Obituary of Charles H Harper

Charles H. Harper was born April 11, 1925, in Tallapoosa County, Alabama. He attended Auburn University on a football scholarship and received a B. S. degree in agricultural science in 1948. Mr. Harper joined the Soil Conservation Service as a temporary aide at Dothan, Alabama, in June 1948, to begin a career with that agency that lasted more than 40 years. After serving as Work Unit Conservationist in Monroeville, Mr. Harper moved to Ozark in 1962 as Area Conservationist, where he continued until retirement in 1989. He achieved superior results in reducing erosion and flooding and in improving the natural environment in 13 erosion-prone counties in southeast Alabama. He accomplished this by motivating local leaders, organizations, land users, and SCS employees to work together in recognizing problems, planning solutions, and finding innovative ways to implement resource plans. PAGE TWO OF HARPER OBIT Mr. Harper's leadership influenced many people to alter cropping systems and to adopt no-till methods. He was the first in Alabama to sponsor parallel tile outlet terraces. He played a major role in the enactment of legislation that established Alabama's first cost-share program for soil and water conservation. He served two terms as president of the Soil Conservation Society of America Section of the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists. Mr. Harper served as a supervisor on the Dale County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors from 1996 to 2003. In August of this year the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts presented Mr. Harper with the Lifetime Achievement Award for the dedicated service he provided to Conservation Districts with conserving our natural resources. He was a Charter Board Member of the Choctawhatchee, Pea River, and Yellow River Watershed Management Authority. A veteran of European service in World War II, Mr. Harper is a Rotarian, a deacon and teacher in Ozark Baptist Church, charter member of the Auburn Agricultural Alumni Association, a member of the Auburn Athletic Club, and an active Alabama tree farmer. Service Information