John Measel was born on a 100-acre farm near Hermitage in Bradley County. Mr. Measel was a graduate of the  University of Arkansas, where he was a star on the Razorback football team. After receiving his B.S. degree in Agriculture, Mr. Measel joined the University’s Cooperative Extension Service in February 1935. He served as assistant agent in Columbia,  Lafayette, Pike, Yell and Miller counties before being promoted to extension agent and transferred to Hot Springs County. In 1946, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agents for his outstanding work in promoting agriculture and youth work in the counties in which he had been employed. Mr. Measel was a member of the Arkansas and National ACAA and served as president of the Arkansas association. For many years, Mr. Measel conducted a weekly radio program concerning agriculture related issues. After his retirement from the Extension Service, he was a member of the Miller County Quorum Court and chaired numerous committees, including the Budget and Agriculture committees. He also served on the Miller County Conservation District Board of Directors. Between 1977 and 1989, Mr. Measel created and hosted the “RFD-6 Farm Show,” a television program on KTAL-TV devoted to agricultural issues. During his long and distinguished career, Mr. Measel was the recipient of numerous honors and awards. A few of these were the “4-H Club Clover Award,” the “Agri-Service Award” and a Citation for Meritous Service from the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.