Contact: Maggie Tucker, 979-845-1542, maggie.tucker@ag.tamu.edu
Dr. Zerle Carpenter, professor emeritus of animal science and director emeritus of extension and associate vice chancellor, was inducted into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame, Class of 2014 on Sept. 13, 2014 in Charleston, SC.
Six inductees were selected from more than 75 nominations encompassing all areas of red meat and poultry production, processing, marketing and academia. Carpenter’s induction marks the fourth faculty member from the Department of Animal Science to join this prestigious group. Dr. H. Russell Cross and Dr. Gary Smith were inducted in 2009 and Dr. Jeff Savell in 2010.
The selection committee cited Carpenter “for his leadership in helping conduct the foundational research that led to the establishment of the USDA’s official grades of beef, pork and lamb. The value of U.S. livestock produced in the United States is based on this research and established U.S. meat products as the world standard.”
Carpenter’s career with the Texas A&M University System spans 35 years as a respected professor in the Department of Animal Science and leader in animal science, meat science and extension administration. Carpenter began his career at Texas A&M as an assistant professor of meat science in 1962 and rose to the rank of full professor of animal science in 1971. He served as head of the Department of Animal Science beginning in 1978, and director of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service beginning in 1982. In 1988, he was named associate vice chancellor for agriculture for the Texas A&M University System. Carpenter retired in 1997 after providing leadership to the Texas Extension Service for 15 years.
In 1985, Carpenter gained national attention when he launched issue-based Extension programming in Texas. This approach sought greater involvement by community members in planning and developing local Extension education programs. This approach became a model for other Extension programs across the states and at the national level.
Dr. H. Russell Cross, professor and head of the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University with Dr. Zerle Carpenter.
Carpenter has won numerous awards for his outstanding leadership and his contributions in research, teaching and extension. The Department of Animal Science established an award in his honor in 1998 as a show of gratitude for his contributions to the university and the meat industry. The Zerle L. Carpenter Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Meat Science is presented annually to a graduate student in the Department of Animal Science’s Meat Science Section whose outstanding leadership skills have contributed significantly to the section’s teaching, research and extension activities.
Formed in 2008, the Meat Industry Hall of Fame is a repository of meat, poultry and livestock history and a celebration of the industry leaders whose business excellence, scientific prowess and community service have enhanced the legacy of America’s leading food-industry sector. To date, the Hall has inducted 72 distinguished industry leaders from among animal agriculture, meat and poultry processing, supplier companies, academia and retail and foodservice operators.
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For more information regarding news from the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, please contact Courtney Coufal at cacoufal@tamu.edu or (979) 845-1542.