Larry D. Easterwood retired from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System after 34 years of service in Chambers, Madison, Russell and Calhoun counties.

Easterwood received his Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Auburn University. He started his career in 1961 with Extension as a 4-H agent in Chambers County. Like many other Extension agents, Easterwood’s productive time as a 4-H member in his younger years influenced his career choice.

In 1973, Easterwood transferred to Madison County as an Associate County Agent. He was responsible for working with the farmers who were involved with cotton, beef cattle, and soybeans.  He was promoted to County Agent Coordinator for Russell County in 1977, where he remained until he transferred to Calhoun County in 1983. He served as the County Agent Coordinator for Calhoun County until his retirement in 1995.

Easterwood is proud to have received many honors during his 34 year Extension career. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in 1979. As a member of the Alabama Association of County Agricultural  Agents,

---

as the organization was then known, he was elected to serve as District II Director, Secretary, Vice President and President. While President, he represented AACAAS at the national convention in Baltimore, Maryland.

During his career Easterwood said that the most significant scientific advancement he witnessed was the creation of hybrid sweet corn. He also said the biggest challenge he faced during his career was obtaining adequate funding for Extension.

Easterwood gives tribute to the many mentors who contributed to his career success: Sam Jones, E.L. Stewart, John Parrish, Cecil Davis, R.O. Magnuson, Chuck Brown, Gary Murray, and W.R. Williams.

​Easterwood and his wife, Nellie, have remained in Calhoun County (Anniston) since his retirement. Easterwood is proud of his three children: Larry Easterwood, Jr., Jerry, and Rachel. Larry, Jr.  is an engineer at Red Stone Arsenal in Huntsville with three grown children of his own. Easterwood is enjoying trying to teach Jerry, an RN in Atlanta, and his three children how to take over the family farm in Randolph County. They also enjoy trips to New York City to visit Rachel, who is a physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital.