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“IN HONOR OF DR. W. JOE LEWIS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E351 on March 11, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN HONOR OF DR. W. JOE LEWIS
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HON. JIM MARSHALL
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to honor Dr. W. Joe Lewis of Tifton, GA, on the occasion of his selection as a recipient of the 2008 Wolf Foundation Prize in Agriculture. This prize is given annually to recognize the achievements of outstanding scientists in six fields and comes with a $100,000 award.
Dr. Lewis is being honored by the Wolf Foundation for his key role in discovering mechanisms governing plant-insect and plant-plant interactions. His scientific contributions have greatly assisted the development of an ecologically sound approach to integrated pest management and have helped to advance agricultural sustainability worldwide.
Madam Speaker, this award is just one example of Dr. Lewis's scientific contributions. Long recognized as a leader in the field of research entomology, his work has been featured in more than 200 scientific publications and highlighted on a number of broadcast programs. Dr. Lewis is often sought out by others for his knowledge and experience, and has mentored numerous students and scientists who are now making their mark on the world through their own scientific contributions.
Although recognized for his achievements, Dr. Lewis began life humbly as a sharecropper's son in Mississippi. His college studies led him into entomology and eventually brought him to Georgia.
From 1967 until his retirement in 2006, Dr. Lewis was a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Tifton, Georgia, and also held adjunct faculty positions with both the University of Georgia and the University of Florida. In his time with the USDA, the Secretary of Agriculture promoted him to supergrade rank, and his numerous grant awards included $4.3 million to explore the possibility of training insects as biological detectors.
Dr. Lewis has also been active in civic and community affairs. For more than a decade, he has served as the vice mayor of Tifton, GA. Previously, he served as a member of the city council and was involved with his community's downtown development and historic preservation. He also served on the board of elections, planning and zoning, and mental health services.
Madam Speaker, I am confident my colleagues will join me in recognizing the scientific and civic achievements of this great Georgian and American.
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