Richard S. “Dick” Barnett, Jr.

Richard S. “Dick” Barnett, Jr. was born March 4, 1906 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was educated in Pine Bluff public schools, and attended Washington and Lee University where he received an AB degree in 1927. In addition Mr. Barnett was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Arkansas. One of Mr. Barnett’s greatest contributions to agriculture was through his position as a trustee of the Ben J. Altheimer Foundation, a cotton research chair at the University of Arkansas. The Chair was established in 1951 and foundation money has gone to support research work. Mr Barnett served as President and Manager of the Elms Planting Corporation and Associated Corporations in Altheimer, Arkansas for 25 years. He was President and General Manager of B.N. Word Co., Inc. and B.N. Word Gin Co., Inc in Wabbaska, Arkansas for 15 years. Mr. Barnett was an untiring promoter of cotton and national programs for better agriculture, such as the Beltwide Cotton Production and Mechanization Conference. Mr. Barnett served as Mayor of Altheimer. For four years he was a member of Arkansas Highway Commission. Mr. Barnett served as President of the Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Chairman of the Board of the Arkansas-Missouri Ginners Association, Director of the Arkansas Rice Growers Cooperative Association, Chairman of the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District, Chairman of the Arkansas unit of the National Cotton Council and Director of the Arkansas Soybean Association. In 1967 Mr. Barnett received the Man of the Year Award in Arkansas from Progressive Farmer magazine.