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Inductee helped make Wilkes an ag leader
by Jule Hubbard
(Photo caption) Jule Hubbard/staff photo-Lexie Williamson, widow of the late Dwight Williamson, receives Wilkes Agricultural Hall of Fame plaque Tuesday night at the Edwin McGee Conservation Center. To her left is their son, Roy Williamson, and their daughter, Sandra Williamson.
Tribute was paid to a man who was instrumental in establishing Wilkes County as a leader in several areas of agriculture Tuesday night at the Edwin McGee Conservation Center in North Wilkesboro.
The late Dwight D. Williamson, Wilkes County extension agent from 1963 to 1974, was inducted into the Wilkes Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Williamson was remembered for encouraging Wilkes farmers to raise beef cattle, particularly as an alternative for struggling tobacco farmers.
Soon after becoming the county agent for Wilkes, he became a primary organizer of graded feeder cattle sales at Riley's (now Kilby's) Livestock Market in North Wilkesboro.
These sales, which continue at Kilby's, greatly enhance profitability of local beef cattle operations and help make Wilkes one of the state's top beef cattle producers.
Williamson also led Wilkes cattlemen to build a large commercial freezer locker for beef. This facility, no longer standing, was on Brushy Mountain Road in Wilkesboro.
The Wilkes County Beef Association presented its "Outstanding Dedication Service Award" to Williamson soon after he started here as the county agent. He was presented the "Distinguished Service Award" by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in 1970.
Williamson worked with local orchardists to establish the Brushy Mountain Apple Co-operative and build the co-op's large facility on N.C. 16 in Moravian Falls for grading and packing apples, as well as for storage in a large cooler.
The co-op, which functioned for over 20 years, expanded markets for fruit growers in the Brushy Mountains.
Williamson was known for donning his overalls and working in the fields or in barns with Wilkes farmers.
During the induction ceremony Tuesday night, John German of Boomer recalled how Williamson helped when he was getting started in farming.
"For an office worker, he would come around early in the morning—around 7:30," said German. "Dwight never criticized anything and was always very supportive. I considered him a good friend."
He and others said Williamson was particularly adept at arranging free visits of North Carolina State University specialists to address specific needs of Wilkes farmers. This included disease control, use of pesticides and more.
An NCSU specialist even helped design German's house.
Williamson also brought in NCSU poultry specialists to help upgrade the operations of Holly Farms contract chicken farmers.
He was instrumental in enhancement of other areas of rural life in Wilkes, often through the Northwestern Development Association.
Williamson started an annual gathering for Wilkes farm families, cooking 100 pounds of beef in a pit overnight for about 400 people. He secured the sponsorship of Northwestern Bank for this event.
Williamson was born on a farm in Duffee, Miss., in 1918. While earning an agricultural degree at Mississippi State University, he also measured cotton allotments for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service.
He was a vocational agricultural teacher in a Mississippi high school when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for four years during World War II.
Upon being honorably discharged from the Navy, Williamson and his wife, Lexie, moved to Wilkesboro when he accepted a position as assistant county agent in Wilkes. He was responsible for 4-H in Wilkes while Bob Smith was the county agent.
Williamson was promoted to county agent in Yadkin County, a position he held for a few years before taking on the challenge of organizing the Yadkin Telephone Co-operative to expand phone service into rural areas of Yadkin County in 1950.
Mrs. Williamson said he remained true to his promise to be manager of the phone co-op until it had 2,300 customers.
Williamson then returned to the extension service and was named county agent for Wilkes in 1963. He also was a deacon at Wilkesboro Baptist Church, North Wilkesboro Lions Club president and charter member, school PTO president and scoutmaster of a Boy Scout troop.
Several friends, relatives and co-workers of Williamson spoke about him Tuesday night. They included Henry Ramseur of Burke County, county agent in Wilkes after Williamson, who shared stories that reflected Williamson's sense of humor. Speakers also described his kind nature and dedication to his work.
Mike Pardue, director of the Wilkes Soil and Water Conservation District, spoke about the importance of agriculture in Wilkes and introduced members and advisors of the Future Farmers of America chapters at North Wilkes and East Wilkes high schools.
Pardue noted that Wilkes ranks fourth among the state's 100 counties in farm income and is the top county in broiler production. Although the county's ranking varies from year to year, Wilkes is among the top five counties in production of corn silage, hay, apples and beef cattle.
Dr. Bill Davis, vice chairman of the Wilkes Agricultural Hall of Fame and a member of Wilkes Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, said the hall of fame was created in 2004 to honor distinguished service to agriculture and bring attention to the importance of agriculture in Wilkes.
Plaques with images and information about each recipient are placed in the Wilkes Heritage Museum. Mrs. Williamson said she is collecting photos of agriculture in Wilkes for a kiosk with a viewing screen in that area of the museum. She said photos can be loaned to the museum so they can be copied and returned to owners.
Other family members at the event Tuesday night included Williamson's children, Roy Williamson and Sandra Williamson. |
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