EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. – Two key leaders in North Carolina agriculture have been inducted into the Agriculture Hall of Fame at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University based on their outstanding contributions to agriculture and their significant ties to N.C. A&T.

James Carlton Kearney Sr., of Henderson, and Samuel J. Dunn, Ph.D., of Whitsett, have joined the 15 other Hall of Fame members whose activities and research have elevated the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences to the level of preeminence it enjoys today as a leader in agricultural research and outreach.

The induction ceremony, was held April 5 in the A&T Student Center ballroom.

“Dr. Dunn and Mr. Kearney, your dedication, your leadership and your service have helped make us who we are today in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences,” said Dean Mohamed Ahmedna, Ph.D. “Our future is bright due to the hard work and outstanding achievements of trailblazers like you. We thank you for all you have done for North Carolina agriculture and for N.C. A&T.”

Kearney, a 1965 alumnus of N.C. A&T, served USDA for 37 years in the Farm Housing and Rural Development programs, working at the local, state and national levels. He was also State Director for Rural Development and is the recipient of North Carolina’s highest honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Dunn, a chairperson of the Department of Plant Science and Technology at A&T for more than 30 years, oversaw the department’s transition from a technology-oriented program to a research-intensive one. He also developed master’s degrees for the department and laid the foundation for the university’s accreditation in both the Biological Engineering and Landscape Architecture programs.

The Agriculture Hall of Fame showcase is located in the lobby of B.C. Webb Hall on the university campus.