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October 6, 2000
SRP declared weevil free
 
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs presents an official proclamation, declaring the Southern Rolling Plains eradication zone "functionally eradicated," to Woody Anderson, chairman of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Inc. board of directors, during a ceremony in Wall, Wednesday.

By Lana Robinson
Field Editor

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs declared the Southern Rolling Plains "functionally eradicated" recently in a ceremony at the Saint Ambrose Parish Hall in Wall.

The SRP, which encompasses Coke, Runnels, Coleman, Irion, Tom Green Concho, McCulloch, Schleicher and Mason counties, along with a small portion of Taylor County, is the first zone in Texas to attain this status, which indicates there is no evidence of reproducing weevil populations within the zone.

Combs praised SRP producers for their undaunted commitment to eradicate the weevil, despite legal challenges and other obstacles since beginning the effort in 1994.

Featured speakers, Reps. Rob Junell (D-San Angelo) and Sen. Bob Duncan (R-Lubbock), added their appreciation, noting that the zone's cotton growers had impressed members of the legislature by putting their own dollars into the program.

A number of people leading the effort in its formative stages, including Frank Myers, former Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation executive director, and Osama Il-Lissy, advisor to the zone's growers, along with zone representatives, Extension Service personnel, and various organizations, including Texas Farm Bureau, were cited for their roles. Lawmakers, including Sens. Bill Ratliff (R-Mt. Pleasant), Tom Haywood (R-Wichita Falls), Teel Bivins (R-Amarillo), J.E. "Buster" Brown (R-Lake Jackson), Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) and former Sen. Bill Sims of San Angelo, were recognized for their leadership.

Also cited for supporting the effort were, House Speaker Pete Laney (D-Hale Center) and Reps. David Counts (D-Knox City), Bob Turner (D-Coleman), and David Swinford (R-Dumas), and former State Rep. Pete Patterson of Brookston. Finally, thanks were extended to Lt. Gov. Rick Perry (R-Haskell), for his efforts while serving as ag commissioner, Gov. George W. Bush, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Lubbock), and Congressman Charles Stenholm (D-Stamford).