March 3, 2000

The Texas Seed Trade Association has announced the appointment of Charles Leamons of Brenham as executive vice president.

Leamons was previously with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), where he served as the Director of Seed Quality in Giddings. As director, his responsibilities included enforcement of Texas Seed Laws, Rules and Regulations, Texas Seed and Plant Certification Act and Standards, and Arbitration Law.

He has also been involved with several seed quality associations including the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies, Association of American Seed Control Officials, the Association of Southern Seed Officials and Texas State Seed and Plant Board.

In other news, the TSTA recently recognized Dr. Fred Miller of Bryan and Bernard C. "Beany" Dermody of Kenedy as Distinguished Service Award winners.

Dermody began his "seed career" in 1968 with G.E. Pogue Seed Co., and was one of the original shareholders of Texas Seed Co., Inc. He later became vice president, president and general manager of that operation until Dec. 1, 1999, when he retired.

Miller served as a professor and sorghum breeder at Texas A&M University for 35 years. In that position, he released more than 1,700 sorghum varieties, parents and germplasm sources which have been used in over half of the sorghum planted in the United States.