enry Dameron, 84, had a philosophy in the years he worked with young people through Cooperative Extension in Cleveland County. “I would not get too disappointed if the kids didn’t like or understand me at the time. But when they got grown, if they still didn’t like or appreciate me, then I would be disappointed. I see those people quite often, and I haven’t been disappointed yet.”

Cleveland County 4-H’ers benefited from Dameron’s devoted commitment for 35 years. Now they will benefit from the admiration and appreciation that people have for Dameron. An endowment in his name, the Henry Dameron Presentation Program Endowment, has been established to pay the expenses of Cleveland County 4-H’ers who advance to the state competition in 4-H presentations.

Dameron retired in 1979 after serving as Cleveland County’s 4-H director for 23 years and Extension chairman for 12 years. He graduated from NCSU in 1943.

“I had the opportunity of beginning with Extension back in the days when agents could do all types of work. I worked with the boys and girls, with farmers, with different folks, and it was a lot of fun,” Dameron said. He was able to impart new information to busy farm parents through the 4-H members.

“One of the most rewarding things for me was to work directly with 4-H members, trying to instill in them the drive to do their best in all things,” he said.

One of Dameron’s favorite responsibilities was training 4-H youngsters in the demonstration – now called presentation — program. “I had the pleasure of training a good number of boys and girls in the art of presenting show-and-tell demonstrations,” Dameron recalled. “It may not have registered so much with the kids at that time, but as adults it sure did help them a lot.”

Greg Traywick, Cleveland County Extension director, calls Dameron a very genuine person. “He always does what is right, not just what is popular. And he carried that through in his work with 4-H.”

Parents of 4-H’ers always felt at ease sending their children to camp with Dameron, Traywick says. “They knew he would make the campers toe the line. He taught children to be respectful and to do their very best.”

Traywick believes that so many people admire Dameron because he worked hard to help 4-H’ers build self-confidence and develop the ability to speak with conviction.

Dameron and his wife, Ruthy, still live in Cleveland County and welcome contact from former 4-H members, alumni and Extension colleagues. They have one son, David, and two grandsons, Matthew and Jonathan. For years after retiring, Dameron helped with the Cleveland County Fair. Now, he says, he and Ruthy are “taking life easy.”

—Alexandra Mordecai

To get in touch with Henry Dameron or contribute to the Henry Dameron Presentation Program Endowment, contact Greg Traywick, Cleveland County Extension Director, at 704-482-4365 or greg_traywick@ncsu.edu.