By Janet Rodekohr
University of Georgia
Tom Rodgers, who led the Georgia 4-H program from 1978 to 1993,
will be honored with the 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award during
the Centennial Gala in Atlanta Aug. 14.
Considered the highest honor in Georgia 4-H, the award recognizes
a person who has had an impact on the state’s 4-H youth
development program.
“That’s an understatement,” says Bo Ryles, the current head of
the 4-H program at the University of Georgia.
Many accomplishments
“Under his 17-year leadership and directly resulting from his
hard work and dedication, the Rock Eagle 4-H Center was
completely renovated, the largest environmental education program
in existence was begun, the 4-H Foundation grew exponentially in
partnerships, and staff development was refined for county and
state personnel,” Ryles said.
“Dr. Rodgers is one of the most active and talented public
servants in the state of Georgia,” he said. “Each phase of his
career is defined by how he empowered others and looked for ways
to improve the quality of people’s lives.”
Rodgers will retire this year from his position as associate dean
for outreach and extension in the UGA College of Family and
Consumer Sciences, where he has served since 2001. From 1994 to
2001, he was associate vice president for public service and
outreach at UGA. He was the head of county operations for the
Cooperative Extension Service from 1993 to 1996.
Dedicated service
Rodgers is also a founding board member of the Athens Volunteer
Action Center, the development chair and board member of Athens
Area Habitat for Humanity, a former Little League coach and a
member of the Athens Clarke Affordable Housing Roundtable.
“Dr. Rodgers has not missed a week finding some way to continue
to help 4-H,” Ryles said. “He continues to give time and
resources and is always — I mean always — ready to help. The
Lifetime Achievement committee had one unanimous choice, and I’m
so pleased 4-H can thank him in this way.”
His many colleagues, former 4-H’ers and friends are invited to
attend the Centennial Gala to thank Rodgers for his contributions
to Georgia 4-H. For ticket information and other details, go to
or call (706) 542-8914.
(Janet Rodekohr is a news editor with the University of
Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
