
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 6, 1990                   TAG: 9004250160
SECTION: FOUNDERS DAY '90                    PAGE: VT15   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEYL 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                 LENGTH: Short

JONES RECEIVES EXTENSION HONOR

James L. Jones, Virginia Tech Extension agronomist at the Southern Piedmont Agricultural Experiment Staton at Blackston, has been playing in the dirt all of his life, and "doesn't regret a minute of it."

The 48-year old was raised on a general crops and burley operation in Loudon County, Tenn., received agronomy degrees from Tennessee Tech and the University of Tennessee, and came to Tech in 1971 to pursue his Ph.D. in agronomy.

That association with the university has never been severed as he has risen from a research associate to full professor while working with the state's tobacco farmers as an Extension specialist.

It was his innovative and outstanding work with the state's flue-cured, dark-fired and sun-cured tobacco producers that led him to receive the Alumni Award for Extension Excellence, which consists of $1,000 and a plaque, presented during Founders Day ceremonies at Tech.

Jones' word is gospel to the state producers as his research and extension tobacco programs have saved them money and effort over the years. That gospel has been spread across Virginia and around the world through talks and a willingness to serve in various capacities to promote more knowledge about tobacco.

He has developed an innovative and effective system to transfer needed information to all segments of the tobacco industry as well as coordinating its transferral to other states, state and federal agencies and producers.

by CNB