endowment mark the
retirement of Larry Bass
In what was equal parts celebrity roast and serious business, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences marked the retirement of Larry Bass with both a farewell party and the creation of a 4-H program endowment in his honor.
Bass, horticultural science Extension specialist, is a College alumnus, with a 1973 bachelor’s degree in conservation and a 1979 master’s degree in agriculture. He served 28 years with the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service.
His duties included working with field faculty, such as 4-H and horticultural agents, and the youth served by their programs. He also coordinated the Master Gardener Program for 14 years and produced and edited the first Master Gardener Manual.
For more than 20 years, Bass oversaw 4-H horticultural contests at district activity days, where 4-H presentation winners advanced to state level competition at 4-H Congress. He also was state program chairman of the National Junior Horticultural Association (NJHA) and annually accompanied the state presentation, project and horticultural judging team winners to the association’s national convention.
In commemoration of the work with 4-H of Bass and his wife, Joyce, colleagues, friends and faculty established the Larry and Joyce Bass 4-H Horticultural Awards Endowment.
“This is a celebration of Larry Bass and his untiring efforts on behalf of youth horticulture,” said Dr. Tom Monaco, head of the Horticultural Science Department. “This endowment will provide support in perpetuity for programs, awards and incentives that do not currently have endowments.”
Representing youth horticulture was student Vance Whitaker, president of the N.C. State Horticulture Club. Whitaker said he is one of those youth who was inspired by Larry Bass as he passed through the 4-H youth program.
As much as Bass’ service to youth and his profession was celebrated, so was his gregarious personality.
Dr. Joe Zublena, who represented Cooperative Extension and presented a plaque to Bass for his years of service, said, “Larry Bass is known for his energy, excitement and positive attitude — the kind of personality that means success in Extension.”
Dr. David Monks of Horticultural Science added, “We all recognize the sunshine and optimism he brings into our lives.” Monks also presented a plaque to Bass, along with a bronze ice cream scoop, in memory of Bass’s role as office birthday party organizer.
Dr. Thearon McKinney, state 4-H program leader, spoke about “the many young people across the state who now care about plants and always will because of Larry’s work with 4-H. I look forward to Larry now working as a volunteer for 4-H, and I invite him back any time to make a commotion in the hall.”
The event, held Sept. 25 at the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center, was hosted by the Department of Horticultural Science and the North Carolina 4-H Development Fund. Among the many friends and colleagues attending to honor Bass, his wife, Joyce, and their son, Alex, was a large contingent of his brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces.
—Terri
Leith
