Sandra Welch called ‘face of East Texas agriculture’
Writer: Robert Burns, 903-834-6191, rd-burns@tamu.edu
Contacts: Dr. Charles Long, 903-834-6191, c-long@tamu.edu
Sandra Welch, 903-834-6191, s-welch@tamu.edu
TYLER — Build East Texas presented their Award of Excellence in Agricultural Research and Extension to Sandra Welch in January.
Welch is the administrative assistant to the resident director of research at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.
“Sandra Welch has served initially as secretary and then as administrative assistant since its establishment in 1967,” said Dr. Charles Long, resident director of research at the center. “For countless clientele, Mrs. Welch is the face of East Texas agriculture.”
Build East Texas presents the award annually to recognize outstanding contributions by the personnel of the Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas AgriLife Extension service in East Texas.
“Mrs. Welch is one of those Texas AgriLife employees that causes the organization to continue functioning well in the face of personnel turnovers, policy changes, financial setbacks and other assorted causes of disruption,” Long stated. “Her duties and responsibilities are of such a wide variety and magnitude, that exceptional skills and capabilities are required.”
Welch’s community activities include the Overton Rotary Club where she has served as president, secretary, treasurer and chairman of the scholarship committee. She is a Paul Harris Fellow and has received the Overton Rotarian of the Year award. She is a member of the Overton-New London Chamber of Commerce, First Baptist Church of Overton and sanctuary choir.
She has also served as a member of the Overton Economic Development Corporation for several terms.
For more than 20 years, Welch has been a member of the Texas Association of Sports Officials, volleyball division. Over the years, she has served the organization in various leadership capacities and is currently president of her local volleyball chapter.
Welch is married to John Welch, mayor of Overton. They have two daughters and sons-in laws, Holly and Eddie Bator of Dallas and Wendy and Kenny Jones of Cypress. Sandra and John have seven grandchildren.
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