Julia (Judy) A. Brock
Kershaw, Lee, Sumter and Fairfield
1972-2002
Lever Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Judy Brock
Judy Brock started as an associate home economist with EFNEP for Sumter and Kershaw Counties in 1972. Over time, she moved between agent and county leadership positions, and when 30 years of service came to a close, she held the role of county Extension director. In her expansive nutrition and food safety roles, Brock developed training programs for EFNEP team members and Master Food Preservers, taught at 4-H EFNEP summer camps and served as an advisor and public policy trainer to community associations. She coordinated the Palmetto Leadership program for several years after a pilot program was started in Kershaw County. The funding Brock appropriated and leveraged for Extension was significant enough to establish a foundation account. The counties she served between 1972 and 1993 included Sumter, Kershaw, Lee and Fairfield.
"It was the brightest job that anyone could ever have, and the memories are just unbelievable," said Brock. "When I started this journey over 54 years ago, I had no idea where it would lead me."
Danny Howard
Daniel "Danny" Howard joined Clemson as a county Extension director in 1985 and had previously worked in Extension Services at the University of Georgia and Auburn University. Over his 33 years of service with Clemson, he served counties in the Upstate and Lowcountry, delivering agricultural, natural resources and livestock and foraging programming and helped develop mentoring resources for new agents. Howard is credited with co-developing various certification programs for natural resources, including Upstate Master Naturalist, Master Tree, and Master Wildlife. The counties he served between 1985 and 2018 included Colleton, Beaufort, Jasper, Greenville, Spartanburg, Union and Cherokee.
"If you watched Mr. Danny Howard be a county agent, that's what it looks like to be a good one," said Brian Bolt, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department Livestock Specialist.
Juanita Neely
Juanita Neely started her Extension career as the Lancaster County home demonstration agent in 1918 and later became a field training agent. A few years later, she became one of the few women to serve as the state Extension poultry specialist and was dedicated to creating a sound home poultry program for rural South Carolina families. She also helped increase poultry exhibits at the State Fair through 4-H poultry clubs and home flock owners. Neely went on to serve in district and state roles for home demonstration until her retirement in 1957. The Progressive Farmer magazine named her a "Woman of the Year" in 1952 due to her efforts to increase the number of home demonstration agents for rural areas. South Carolina Governor James Byrnes awarded her the Distinguished Service Award in 1957, and in 1958, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the South Carolina Employees Association. The counties she served between 1918 and 1958 included Lancaster and York.
"I wish that I had seen what my brother wrote when he nominated Juanita," said Margaret Senn Palmer, Neely's cousin. "Because I didn't know all those things."
Russell Roberts
Russel Roberts became an assistant county agent in Anderson in 1966. He served the Anderson County 4-H Youth Development program for the duration of his career from 1966 to 1993 while building one of the top 4-H Youth Development programs in South Carolina and achieving national recognition. Roberts helped establish the 4-H Heifer Dairy Project and achieved the highest number of 4-Hers from one county in the first year. He built a strong record book program that 4-Hers benefitted greatly from and subsequently achieved high numbers of 4-Hers who received state awards. He received ongoing recognition from 4-H parents, accepted numerous 4-H Agent of the Year and Camp Director awards and grew partnerships with local businesses in support of 4-H Youth Development efforts. Tom Garrison spoke about his memories as a 4-H member under Roberts' leadership and becoming the first National 4-H Dairy Record Book Winner from South Carolina. He said he was filling out his record book for submittal to the national competition and turned to Roberts for help responding to a question about what he had learned in 4-H that would leave a lasting impression.
"And he thought for a minute — and this is something that stood with me for all these years", said Garrison. "And Mr. Roberts said, 'Well, you know, I believe what you've learned is the ability to make decisions.'"
