CATA Hall of Fame - Class of 2004

Thirty-six years in the same district, wow! Mr. Dyer also served as both a sectional and regional CATA president. Jim was hired on the spot and thrown into the classroom right out of college. He often tells the story of how he met his wife, Shirley. Shirley’s younger brother, Don, was in Jim’s first class at Grossmont High School. Jim asked the class if any of them knew of a room for rent, because he had not had time to find a place to stay. Don raised his hand and said that they had a room for rent and, that his mother was a good cook. The rest is history! Mr. Dyer is known for leading the way in bringing girls into the FFA. His Future Farmettes pre-dated the State's acceptance of girls by several years. It is Jim Dyer’s ability to motivate students to do their best and his sincere desire to see them succeed as well as his state wide contributions to the FFA and agricultural education that makes him so deserving of being inducted into the California Agricultural Teacher’s Hall of Fame.

Born in Whynot, North Carolina in 1920, Mr. King graduated from Laurinburg HS, North Carolina in 1937 where he served as the chapter secretary and president. James served in the 107^th Calvary in France and Germany from 1942-45. After the war he attended UC Davis graduate school to earn his teaching credential. James began his teaching career at Santa Rosa HS, where he taught for 33 years. Jim exemplifies the long-term stability that agriculture education has had in California. He was a solid classroom teacher and FFA Advisor, responsible for 281 State Farmer degree recipients! Along the way James found time to be a sectional and regional officer, serve on the FFA Foundation Board, be a Men’s Garden Club national president.

After student teaching in Hemet under Fred Hagen, Kermit became an Army Corpsman at Fort Ord. His teaching career began with two years at Palmdale HS, followed by 33 years at Brawley. Among his many activities Mr. Kliewer was a sectional and regional president and received the Teacher of Excellence and Outstanding Teacher awards. He served on the CATA Fairs and Shows committee for 26 years! Even the US Army could not keep him from the CATA Summer Conference, which he attended for 36 years straight.

Harry was born into a livestock family active in the Junior Farmers, 4-H and FFA programs exhibiting champion beef sheep and swine at all the major shows. He worked with Jerry Davis at Nevada Union before student teaching at Dos Palos. Mr. Maddux was an architect of the three-circle approach to agriculture education, setting standards for his agriculture program that served as a national model. Harry spent many hours in the drive to secure a CATA executive director, the agriculture incentive grant program and the Save our Bureau campaign. Among Harry’s many accomplishments are; past sectional & regional president, Outstanding Young Member, Teacher of Excellence, Outstanding Teacher, Member of the 1989 Outstanding State and National Agriculture Program, a Star Counselor, trained 21 state champion judging teams, 49 State winning proficiencies, 96 student teachers, 111 American farmers, and over 400 State Farmers. Even after retirement Mr. Maddux is a vital part of our profession, raising and judging sheep and serving as student teacher supervisor for National and CSU, Stanislaus. Perhaps his most incredible statistic is that he has been an American Southdown member for 55 years. His wife Janice and his daughter Nikki are also agriculture teachers. His son Todd is soon to be an agriculture teacher.

Born in Oakland in 1940, Joe graduated from Mt. SAC in 1960. For over 38 years Dr. Joe has been an incredible resource to agriculture education in California. Rarely has one person meant so much to so many! Dr. Joseph E. Sabol dedicated himself to being the consummate agricultural educator. He has more than 180 former students who currently teach, administer or serve as teacher educators in agricultural education. His resume reads like an encyclopedia. High school teacher, college professor, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Teacher of Teachers, he has been asked to conduct teaching workshops throughout the world. For more than 28 years Dr. Joe has helped coordinate FFA state finals and state conference. Likewise his dedication to CATA, and our summer conference is unparalleled. Few would argue that Dr. Sabol is one of the most creative and gifted teachers in the profession. His use of magic, analogies, metaphors, stories and jokes along with that infectious smile has effected hundreds of students and peers over the years. To put it simply, Dr. Joe is not just an agriculture teacher but a teacher of life. His wit and wisdom will play a part of California Agricultural Education for decades to come.