North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture James A. Graham received the award for agriculture, and retired professor of plant pathology Dr. Arthur Kelman was given the award for life sciences during Alumni Reunion Weekend in April.

Graham, a 1942 graduate of the College, has been North Carolina’s Commissioner of Agriculture since 1964. During his tenure Graham has encouraged diversification of the state’s agriculture. He has overseen the rapid growth of the state’s hog and poultry industries, truck crops and Christmas tree farms. Graham also was instrumental in the eradication of hog cholera and the boll weevil.

Early in his career, Graham was an agriculture teacher in Iredell County and a superintendent of the Upper Mountain Research Station in Laurel Springs. Later, he was named manager of the Winston-Salem Fair, secretary of the N.C. Hereford Association and general manager of the State Farmers’ Market before beginning his service to the state as agriculture commissioner.

Graham also has served on numerous boards in the community. He was a founding member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Alumni Society Board of Advisors.

Kelman received his master’s degree in 1946 and his doctoral degree in 1949, both from N.C. State. As a faculty member in plant pathology at the university, Kelman has conducted research on bacterial diseases of plants. He was named a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor in 1961. In his retirement, Kelman continues working as a University Distinguished Scholar.

Throughout his career he has been involved with the National Academy of Sciences, the International Society for Plant Pathology, the American Academy of the Arts and Sciences and other organizations. He has traveled extensively to assist with research projects throughout the world.

Kelman has received many teaching and research awards during his career, including the 1999 Department of Plant Pathology Outstanding Alumnus Award.