Apple, Tolson are Watauga Medalists
Two graduates of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have been honored with the prestigious Watauga Medal, the highest nonacademic honor bestowed by N.C. State University, for their distinguished service to the university. CALS alumni Dr. J. Lawrence Apple and E. Norris Tolson, along with engineering alumnus C. Richard Vaughn, received the awards at the university’s Founders’ Day Dinner March 9.
Apple, of Burlington, professor emeritus of plant pathology, earned three degrees at N.C. State, including a Ph.D. in plant pathology and genetics in 1955. He served on the faculty from 1955 to 1991 and is widely known for his work in international agricultural development. He was assistant director of research and academic affairs in the College, director of the Institute of Biological Sciences and director of international programs at the university.
Tolson, of Pinetops, president and CEO of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park, has served the citizens of North Carolina as a business and policy leader for more than four decades. Tolson graduated from N.C. State with a bachelor’s degree in crop science and agribusiness in 1962. He served in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps from 1963 to 1965, then worked in DuPont’s agricultural products and electronics business before retiring in 1993. He has since held some of the top policy positions in the state, serving as a legislator (1994-1997), Secretary of Commerce (1997-1998), Secretary of Transportation (1998) and Secretary of Revenue (2001-2007). Tolson is a member of the N.C. State Board of Visitors, the Alumni Association board and the CALS Alumni and Friends Society.
For more information about the 2009 Watauga Medal, visit www.ncsu.edu/watauga.
— NCSU News Services
Apple, of Burlington, professor emeritus of plant pathology, earned three degrees at N.C. State, including a Ph.D. in plant pathology and genetics in 1955. He served on the faculty from 1955 to 1991 and is widely known for his work in international agricultural development. He was assistant director of research and academic affairs in the College, director of the Institute of Biological Sciences and director of international programs at the university.
Tolson, of Pinetops, president and CEO of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park, has served the citizens of North Carolina as a business and policy leader for more than four decades. Tolson graduated from N.C. State with a bachelor’s degree in crop science and agribusiness in 1962. He served in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps from 1963 to 1965, then worked in DuPont’s agricultural products and electronics business before retiring in 1993. He has since held some of the top policy positions in the state, serving as a legislator (1994-1997), Secretary of Commerce (1997-1998), Secretary of Transportation (1998) and Secretary of Revenue (2001-2007). Tolson is a member of the N.C. State Board of Visitors, the Alumni Association board and the CALS Alumni and Friends Society.
For more information about the 2009 Watauga Medal, visit www.ncsu.edu/watauga.
— NCSU News Services