COLLEGE STATION — Retired state Sen. William L. “Bill” Sims of San Angelo, who used the experience of a lengthy agricultural career to serve farmers, ranchers and other rural Texans, has been chosen as the 1996 recipient of the Texas A&M Distinguished Texan in Agriculture Award.
“Senator Sims represents an exemplary public servant in the true sense,” said Dr. Edward A. Hiler, vice chancellor for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.
“He has served in a variety of public service roles, including his time as a county agent with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, his leadership within the sheep and goat industry and his representation of the citizens of Texas in legislative public policy involving agriculture and natural resources.”
Sims will receive the award, which recognizes outstanding leadership and significant contributions to Texas agriculture, at a special dinner April 10 in Austin.
Raised on a ranch near Paint Rock, Sims spent his entire working career in agriculture and parlayed his experience into a successful state senate campaign in 1983.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry from Texas Tech University in 1955, he was a county agent with the Extension Service in Howard and Irion counties for 10 years. In 1966, he became executive secretary of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers’ Association, a position he held until 1995.
In addition, Sims served as managing editor of The Ranch Magazine in San Angelo from 1966 to 1982.
His influence in state and federal affairs regarding the sheep, goat and ranching industries, as well as his understanding of the importance of the legislative process to rural communities, helped prepare him to campaign for the Senate.
He served in the Senate from 1983 through 1996, during which time he was an assertive and tireless proponent for agriculture and rural Texas communities, Hiler said.
He was chair of the Natural Resources Committee and served on several other committees. He was involved in important legislation concerning boll weevil eradication, bovine tuberculosis, fire ant control, increased penalties for livestock theft, aerial predator control and rabies control. He also sponsored the bill reauthorizing the Texas Animal Health Commission.
He was influential in several other agricultural issues, including legislation to control the encroachment of noxious brush and its impact on recharge of underground aquifers. Texas cotton producers approached Sims to lead efforts for legislation dedicated to eradicating the boll weevil.
Sims has received an Outstanding Alumnus Award from Texas Tech, the “Man of the Year” award from the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association, and a Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Farm Bureau. He also received a Friend of Texas A&M Agriculture Award in 1995 for his leadership with the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers’ Association.
Among his other honors are various awards of recognition from the Professional Agriculture Workers of Texas, the Texas Wildlife Association, the San Antonio Mexican Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Association of Municipal Health Officials, the Texas Agriculture Commission, the Texas Chamber of Commerce, the Texas State Troopers Association, and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers’ Association.
He still maintains a working farm and ranch in Concho County.
Sims is the fourth recipient of the award, joining 1993 winner John B. Armstrong, a Kingsville rancher; former Gov. Dolph Briscoe, the 1994 recipient; and the 1995 winner, L. Don Anderson, a cotton businessman from Lubbock.
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