American Agricultural Editors Association - Distinguished Service Awards

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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

AAEA Lifetime Achievement Awards

In 2007, the American Agricultural Editors' Association reinstituted the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given for the first and only time in 1990 to Wheeler McMillen. The AAEA presented five Lifetime Achievement awards in 2007. Two went to Wilson Carnes and Bob Rupp, and three posthumous Heritage Awards were given to Charles Scruggs, Jim Thomson and Cordell Tindall.

These awards are sponsored by The Sonja Hillgren Foundation. The five recipients were selected by the AAEA Service Awards Committee.

Wilson Carnes

Wilson W. Carnes, former editor of The National Future Farmer magazine (now known as FFA New Horizons) and long-time leader of AAEA, was known as a great mentor for others in the industry. He began his career in 1953 with the FFA magazine and was named editor in 1955. He also filled a dual role as administrative director of FFA during his tenure with the organization. Chosen president of AAEA in 1975, Wilson and his wife Betty attended most AAEA annual meetings. While president, he traveled to South America with then Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz. Wilson will always be known for his penchant for giving young professionals a chance to grow, encouraging them to participate in their professional organization and stimulating working as a team. His keen sense of mentoring led his "graduates" to start publications, develop new products, win awards as photographers and writers, break sales records, start their own companies and be leaders in this business. Wilson is retired in Virginia.

Bob Rupp

Bob Rupp, AAEA president in 1967, was editor of The Farmer/ Dakota Farmer, flagship publication of The Webb Company, St. Paul, for 13 years, and was on its editorial staff for 34 years. He retired in 1984 after a stellar career in ag journalism. Bob, known nationally and internationally as an agricultural expert on numerous topics, represented AAEA and American farm publications on the board of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) for eight years, four as senior vice president. He chaired, with Jim Thomson and Cordell Tindall, the Third World Congress of IFAJ for AAEA in 1976. Ag communicators from 24 countries attended the U.S. event. His counsel and expertise in agriculture made him a common presence among agricultural leaders throughout his career. Bob is active in many non-profit endeavors today, including The GOD'S CHILD Project, an educational non-profit for Guatemalan street children. He is a retired Army colonel, living in Minnesota.

Charles "Charlie" Scruggs

Charlie Scruggs, longtime editor of The Progressive Farmer, was known as a man of exceptional vision. His constant admonition to his editorial staff was to "think no small thoughts." Scruggs was AAEA president in 1963. He started with The Progressive Farmer in 1947 and retired in 1988. Earl Manning, former colleague, recalls: "Big ideas flashed into Charlie's mind like popcorn popping. They just kept coming." Charlie was known as a dean of the old school of journalism that held that an agricultural editor was more than just an outside observer and reporter. He felt it a mandate to become involved, issue challenges, suggest solutions and provide leadership to affect change if necessary. Charlie always believed in building more professionalism and serving the needs of young members. He has received dozens of service and agricultural writing awards. He died in 2001 in Texas.

James C. Thomson

Born in 1912 in Hamilton, Scotland, Jim Thomson was raised in Ottawa, Ill., and graduated from the University of Illinois. After several years with newspapers and then with the Chicago Bureau of the Associated Press, he became editor of the Illinois Agriculture Association's The Record from 1945 to 1950. On Jan. 30, 1950, he began his 28-year career with The Prairie Farmer, the first half as managing editor and the last half as editor, retiring in 1978. He later wrote the book: "The Prairie Farmer Story 1950 to 1980." Jim visited all 50 states as a student of agriculture; traveled to Europe and other parts of the world numerous times, including touring Vietnam in 1966 with former Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman. Fitting, then, that he was instrumental in AAEA's decision to affiliate with the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists in 1960, during his multi-year tenure as AAEA secretary-treasurer. He was elected president in 1966 and is credited with helping AAEA grow toward its more modern structure and programming. He served agriculture and journalism in many ways as president of the Chicago Agribusiness Club and of the Chicago Financial Writers Association. Always proud of his heritage, Jim was a recognized Scottish historian and served as president of the Illinois St. Andrew Society in 1979. He researched and wrote the 227 plaques that hang in the Scottish-American Hall of Fame at the Scottish Home in North Riverside, Ill. He died on Dec., 1994, at the age of 82.

Cordell Tindall

Cordell Wayland Tindall was born May 5, 1914, on a farm near Fayette, Mo. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1936, then joined the Missouri Ruralist in 1938. After influencing Missouri and U.S. agriculture through his writing and advocacy for 40 years, he retired as editor, but continued in an advisory role. Cordell was a strong member and supporter of AAEA. He served as AAEA president in 1976; represented AAEA in an advisory role with U.S. presidents; was one of the leaders for AAEA in 1976 for the Third World Congress of IFAJ; and enlightened us for several years after retirement as "Ol' Ed," editor of The Byline. Cordell credited 4-H and his local county agent with making him aware of a whole new wide world available to him. The Missouri 4-H Foundation manages an endowed scholarship awarded annually in his name to an MU agricultural journalism undergraduate. Cordell was a strong supporter of his alma mater, serving as president of the MU Alumni Association; as grand marshal of the MU Homecoming Parade; and as a member of many University committees. In 1956, he married Emily Marie Boles, and she was his strongest supporter until his death Nov. 23, 2002, at the age of 88.