James Knowlton Jr.

2025 Davis College Distinguished Alumni Award

James Knowlton, Jr. of Oakland, Tennessee received a bachelor’s degrees in agricultural mechanization and agricultural engineering from Texas Tech. Knowlton completed his master’s degree in agricultural engineering from Clemson University. Following three decades with the USDA’s Cotton Program, he retired in 2020 after serving as an Agricultural Engineer and Director of the Standardization & Engineering Division. In that position Knowlton led many developments in the field of cotton fiber measurements, standards and cotton classification. He led developments and achieved international acceptance of multiple physical cotton measurement standards. In addition, Knowlton focused on international promotion of the USDA’s successful cotton classification system, which became the gold standard around the world for testing and grading of cotton. He also promoted the USDA’s Universal Cotton Standards working with many national and international cotton organizations including the National Cotton Council, Cotton Council International, Cotton Inc., and the International Cotton Association.