1909 – 1970
Married: Mamie Grigsby
Paul Agee was born on a farm 5 miles west of Lebanon on August 4, 1909 to A. J. Agee and Caldonia Williams Agee. He was the third born of 10 children. His father raised Durocs and gave Paul one at an early age. He lived and breathed hogs from this moment on.
At 16 he was showing hogs at local fairs; winning ribbons and becoming known for his Duroc’s pure bloodlines. At 17 he dropped out of school to help on the farm and raise hogs. At 20 he was on the fair- circuit.This was 3 months on trains and at fair grounds. He showed in TN. – IL.- MO.- IND.- KY.- SC.-NC.- LA.- ARK.- GA.-. Wilson County newspaper stated "exceptional herd of Durocs shown by Paul Agee". At the Rutherford County Fair he won GRAND CHAMPION BOAR AND GRAND CHAMPION SOW – ALL BREEDS.
When he was 21 it all started to happen for him. He was farming with his father and breeding his hogs. Paul Agee’s name was becoming nationally known. When he was 27 he went on the fair circuit again. He showed in 12 cities and won championships in all but Atlanta. He was paid $100 to show in the pens – (he could not show at the fair unless he was a GA resident). Paul purchased a farm on old Lebanon Road in late 1939.
He married Mamie Grigsby in 1941 and they moved to the farm where he sold hogs, farmed and raised pure bred bird dogs. He started a new and improved sale barn; completed in 1948.He had champion hog sales every year and people came from every state. This continued for 11 years .
Paul and Mamie were members of First Baptist Church and were founding members of Trinity Baptist Church. Paul was an original incorporator of Wilson County Farm Co –op. About this time he went into the Hereford business. He built his herd originally on Don Blanchard females with herd sires from Pete Graves and Coley Hereford Farm and FOUR L Hereford Farm. This was another successful breeding endeavor for him.
He was active in the Wilson County Hereford Breeders and was V. P. in 1955. He also served that year as Secretary for the Tenn. & Tenn. Valley Duroc Breeders Assocociation.
In the 50’s Paul won trophies for PREMIUM DUROC SIRE ( 5 X ‘s) ; ALA. JR. & GRAND CHAMPION BOAR ; CHAMPION BOAR at the TENNESSEE STATE FAIR & NATIONAL PREMIER SIRE (2)
In January 1959 Paul was tragically burned in an accident on the farm trying to thaw frozen pipes at the barn. He was in the hospital for 3 months. Seven months later the Duroc News stated "all of Paul’s friends will be glad to know that he is better after a long hard time of getting to feel as well as he does. He is planning on being at the Congress and the fairs this fall". AND HE WAS.
There was no sale in 1959 but resumed in 1960. Paul was on the Board of Wilson County Farm Bureau in 1960 and 1961.Elected by the people of his district. He continued to show and win. He won PREMIER SIRE ( 5 X ‘s ) in Memphis, Knoxville and Alabama he won every year (1965 thru 69 ) TENNESSEE PREMIER in 1969.
Early in 1970 Paul was diagnosed with lung cancer. He passed away 12- 20 -70 at the age of 61. He was honored in the Tennessee State Fair – Premium List. BUT the Duroc News said it best. "Paul has probably shown at as many fairs and shown as many champions as any Duroc Breeder in modern times.
He showed several champions this past fall and had the PREMIER SIRE at the Tenn. State Fair. Paul also served as Director of the United Duroc Swine Registry and was well known by Duroc breeders and hog men of all breeds.
