2005 National Hall of Fame Laureate
Illinois 4-H Honors Hugh Wetzel
Illinois 4-H Honors National 4-H Hall of Fame Laureate Hubert Wetzel
Hugh Wetzel, retired Illinois 4-H youth development specialist for international programming, was recognized for his induction to the National 4-H Hall of Fame during the Saluting 4-H Champions recognition program held in conjunction with Salute to Agriculture Day festivities at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Friday, October 27.
Wetzel was one of 20 significant contributors to the 4-H youth development movement who were honored with induction into the National 4-H Hall of Fame during October 3, 2005, ceremonies at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, MD.
The National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA); National 4-H Headquarters, USDA; National 4-H Council and state 4-H programs across the nation nominate candidates. A committee consisting of past 4-H Hall of Fame Laureates and representatives from NAE4-HA, National 4-H Council, National 4-H Headquarters and the National 4-H Youth Directions Council selected this year’s class.
Wetzel provided leadership and guidance to thousands of youth and families throughout the state, nation and world for nearly 60 years. Wetzel is a pioneer of 4-H international programs and helped form the International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) Program. Wetzel’s work with 4-H international exchange programs was featured in a 1978 issue of National Geographic magazine.
Wetzel has served as chairman of the 4-H International Programs Committee and member of the National 4-H Congress Program Committee and National 4-H Conference Committee. He also helped establish the 4-H link with the National Junior Horticulture Association – a 50 year partnership that has allowed thousands of youth to expand their knowledge of horticulture and develop communication skills.
As a youth, Wetzel was a 4-H club member in Madison County and later served 34 years as a University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development Specialist, retiring in 1982. He continues to stay actively involved in 4-H international programs and global humanitarian projects. Wetzel and his wife, Dottie, reside in Champaign.
“4-H has a great legacy of dedicated and resourceful individuals who have joined together to make 4-H what it is today—a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills,” said NAE4-HA President Mary Williams. “We are proud to honor these 20 laureates and their contributions to the 4-H youth development program.”
NAE4-HA sponsors the virtual hall of fame with web pages that characterizes the contributions to 4-H of each laureate with biographies, statistics, quotes and photos. Visit the National 4-H Hall of Fame at www.nae4ha.org/hof . Special thanks to American Income Life as it joins National 4-H Council in support of the National 4-H Hall of Fame ceremony.
4-H Hall of Fame laureates in the class of 2005 are:
James O. Baker, Delaware 4-H
Harold “Brownie” Brown, Maine 4-H
Glenn M. Bussett, Kansas 4-H
Bartley P. Cardon, Arizona 4-H
Sue Fisher, Minnesota 4-H
C. H. “Uncle Charlie” Hartley, West Virginia 4-H
Jesse Holloway, New Mexico 4-H
Stella Jones, Louisiana 4-H
Charles Dean McNeal, National 4-H Council
Cap E. Miller, Iowa 4-H
John T. Mount, Ohio 4-H
H. Joe Myers, Oregon 4-H
Jeanne Priester, National 4-H Headquarters
Leah Cox Hoopfer Ritchie, National 4-H Headquarters
James Taney, Utah 4-H
Nelson Trickey, Missouri 4-H
Hubert J. Wetzel, Illinois 4-H
W. Sherard Wilson, Maryland 4-H
Thomas L. Wilson, National 4-H Council
Mary Lee Wood, Idaho 4-H.
4-H is a community of more than seven million young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Learn more about the 4-H adventure at www.4husa.org.
4-H is the largest out-of-school educational program for youth in the United States. 4-H seeks to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, forming attitudes, and developing life skills that will enable them to become caring, competent, and contributing members of society. In Illinois 286,000 youth participate in 4-H and other youth programs of University of Illinois Extension. More than 26,000 adult volunteers assist in the programming. For more information about 4-H in Illinois, visit: http://www.4-H.uiuc.edu.
L-R: Hugh Wetzel, retire Illinois 4-H youth development specialist at the State 4-H Office, and Debra Stocker, Illinois 4-H youth development specialist at the State 4-H Office and former 4-H member under Wetzel's leadership.
Press release (MS Word)
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