The Neosho Daily News, MO
07-14-07
Angela Cole receives Carver scholarship
By Todd G. Higdon
Daily News Staff Writer
DIAMOND - Saturday was a day of celebration, as George Washington Carver
National Monument hosted its 64th annual Carver Day with a wide assortment of
activities, including a commemorative program and presentation of a $500
scholarship.
Filled with gospel and other music, hands-on exhibits, programs and viewing of
the exhibits in the new GWC Discovery Center, the commemorative program
began at 1:30 p.m.
Presenting the scholarship was Dale Privett and Charles Nodler with the Carver
Birthplace Association. They presented the scholarship to Angela Renee Cole,
daughter of Rev. Gene and Diane Cole, Neosho.
Cole, a graduate of Neosho High School, will attend Missouri State University in
Springfield this fall, where she will major in cell molecular biology and chemistry,
in anticipation of attending pharmacy school.
“Angela was described by those who wrote letters of recommendation for her as
‘the perfect definition of a servant leader,' and as ‘the embodiment of class,' ”
said Privett. “They went on to say she is ‘humble, full of virtue, respectful, kind
and generous.' ”
Privett added Cole recognizes that it is “simply service that measures success.”
In the past, Cole has traveled to Jamaica on a missions trip, coordinated her
school's summer blood drive, and assisted in many activities related to children's
programs at her church. She also was a member of the National Honor Society,
Future Business Leaders of America and Future Teachers of America, among
other organizations.
“I am honored and grateful to receive the George Washington Carver
scholarship,” said Cole. “I plan to use this to further my education. Dr. Carver
once said that ‘education is key to unlock the golden door of freedom.' ”
“Like Dr. Carver, Angela is a bit of an artist, and her graphic design entry was
selected for the DARE police car her sophomore year,” Privett said. “She also
provided the cover artwork for the latest book by Charlie Nodler about baseball in
Neosho.”
“Thank you for coming today and helping us opening this door,” GWC National
Monument Superintendent Reggie Tiller said. “Our No.1 goal is to continue Dr.
Carver's legacy.”
Presenting the keynote speech was Dr. Harold S. “Sande” McNabb, with the
topic “A life inspired by the legacy of George Washington Carver.”
“Some 69 years ago this past spring, a 10-year old boy was reading in the library
in Lincoln, Neb., about a famous plant scientist, who as also walked eight miles
to attend school,” said McNabb. “To me, who was the 10-year old boy in
Nebraska Š shouldn't I who was interested in the same things he (carver) was
like plants, do the same.”
During his speech, McNabb hoped that he could let the crowd know how Carver
affected him.
“The ‘plant doctor' was what many people around Diamond and Neosho called
him when he was very young,” McNabb said. “From the time that he was a young
boy, he would take plants that were sickly, take them to a secret hiding place and
make them well.”
McNabb noted Carver was probably the first plant ecologist, noting Carver would
wonder why certain crops would grow in certain fields, others in other fields.
McNabb is professor emeritis at Iowa State University and is a member of
the Carver Birthplace Association Board of Directors. A graduate of the
University of Nebraska, McNabb earned his Ph.D. in Forest Pathology and Plant
Physiology from Yale University. Since Feb. 1, 1953, he has continued to mentor
students and serve on graduate committees at Iowa State University.
As a teacher and researcher of forest pathology, McNabb has earned local,
regional, national and international recognition for his work. In 1973, he became
a research fellow at the British Forestry Commission Laboratory in Farnham,
England, and in 1983 became a research fellow at the Dutch Forestry Research
Institute in Wageningen, The Netherlands, and the French Forestry Research
Laboratory in Nancy, France. After having first discovered Carver's life and
research in the fifth grade, Carver became the role model for McNabb's
professional career.
McNabb's research and presentations on Carver have won recognition from a
range of institutions, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which
presented him with its Distinguished Citation Award for “outstanding dedication to
ensuring that the legacy of George Washington Carver is memorialized in
America.” McNabb's major research interests have been in woody plant wilt
diseases, including oak wilt and dutch elm disease, and diseases of woody
biomass plants, and plant root organisms.
“I found out through my career that this is where I enjoyed the most (emphasizing
working with young people and students),” McNabb said. “Carver talked
inspiration he got from working with young people.”
An aspect noted with Carver was his relationship with God.
“Carver believed in a God whom he communed with each morning when he
walked in this area as a youngster,” McNabb said.
McNabb told the crowd about Carver's life from walking the Moses Carver farm
near Diamond to Neosho for an education, to going to Kansas and Iowa for
schools and eventually going to Tuskegee, Ala., working at the Tuskegee
Institute.
In closing, McNabb noted what Carver did for him in his life.
“You can't understand the legacy of George Washington Carver unless you
understand the spiritual aspect of Carver's life,” McNabb said. “His part of the
legacy was very important to meŠyou see, Carver opened a door for me to
follow. And as we open this new building, today (Saturday), Š this is part of his
legacy. Even though he was a very humble man, he was a giant genius.”
The monument preserves the birthplace and childhood home of Carver, scientist,
educator and humanitarian. It is located two miles west of Diamond on Route V,
then half a mile south on Carver Road. For more information, please contact the
monument at 325-4151.