Wednesday, October 3, 2018
New York, New York
Cotton Incorporated announced today the 2018 class of the Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame. The program, now in its fifth year, recognizes U.S. cotton industry leaders that have made significant contributions to the Program or to the cotton industry in general. The honorees will be formally inducted into the Cotton Research and Promotion Program Hall of Fame at the joint Cotton Incorporated/Cotton Board annual meeting this December in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The three honorees for the 2018 Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame include: the late W.L. “Billy” Carter (North Carolina); Jesse Moore (Virginia); and Charles H. Chewning (North Carolina).
The Cotton Research and Promotion Program was established in 1966 to expand the demand for upland cotton and to increase profitability for both cotton growers and importers of cotton products.
“The cotton industry as we know it today was shaped by innovative thinking and strong leadership,” says Berrye Worsham, President and CEO of Cotton Incorporated. “The 2018 Hall of Fame inductees embody these attributes, and their contributions and tireless dedication have had a lasting impact on the industry.”
“The cotton industry as we know it today was shaped by innovative thinking and strong leadership,” says Berrye Worsham, President and CEO of Cotton Incorporated. “The 2018 Hall of Fame inductees embody these attributes, and their contributions and tireless dedication have had a lasting impact on the industry.”
- W.L. “Billy” Carter (deceased) served the cotton industry in many different roles and leadership positions, including the first full time Executive Vice President of the North Carolina Cotton Producers Association from 2002-2010. Over the years, Mr. Carter was not only a farmer, but also served on several Boards of Directors including the North Carolina Cotton Producers Association, the National Cotton Council (NCC), Cotton Incorporated, and the Cotton Board.
- Jesse Moore is responsible for helping change the landscape of the cotton industry by taking the lead in establishing the High Volume Instrument (HVI) classification system while he was the Director of the Cotton Division of the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Mr. Moore was part of the industry since birth, having grown up on a cotton, peanut, and tobacco farm in South Georgia. He graduated with a degree in agriculture in the University of Georgia and then served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. His tireless efforts in the industry set a standard for not only U.S. cotton grading, but for the rest of the world.
- Charles H. Chewning was instrumental in helping Cotton Incorporated create and deploy the Engineered Fiber Selection® (EFS®) System around the world. The system, which was a precursor to blockchain, is a complete bale management system designed to assist textile mills and cotton shippers; and it improves profits, efficiencies, and quality. After graduating from Wofford College, Mr. Chewning served in the U.S. Army for six years where he rose to the rank of Captain. He joined Cotton Incorporated in 1973 as a Fiber Processing Engineer and later became Vice President of the Fiber Management Research Division and the EFS® Marketing Division. During his time at Cotton Incorporated, he also directed the establishment of a state-of-the-art Fiber Processing Center.
About Cotton Incorporated
Cotton Incorporated, funded by U.S. cotton producers and importers of cotton and cotton textile products, conducts worldwide research and promotion activities to increase the demand for and profitability of cotton.