Kilgore College ag teacher honored as 'Citizen of Year'

By Ralph Ward

Bob Young receives the plaque, during the recent Overton-New London Area Chamber of Commerce banquet, designating him the 2004 Citizen of the Year. -- Courtesy photo

March 10, 2005 - Kilgore College agriculture instructor and farm manager Robert (Bob) G. Young was honored as "2004 Citizen of the Year" by the Overton-New London Area Chamber of Commerce during its annual banquet recently in New London.

Young, a past-president of that organization was presented the award by Ralph Ward Jr., who ironically, was presented the same award by Young three years earlier.

In leading up to the announcement, Ward described Young in Jeff Foxworthy style, "You know you're Citizen of the Year if you: (1) grew up on a family farm; (2) prefer a pickup truck to a car, but a tractor to both; (3) are a devout Dallas Cowboys fan; (4) enjoy fried catfish with all the trimmings; (5) watch "Days of Our Lives" or have it taped; (6) took your wife on a romantic getaway 400 miles away pulling a 32-foot trailer to buy cattle; (7) have been accused of mistaking leftover Roundup herbicide for hair tonic; (8) every day is a bad hair day; and (9) your name is the subject of a scientific experiment ... Robertology."

After several chuckles were generated from the first few comparisons, Ward then drew a thunderous applause from the 225 Chamber members and guests attending with the final hint: "You know you are Citizen of the Year if you coordinate the most revered, most dynamic community college agriculture program in the history of the State of Texas."

Ward said Young grew up in the Central Texas farming community of Axtell near Waco in McLennan County where he was both an honor graduate at Axtell High School and later at Sam Houston State University, earning bacehlor's and master's degrees in agricultural education. He taught vocational agriculture at Katy and Axtell before entering the feed and fertilizer business in Henderson.

Young, Ward noted, is a "never say no" type person. "He lends his time unselfishly for many community causes and has probably cooked more briskets for charitable purposes than anyone in Rusk County," Ward pointed out. "Very few Tuesday or Thursday evenings pass without Bob Young being at a meeting somewhere. He gives of himself even when there's not much left of himself to give."

In times of budget shortfalls, Ward said, Young used personal vehicles, farm equipment and his own funds to keep the program operating at optimum efficiency.

Young is characterized as a "natural leader" who had been president of every organization in which he has been a member.

Ward also described Young as an innovator, taking the Kilgore College agriculture program to a higher plateau. Young's latest initiatives include: creation of the independent departmental website (www.KilgoreCollegeAgFarm.org); introduction of the Angus herd genetic improvement program; establishment of the now 4-year-old Livestock Show Team; acquisition of a grant worth $80,000 to clear 140 acres on the college farm to increase the Angus herd capacity; acquisition of one-half interest, full possession in Franklin Mint, the farm's new Angus herd sire and one of the rising genetic stars in the breed; and the creation within the past year of a former student's association, The Association of Former Agricultural Students of Kilgore College.

Also praised were Young's efforts to encourage continuation of the "Student Leadership Factory," which during Young's 14-year tenure has produced the Texas Junior College Agriculture Association (TJCAA) "Chapter of the Year Award" 11 times, two TJCAA state officers elected in 10 of those 14 years, plus seven times producing the "TJCAA Outstanding Student in the State."

In wrapping up the presentation, Ward introduced Young's mother, Eva, who still lives on the family farm; his wife Alice; daughter Christine Young Lott and husband Jason of Dallas; daughter Kara of Overton; and sister Carolyn Netherland and husband Ron of Waco.

Young was presented with an attractive "Citizen of the Year" plaque and a framed FFA Creed, identical to the one he memorized in 1963 as a first-year vocational agriculture student.