The O. A. “Cotton” Fanning Memorial Fund was established by family and friends of “Cotton” Fanning in memory of “Cotton” Fanning in 1992. O.A. “Cotton” Fanning exemplified the cooperative spirit and can-do attitude of the people he served. During his life “Cotton”, as he was known by countless friends and colleagues, played a key role in the development and direction of the U.S. cotton industry. In honor of Fanning’s achievements, and tireless work to communicate on behalf of agriculture, his friends and colleagues have joined together to form the O.A. “Cotton” Fanning Memorial Fund to support the Agricultural Communications program at Texas Tech University. The scholarship is awarded to students of all classifications who are majoring in Agricultural Communications.

O.A. “Cotton” Fanning was born on February 14, 1925 in Floydada, TX and passed away on September 10, 1992 in Lubbock, TX. A respected voice for High Plains cotton producers O.A. “Cotton” Fanning exemplified the cooperative spirit and can-do attitude of the people he served. Fanning recently retired after 28 years with Lubbock-based Plains Cotton Growers (PCG).

During his life “Cotton”, as he was known by countless friends and colleagues, played a key role in the development and direction of the U.S. cotton industry. A graduate of Springlake-Earth High School, Fanning was graduated from Texas Tech in 1949 with a B.A. degree in journalism. He devoted the majority of his professional career to choosing words carefully. These words, in turn, communicated the thoughts and concerns of the cotton production industry to others.

Before joining the PCG staff in 1963 Fanning worked as a reporter for The Lubbock Avalanche Journal, a livestock inspector for the Department of Agriculture in Puebla, Mexico, and manager of the Basin Growers Association in Stanton to name a few. From his unique background Cotton was able to utilize his extensive knowledge to oversee PCG’s communication needs. During his 28 years with PCG, Fanning played a key role in preparing legislative testimony, speeches, and advertising that successfully communicated the thoughts, needs, and attributes of High Plains cotton and the people who grow it.

In honor of Fanning’s achievements and tireless work to communicate on behalf of agriculture, his friends and colleagues have joined together to form the O.A. “Cotton” Fanning Memorial Fund to support the Agricultural Communications program at Texas Tech University.

To support this scholarship, “Give Now” online.

 

Contact

Matt Williams
matt.williams@ttu.edu
Senior Director of Development
806.742.2802

Shelbey Havens
shelbey.havens@ttu.edu
Assistant Director of Development
806.742.2802

Tyler Schuster
tyler.schuster@ttu.edu
Assistant Director of Development
806.742.2802