Agriculture Alum
Starts Endowment Fund

Carolyn and Clemon Montgomery

"I just know what a tough time I had getting started in school," said Montgomery, who earned degrees from Sam Houston State in 1950 and 1958. "Sam Houston State is a high quality place to get a good education and we need to get all of the good eligible students that we can to go there and further their education."

Proceeds from the endowment, which may include future donations, will provide scholarships for needy agriculture students with a 2.75 grade point average or better.

Montgomery credited his high school agriculture teacher at Sweetwater, Everett Turner, for starting him on the path which included service as deputy commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Turner was a Sam Houston State graduate and recommended the school to Montgomery, who called it "the beginning of a beautiful relationship." He also credited Sam Houston State agriculture faculty members J. L. Moses, G. H. Morrison and T. J. Honeycutt as being instrumental in his training.

Marcus Hill

"Whether it be with students while he was executive director of the FFA, or educating the public while marketing director of the Texas Department of Agriculture, his heart has always been in spreading information and knowledge."

After his graduation from college, Montgomery served as an instructor for the Veterans On-the-Farm Training Program in Sweetwater. He was named area supervisor of vocational agriculture in the West Texas region and was appointed as the Texas Department of Education's State Future Farmers of America executive secretary.

He worked in the private sector for a short time before returning to public service with the Texas Department of Agriculture. He was appointed chief deputy to the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture and served in that position for 10 years.

Montgomery has served on numerous boards in presidential or directorship capacities with organizations including: Texas Professional Ag Workers Association, Texas FFA Alumni Association, Texas FFA Foundation Board of Directors, Texas Agricultural Council, Texas Agricultural Forum, Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association, and Texas Weights and Measures Association.

His civic and humanitarian associations include the Admiral Nimitz Foundation, Gillespie County Historical Society, Gillespie County 4-H and FFA Livestock Show adviser, Pedernales Creative Art Alliance, and Fredericksburg Music Association.

He has been recognized with the award of Outstanding Achievements in Agriculture presented by the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. In 1997 he became the first ever honored with the FFA Hall of Fame Award, and he has been honored with many other awards including the Honorary Lone Star Farmer Degree, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Outstanding Service to Texas Agriculture, the Area Young Farmer Distinguished Service Award, and the Texas Forestry Association Distinguished Service Award.

In the fall of 2000 he received Sam Houston State University's Distinguished Alumni Award.

He and his wife, Carolyn, have five sons: Lee Montgomery, Murl Montgomery, Rod Morgan, Larry Morgan and Lance Morgan.

The Montgomerys were honored recently on the SHSU campus for their contribution. From left, Gary Bouse, executive director of advancement; Bobby Lane, agriculture chairman; Carolyn Montgomery; Clemon Montgomery; Billy Harrell, professor of agriculture; and Bobby K. Marks, SHSU president.

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
June 1, 2001
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