Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 617-7212samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, December 27, 2011 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the appointment of 13 members, 13 alternates and one consumer advisor to the Cotton Board.
All appointees will serve 3-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2012, and ending Dec. 31, 2014. In addition, Vilsack appointed one alternate to fill a vacant importer position with a term ending on Dec. 31, 2012.
“These appointees represent a cross section of the cotton industry and I am confident that cotton producers and importers of cotton and cotton-containing products will be well served by them,” said Vilsack.
The re-appointed members are: John J. Baxter, Watson, Ark.; George G. LaCour, Morganza, La. (formerly an alternate); David M. Grant, Garysburg, N.C.; Tom M. Hegi, Petersburg, Texas (formerly an alternate); John R. Dunlap, Floydada, Texas (formerly an alternate); Rafael A. Hernandez, Highland Village, Texas (formerly an alternate); Carlos F. J. Moore, Naples, Fla.; Maureen E. Gray, New York, N.Y.; and Deborah M. Gregg, Irvine, Calif.
The re-appointed alternate members are: Steve Cantu, Tranquility, Calif.; Tom J. Gary, Greenwood, Miss. (formerly a member); Jerry L. Hamill, Enfield, N.C.; Courtney S. Okeefe, Easton, Conn.; and Flora J. Wong, Mercer Island, Wash.
The newly appointed members are: Marty E. White, Jonesboro, Ark.; John E. Pucheu, Tranquility, Calif.; James C. Robertson, Jr., Indianola, Miss.; and William E. May, Memphis, Tenn.
The newly appointed alternate members are: Richard B. Bransford, Lonoke, Ark.; Kenneth D. Qualls, Lake City, Ark.; William B. Guthrie, Newellton, La.; Bryan K. Patterson, Amherst, Texas; Sigifredo Valverde, Shallowater, Texas; Daniel M. Feibus, Carencro, La., George R. Perkins III, Sanford, N.C.; and Kenneth R. Mangone, Fairview, Texas.
The appointed consumer advisor is Marshall Cohen, East Moriches, N.Y.
Catherine B. Allen, Athens, Tenn., was appointed to fill the importer alternate position vacancy.
The cotton research and promotion program is designed to advance the position of cotton in the marketplace. It is funded by assessments on all domestically produced cotton and imports of foreign-produced cotton and cotton-containing products, and is authorized by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1966. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service oversees operations of the board.
More information about USDA programs is available at http://www.usda.gov/.
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