Published: July 25, 2008 10:56 am         

Davidson retires after 40 years

Mr. Agriculture — or so he was called by the president of North Central Texas College — was treated to a reception commemorating his nearly 40 years as head of the ag department.

“We’re not saying good-bye, as I’m sure we’ll be seeing him around when we call him for help,” said Eddie Hadlock, college president, of colleague and long-time friend T.J. Davidson, chairman of the NCTC agricultural science department, at a retirement reception Thursday afternoon in the Student Activity Center.

A cake featuring cows, goats, pigs and sheep adorned a table of party foods, which also included cupcakes decorated with cattle ear-tags.

“Hopefully, they’re not the insecticide variety,” Hadlock said, garnering a few chuckles from those familiar with the cattle business.

Davidson, who started the program in 1969 at what was then Cooke County Junior College, oversaw many additions to the program including: developing the NCTC Beef Cattle Evaluation Center and Experimental Farm, organizing the Friends of Agriculture scholarship program, and spearheading the successful Farm-City week program for fourth grade students to learn how food goes from farms and ranches and to the dinner table.

He was awarded the outstanding teacher award in 1996, among many other honors given to him in his long career at the community college.

Davidson recognized many of his guests present, including family members, former students, supporters, area agricultural producers and longtime ag instructor Doug Robinson.

He invoked a Willie Nelson song to summarize his thoughts on retirement:

“You’ll always be on my mind,” Davidson said, meeting applause.