Participant Spotlight
Lawrence “Willie” VanHook
(on the left)
The Caption reads: Lawrence “Willie” VanHook of Cedar Grove was one of the first African-Americans to become a tobacco grader for the United States Department of Agriculture. He was also one of the first African-American graders for the burley tobacco markets in Tennessee and Kentucky. VanHook was the first African-American tobacco buyer for the Universal Leaf Tobacco Company and for Phillip Morris USA, including foreign countries.
Mr. Willie - Making History!
A pioneer and progressive leader
Sheila, Willie’s daughter, shared the following statements from a letter, sent In the mid-1960’s when The United States Department of Agriculture of Washington, DC contacted Mr. Sherman N. Shelton, County Negro Agriculture Agent for the Orange County Agricultural Extension Office in Hillsborough, NC to identify black candidates for the interview process as they planned to integrate the Flu-Cured Tobacco Market.
Willie Lawrence VanHook was one of the first blacks in the country selected for training as a tobacco Grader on the Flu-Cured Tobacco circuit, JP Taylor Company.
He later became a tobacco Buyer on the Flu-Cured Tobacco Market, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.
We thank the VanHook family for sharing this paramount achievement and for sharing Mr. Willie with us!
Ed Dougherty
A poem by Ed Dougherty
Soltys Staff
Through thoughtful humor,
Sincere compassion, these grand
Folks sooth our despair
They challenge, they teach
They feed our bodies and souls;
Giving each esteem
They are here to raise
Our spirits, our value as true men;
Success – I can feel!
Exercise with George
George often will facilitate group exercises for the program.
George is a veteran, we thank him for his service!
Please enjoy this video of George engaging his peers in exercise. Thank you to those who joined him for the demonstration: Debbie, Ida, Ed, and Ann.