Agricultural economist, former chair, to retire in August
One of the founding leaders of Texas Tech University's Cotton Economics Research Institute and a longtime professor and administrator in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics is retiring at the end of August.
Don E. Ethridge, a ground-breaking agricultural economist who worked at the USDA and CIA, served as professor and chairman of the department from 1997 to 2005. In 1997, he was named director of the Cotton Economics Research Institute, and today still serves as its associate director.
"Don Ethridge's monumental contributions to our department and the agricultural and applied economics profession are numerous," said Eduardo Segarra, chairman of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. "He significantly contributed to the professional formation of our faculty, staff and students. There is no doubt that he will be missed ."
Cotton Industry. Ethridge, who over the decades has received grants in excess of $4.5 million, has focused his research efforts on rangeland economics and economics of the cotton industry. Projects have included economic analyses of brush control and other range enhancement practices, marketing/production systems in semi-arid lands, and price and weather risk analyses.
In addition, he developed and organized economic research programs in fibers and oil crops with emphasis on the western U.S. coordination/cooperation/liaison work with cotton industry and other research groups and institutions.
Resource Issues. Separately, Ethridge has spotlighted research on world food and natural resource issues. Projects include projections of world production, consumption, and trade for grains and meat; estimation of demand for meats in the world and selected countries; and monitoring of contract research on grain trade modeling.
Ethridge has significant overseas experience, including a United States Agency for International Development project evaluating Ethiopia's fiber/textiles sector; presentation of seminars in Mexico on the structure and operation of cotton marketing in the United States; and a project working on privatization of the Philippine cotton and textile industries.
Personal Letters. During a special retirement ceremony on Aug. 21 at the Texas Tech Southwest Collection Library, Ethridge was presented a bound notebook containing more than 60 letters of congratulations from friends and colleagues from across the nation. Among the highlights were:""Your dedication to agriculture and your community is model for others to follow." "" Todd Staples, commissioner, Texas Department of Agriculture""We count you among our industry's greatest assets." "" Steve Verett, executive vice president, Plains Cotton Growers""You have made a difference in the lives of many people." "" Kent Hance, chancellor, Texas Tech University System
USDA and CIA. Ethridge earned his bachelor's degree in 1965 and master's degree in agricultural economics from Texas Tech in 1967. He completed his doctorate in economics from North Carolina State University in 1970. Following graduation he joined the faculty of North Carolina State as an instructor of economics and later as an assistant professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Rolla.
Prior to coming to Texas Tech in 1981, Ethridge served as an economist and senior representative with the USDA's Economic Research Service. He also worked as a senior economic analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency's Office of Economic Research, where he conducted policy analysis and research.
Leadership Awards. Awards for Ethridge include the appreciation award for leadership from the Texas Tech Cotton Economics Research Institute (2008); lifetime achievement award for significant and enduring contributions to the agricultural economics profession from the Southern Agricultural Economics Association (2002); Outstanding Researcher from the Texas Tech College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (1998); and Texas Tech President's Academic Achievement Award for distinguished teaching, research and service (1988).
He is a member of the American Economic Association, American Agricultural Economics Association, Southern Agricultural Economics Association and National Association of Agricultural Economics Administrators.
Written by Norman Martin
CONTACT: Don E. Ethridge, Department of Agricultural and Applied EconomicsTexas Tech University at (806) 742-2821 or don.ethridge@ttu.edu
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