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“TRIBUTE TO DR. LEODREY WILLIAMS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S4020 on June 10, 2015.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO DR. LEODREY WILLIAMS
Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I honor Dr. Leodrey Williams, chancellor of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, on his retirement after 50 years of public service.
Dr. Williams is a 1961 graduate of Southern University of Louisiana in vocational agriculture education. Immediately upon graduation, he began his distinguished career by joining the U.S. Army and training as an oral x-ray technician and hygienist. He then began working for cooperative extension, where he helped to build the new curriculum by assisting and launching the program throughout the State of Louisiana. He earned a master of science degree in 1970 and doctor of education degree in 1975 from Louisiana State University. After 5 years as an agriculture specialist, Dr. Williams returned to Louisiana State University as an associate professor and director of equal employment opportunity and civil rights. In 1991, Dr. Williams co-chaired a national task force that studied America's cooperative extension system. He was subsequently appointed Special Assistant to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Extension Administrator, and he was later named the National Director of Extension.
Besides his active involvement in agriculture, Dr. Williams has served as a consultant to the governments of Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, and Republic of South Africa in the areas of extension administration and adult and continuing education. During his visits to China, Honduras, and Liberia, he assisted in developing strategies for university collaboration and exchange, along with addressing concerns and issues facing urban populations.
For the past 14 years, Dr. Williams has been the first chancellor for the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. He has served the citizens of Louisiana, Louisiana State University, and the Southern University System with his knowledge, skill, enthusiasm, and leadership.
I am pleased to honor the esteemed career of Dr. Leodrey Williams. I thank him for his years of service to our state and country and wish him the best in his future endeavors.
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