Gene Sollock ('53) was selected by the department as the recipient of the 1999 Outstanding Alumnus Award, presented at the annual departmental awards banquet last April. Gene received his B.S. from SHSU in Agriculture Education in 1952 and the M.Ed. in 1961. He taught Vocational Agriculture at Pasadena High School from 1952 to 1961, when he became Director of Transportation for the Pasadena ISD. After serving in that post for 11 years, Gene taught agriculture at Montgomery High School and McCullough High School in Conroe, retiring in 1982. Gene stays very busy these days serving as Board Chairman of the Bedias Soil and Water Conservation district, having served that organization since 1986 and recently being elected to another 4-year term. He is currently completing a 4-year assignment on the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, being selected as Chairman for 1999-2000. Gene has been a member of the Grimes County Appraisal district for 10 years. As a licensed auctioneer since 1963, Gene has been actively involved in conducting surplus sales for school districts and municipalities and doing benefit sales for FFA, community activities, and school-related organizations.

     He is sought after as a speaker by various producer groups to describe the successes he has had with intensive grazing management on his property in Iola. Working with researchers from SHSU and TAMU, Sollock has fine-tuned the incorporation of clovers and short duration grazing techniques into his beef-producing operation, producing beef profitably while enhancing the fertility of his soils.

     Sollock has held a number of leadership positions, having served as president of the Pasadena Noon Optimist Club, lola Lions Club, and the Grimes County Historical Commission. He also serves as Lay Leader and Sunday School Teacher at the Zion United Methodist Church in Iola, where he and his wife, Ruth, reside. Gene Sollock has been a long-time supporter of agriculture programs at SHSU, serving as invited lecturer and providing financial support. It is with great pride that we recognize him for his accomplishments and contribution to the success of our program.