instrumental in organizing the WB&T’s Solid Gold Club for seniors which now boast a total of 6900 members.

Edgar J. Bilbro: 1903 - 1998

Mattie Martin Bilbro: 1907 – 1997

Married: 1951

Mr. Bilbro was the Wilson Co. Farm Bureau President from December 1962 until September of 1982. Prior to his election as president, he was an elected Director for the Farm Bureau board of directors, where he continued until 1987. He held many offices for the Farm Bureau: President, V-President, Sec-Treas. While a director and officer, he served on the Executive Committee as well as several State and Regional committees. He was a Wilson County Voting delegate for the majority of the years he served on the board.

He also represented Tennessee at the National Farm Bureau Convention on three different occasions. He was a member of the National Egg Council and appeared before a Congressional Committee in Washington D.C. on their behalf. Mrs. Bilbro was a fierce supporter of her husband and his endeavors and a faithful advocate of agricultural issues in Wilson County and nationwide.

They were longtime members of Gladeville United Methodist Church and huge supporters of Liberty University. They were a generous couple with their time, energy, and financial contributions.

1905 - 1984

Wife: Mary Ferguson Gaines

Daughters: Martha Anne Sap, Mary Hugh Skeen

4 Grandchildren, 6 Great-Grandchildren

Mr. Evans, son of Della S. and Jesse C. Evans, was reared in the Gladeville community. His brothers were the following: Turner S. Evans, W. Kelly Evans, and Haskell Evans. In Wilson County, he was educated at Concord School and Gladeville High School. On a scholarship he attended and received his B.S. degree from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. He earned a Masters degree from George Peabody College.

His first teaching experience was in Mississippi, which lasted for seven years. In 1937 he returned to Lebanon to become Lebanon High School’s F.F.A. advisor. After teaching there for thirty-three years, he retired in 1970. As young boys, he and his brothers worked hard on a family farm. Because of this and his education, he conveyed his knowledge of farming to his students. The content area of teaching agriculture not only included the farming curriculum, but life skills, welding, and building. While teaching, he took his boys to F.F.A. camps, conventions (both state and national), contests where they participated in public speaking, parliamentary procedure, and livestock judging. During his career, he had students who received "The American Farmer Degree." Mr. Evans loved all of his boys.

After the war, Mr. Evans worked through the G.I. bill in supervising the teaching of farming skills to World War II veterans.

He was a member of the Lebanon First United Methodist Church, Jaycees, a charter member of the Lions Club, the Munsey Grange, the Farm Bureau, the Wilson County Association of Retired Teachers, and the Retired Vocational Teachers organization.

Mr. and Mrs. Evans and two generations of their family have taught approximately 120 years in Wilson County. He instilled the love of teaching to his family.

"Grand Old Man of the Harness Turf"

1851 -1924

Married: Mamie Smith

4 Children

"Pop" Geers was born on a farm near Lebanon, TN in 1851. Geers was sometimes referred to as "The Silent Man from Tennessee" because he was a modest, unassuming man, quiet to the point of shyness. But he earned wide acclaim as a breeder, trainer and driver of horses.

At the age of twenty he won his first race at the Wilson County Fair with Little Dave to a wagon in 3:04, and four years later opened his own stable at Major Brown's Swell Stock Farm in Springhill, TN. His first star was Mattie Hunter, 2:12½, who, in July 1879, gave "Pop" his first world record. Brown Hal, 2:12½ and Hal Pointer brought Geers to the forefront in 1889 and he continued in 1890 with Hal Pointer to set a mark of 2:09¾. He raced Robert J. to his time of 2:01 ½ in 1894. In 1916 he set the record of 1:59 ¾ driving his beloved Napoleon Direct.

When the bike wheel was introduced, "Pop" was one of the pioneers to use it and to prove it. He drove many champions during the remainder of his career.

"The Silent Man" died as a result of a racing accident at Wheeling, WV, on September 3, 1924, which, ironically, had been proclaimed Geers' Day" at the West Virginia State Fair.

Birth Date: 8/10/1937

Born in 1937 to Robert and Allene Vantrease Powell of Watertown.Married Charline Hamilton in 1963

Children:
Thomas (1966) currently Executive Director of American Meat Science Association
Mark (1968) currently General Manager of Wilson Farmer’s Coop
Amy (1973) currently Extension Agent – Loudon County

8 grandchildren

Education

• Graduate of Watertown High School (1955)
• B.S. in Animal Husbandry, University of Tennessee (1959)
• M.S. in Animal Husbandry, University of Tennessee (1966)

Career Information

Ben Powell worked his entire career for the Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service, focusing on youth development and education through the 4-H program. He started in 1959 as an extension agent in Rutherford County before moving to Knoxville in 1969 where he would spend the next 30 years on the staff of the State 4-H Office. In 1981, he was promoted to State 4-H Leader and guided Tennessee 4-H as it became one of the top programs in the United States. He retired in 1997 and moved in 2002 to join his son, Mark, at the family farm in Watertown.

Agricultural Accomplishments

Ben Powell’s legacy to agriculture is the millions of individuals who were the beneficiaries of the life skills training in the Tennessee 4-H program. Under his leadership, two generations of rural and urban youth received education in agricultural projects, citizenship, leadership and personal development.

Some of his key contributions to the program were the development of the 4-H awards program, the establishment of a comprehensive literature library and the publishing of the Tennessee 4-H History. During his tenure, Tennessee 4-H was nationally recognized as one of the leading programs in the country. For 15 years, the state boasted of more national 4-H project winners than any other. He worked vigorously to secure private and public funding for critical 4-H programs like Tennessee 4-H Congress and the state’s 4-H scholarship programs.

Livestock programs were a particular passion for him. He was a leader in the efforts to establish the Tennessee 4-H Livestock Exposition, which quickly became one of the largest in the country and is still considered one of the most effective means for keeping young people directly engaged with animal agriculture.

Tennessee’s sheep industry would not exist as it does today without the leadership of Ben Powell. As a leader of the Tennessee Sheep Producers Association, the American Hampshire Sheep Association and through untold hours of volunteer work on fair boards and committees, he has been directly responsible for numerous programs that bring more people in touch with the sheep industry.

Civic and/or Community Involvement

While living in Knoxville, Mr. Powell worked tirelessly as a volunteer leader for Knox County’s
4-H livestock project group. He worked one-on-one with hundreds of 4-H members, providing mentorship and encouragement as they worked with their animal projects.

The Powell family also played key roles in Knoxville Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Knoxville Nativity Pageant and Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church.

Since retirement, he has remained active in the agricultural community, continuing to serve on Tennessee State Fair, Tennessee Valley Fair and Mid South Fair sheep committees. He is also an active member of the Nashville Ag Club.

He is a member of Fall Creek Baptist Church in Norene.

Other Awards or Information

• National 4-H Hall of Fame
• Distinguished Service Award and an American Spirit Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents
• Distinguished Service award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.
• Member of Alpha Zeta, Gamma Sigma Delta, Epsilon Sigma Phi and Phi Delta Kappa honorary fraternities.
• Tennessee Sheep Producers Association Secretary for 58 years
• President of the American Hampshire Sheep Association
• 1958 FFA American Farmer Degree

Born: 10/18/1930

Married: Vondie Tarpley, 1962

Mr. Dan Smith has lived and farmed in Wilson County all his life. In 1942, after the bottomland of the farm where he was born was taken by the construction of Old Hickory Dam on the Cumberland River, the Smith family moved to a farm in the Greenwood community, a few miles southeast of Lebanon. Smith continues to farm there, raising beef cattle — primarily Angus — along with hay and permanent pasture on 360 acres. He was once among Wilson County’s leading burley tobacco producers and at one time raised Tennessee walking horses.

Smith bought stock in Wilson Farmers Cooperative, which was chartered on Nov. 22, 1949, when it was organized and was among its first customers when it opened for business in January 1950. In 1953, at age 22, Smith was elected to Wilson Farmers Co-op’s board of directors. Obviously recognizing and appreciating the young farmer’s leadership abilities, Wilson Farmers Co-op members elected him to their board numerous times thereafter — enough times, in fact, for him to rack up 42 years of service. He held each of the board’s various offices — president, vice president, and secretary — several times through the years.

Co-op farmer-members from across the state took notice of the Wilson Countian’s leadership, too, and elected Smith to Tennessee Farmers Cooperative’s board in 1972, launching his productive and eventful nine-year tenure as a TFC director. He is one of the few directors to serve two terms as chairman of TFC’s board, holding the top position in both 1977 and ’81. In 2007, Mr. Dan received the Cooperative Spirit Award from TFC. The Cooperative Spirit Award is given to an individual who, through a special love and devotion, helps further the cause of cooperatives and provides strength and stability to the Cooperative Farm Supply System in Tennessee.

Member-owners of rural electric cooperatives across the state and nation have also been well served by Smith, a valued member of the board of Murfreesboro-based Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation — one of the nation’s largest electric co-ops — since 1971. Nationally, he has served for 22 years as sergeant at arms of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting and is now chief sergeant.

Smith was a pioneer in youth and young farmers’ activities in Tennessee. As an FFA member in 1949, he received that organization’s highest distinction, the American Farmer Degree. He was a charter member and first president of Wilson County’s Young Farmers and Homemakers organization.

Mr. Dan Smith is the current president of the Wilson County Farm Bureau, a position he’s held for the last ten years, and has been on its board for over 40 years. He served a three year term on an advisory committee for Co-Bank in Louisville, KY. He and his wife were awarded a Life Time Membership in the Wilson County Livestock Association. In addition, he served on the USDA ASCS County Board for several years.

Smith and his wife, Vondie, were married in 1962 and are active members of Highland Heights Church of Christ in Lebanon. Mrs. Smith was in the banking business for over 50 years and retired as a vice president of Lebanon’s Bank of the South in 2008.

1914 – 2000

Married: Annie Bernard and Hazel Allen Ward

3 Stepchildren, 11 Grandchildren, 6 Great-Grandchildren, 3 Great-Great Grandchildren

Wiley T. Bernard was reared in Covington, TN. He graduated from Tennessee A&I State College in 1940 with a BS degree in Agriculture. In 1959 he earned a MS degree in Poultry Science.

He served as a County Agriculture Extension Agent in Wilson County from 1946 until his retirement in 1979. He was the second African American Agriculture Extension Agent in "Negro Work" to serve in the county. Mr. Bernard is remembered by so many for his enthusiasm and ingenuity. Although resources were limited, he always found ways to finance 4-H Club and Future Farmer activities.

He even arranged for parents to accompany students so that they too could learn about agriculture and family living programs. He organized eighteen community clubs and each club was given the mission to improve their homes and farms. The USDA recognized his many accomplishments by awarding him the Distinguished Service Award in 1959. Mr. Bernard was inducted into the Tennessee State University Hall of Fame in 1998

May 1, 1907 – June 23, 2002

Married: Boone Edwards, Walter Brown

Child: Thomas A. Edwards

3 Grandchildren

4 Great-Grandchildren

7 Great-Great-Grandchildren

Mrs. Vicie was the daughter of Tom T. Jones of the Norene community in Wilson County. Her business training began at an early age as she helped her parents grind corn at their grist mill for feed for many area farmers. They also made and sold straw brooms.

She attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and was the first woman in the state of Tennessee to be educated on how to do blood work on poultry. In 1938 she bought her first incubators and began hatching eggs. In 1941 she founded Edwards Feeds, Hatchery, and Supply. The business was expanded to the current location in 1954. This family business was continued by her and her son, Thomas, for almost 50 years and is now owned and operated by her grandson, Tim Edwards.

Early on in the business, she traveled the county to sex the flocks of local farmers. She was able to sex a chicken just by looking at them. Mrs. Vicie kept a close eye on accounts at the store well into her eighties and was one of the first women to own a business in Wilson County.

January 3, 1929 – May 1997

Children: Tim Edwards, Thomas A. Edwards, Jr., Linda Edwards

5 Grandchildren

6 Great-Grandchildren

Mr. Edwards was a lifelong resident of Wilson County. He graduated from Lebanon High School where he was a member of the FFA. He, along with his mother, Vicie Mae Edwards Brown, founded Edwards Hatchery, now Edwards Feeds. They worked along side of each other for 50 years.

Mr. Edwards was a member of the Sportsman Club and the Southeast Broiler Committee. He served as President of the Tennessee Egg and Poultry Association, and was also elected V-President of the Dixie Poultry Association. He furthered his education by attending poultry courses taught by Dr. Salsbury of Charles City, Iowa.

He was honored by the Wilson County Livestock Association as ??????????. At the height of the hatchery business, the Edwards owned 9 chicken farms all in Wilson County housing over ½ million birds year round. The family business is now owned and operated by Thomas’ son, Tim Edwards.

1879 - 1956

Married: Callie Major

No Children

Homer Hancock was born and lived his entire life on the same farm in the Baird’s Mill community of Wilson County. A noted local farmer, he served as Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture from 1923 through 1929 under governors Austin Peay and Henry Horton. During his term he traveled the state extensively and was an outspoken proponent of bringing farm producers and their markets in touch. While in office the monthly "Market Bulletin" was introduced enabling Tennessee farmers to better understand and locate markets for their crops and livestock.

Believing a family farm should be run like any other business, he instituted a program that allowed farmers to name their farms and receive official state recognition. His own farm was named "Echo Valley Livestock Farm" and was one of the first farms to be issued a state certificate. He is credited with ideas that led to the establishment of the Tennessee Agricultural Hall of Fame. Throughout his life he took many leadership roles and served as president of the Southern Livestock Association, American Southdown Sheep Breeders Association, Lebanon Rotary Club, and Wilson County Farm Bureau. He helped establish and was president of the County Council, forerunner to the Farm Bureau.

A champion of rural electrification, he was an organizer of Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation and held membership certificate #1.

January 24, 1918 - March 11, 2010

Married: Lillie Eller

Children: Elaine Ligon Anding, Suzy Ligon Davis, Bill Ligon, Jim Ligon

8 Grandchildren

5 Great-Grandchildren

Born and raised on the Cloyd-Ligon farm in western Wilson County. He graduated from Donelson High School in 1936. He entered WW II on Utah Beach as a company commander and helped build the main line of communications from Cherbourg to Frankfurt.

He is the fifth generation to farm the oldest bicentennial farm in Wilson County which was established in 1789. He is owner of the oldest Poland China purebred hog herd in the United States. He is also the owner of the oldest sheep farm in Tennessee, maintaining a flock of 125-150 ewes along with shorthorn cattle, wheat , barley, oats, grain sorghum and hay.

Mr. Ligon testified, twice each, before the Senate and House Agricultural committees about the plight of the family farm and his testimony is in the congressional record. He appeared in the book, "American Dream Lost and Found" by Studs Terkel about the dreams of Americans who were plain people. In 1970 he furnished his team of mules to be used in the ground breaking ceremony to build Opryland. In 1985 he received the "Distinguished Service Award" from the Poland China Record Association. Also in 1985 he was named "Mid-South Fair Farmer of the Year".

In 1999, the Mid South Fair named the swine show ring in his honor after exhibiting Poland China hogs for 50 consecutive years. In 1996 he was named Wilson County Fair Old Timer. In 2000, the TN State Fair honored him as their first honoree for the Distinguished Service Award for exhibiting Poland China hogs for 51 consecutive years. Two of his main goals in life were to produce top quality Poland China hogs and see the family farmer survive and prosper.

March 18, 1928 - June 6, 2014

Married: Nelda Eddins

Children: Michael, Keith, Steven

3 Grandchildren

Mr. Harris was born and reared in Wilson County and graduated from Mt Juliet High School. From 1930 - 1943, Mr. Harris and his father produced, bottled and delivered milk under the GA Harris & Son milk company He is the 4th generation owner of a Century Farm in Gladeville, TN, which was established in 1818. A log home still stands on the family farm where his grandfather, father and Mr. Harris were born.

Mr. Harris was a livestock specialist for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, 1957-1994 where he worked with nine Commissioners of Agriculture. He is a breeder of Hereford and Saler cattle. He is an advisor for the Tennessee Junior Hereford Association, and a member of the Wilson County Livestock Association. He has received the Tennessee Livestock Association Outstanding Service Award and the Tennessee Pork Producers Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Harris served on the Board of Directors for the TN Cattlemen’s Association and the TN Forage and Grassland Council for numerous years. Mr. Harris is a member of the Gladeville United Methodist Church.

May 26, 1919 - December 20, 2011

Married: Billie (63 years)

Children: Elaine, Carson, Bill and Wanda

8 Grandchildren

Born and reared on a family farm which was located on the Smith and Wilson County line, which produced dairy, wheat, tobacco and corn. He attended grades 1-8 in the Grant Community. He attended Gordonsville High School and graduated from Watertown High School.

In the late 1950’s he began a lifetime career as a livestock dealer. He served as a livestock buyer for Baltz Brother Packing Company, Tennessee Dressed Beef and Tennessee Livestock Producers among other livestock trading businesses. He has provided leadership for the Wilson County Livestock Market since 1984. He has earned a national reputation as an exemplary.

Mr. McKee and his family business has supported many agricultural related programs including 4-H, Tennessee FFA Foundation, Ag. In the Classroom, Block and Bridle and the Wilson County Fair. Awards include lifetime membership in the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association, Tennessee Cattlemen’s Distinguished Service Award, Charolais Distinguished Service Award and an Outstanding Effort To The Livestock Trading Industry from Edward’s Feed.

Mr. McKee has been recognized by the State of Tennessee General Assembly in 2002 and 2006 for his outstanding career and commitment to Tennessee Agriculture. Mr. and Mrs. McKee are still very active in the day to day operation of the Wilson County Livestock Market where three of their children and three of their grandchildren are continuing the family business.

1859 – 1934

Married: Mary Lucinda Waters

Children: Pallas, William, James, Paul, Lucy Neal Grandstaff Simpson, Marjorie Neal McDearmon, Nell Neal Murphy, Annie Neal Dudney, Haskell

Mr. Neal was born and reared in Wilson County. Mr. Neal began farming at age 19 and at age 21 purchased a sawmill. In 1905 he purchased a house and farm on Trousdale Ferry Pike called "Maple Dale" where descendents continue to farm. In 1898 he began experimenting with a revolutionary idea of breeding seed corn by selecting seed only from two-eared stalks. The result of his experimentation was a new corn known as "Neal’s Paymaster Corn." This corn variety resulted in increasing the corn yield of farmers in the aggregate of many millions of dollars. Mr. Neal was the first chairman of the Wilson County Farm Bureau and the first member of the Tennessee Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was chairman of the Wool and Lamb Club and chairman of the Home Telephone.