Carmon R. “C. R.” Sawrie

Carmon R. “C. R.” Sawrie was born and reared on a farm in Greenbrier, Arkansas. He graduated from Greenbrier, then went on to earn B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Arkansas. He did further graduate work in Electrical Applications at Texas A&M University. His military service was three years with the Navy in the Pacific. Mr. Sawrie taught veterans “on-the-job” at Guy and Heber Springs for two years, then he established the department and taught vocational agriculture at Griffithville High School for 8 1/2 years. Mr. Sawrie worked for Arkansas Power & Light Company (Entergy) for 28 years as argribusiness representative, manager of Agribusiness Development and manager of Residential Services. During these 28 years, he conducted the Farm Family of the Year program, the Purple Circle Club program and developed and conducted electrification contests for vocational agriculture students. Mr. Sawrie has conducted research in cooperation with the University of Arkansas’ Agricultural Engineering Department at Fayetteville on conservation and electrical usage on the farm. He was also co-founder and co-manager of the Arkansas Farm Show for 32 years. Mr. Sawrie was a member of the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce for 12 years, where he was vice-president of Agriculture Development & Statewide Relations. During this time, he also developed and coordinated the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame program. Mr. Sawrie was on the board of directors of Arkansas 4-H Foundation for 25 years, on the board of directors for Arkansas FFA Foundation for 25 years, president of Arkansas Farm & Ranch Club, president of Arkansas Electrification Council and member of many industry committees in the state and region. Mr. Sawrie was named “Man of the Year in Service to Arkansas Agriculture” by Progressive Farmer magazine in 1974. He was awarded a lifetime honorary membership in the Arkansas Vocational Association and was awarded three Distinguished Service Awards related to church activities and service. He was on the board of the First Church of the Nazarene in Little Rock for 32 years and secretary of the Advisory Board of South Arkansas District Church of the Nazarene.