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One of Cape Girardeau's most distinguished citizens has received additional recognition for his lifetime of leadership and accomplishments in the field of university outreach and extension.

The well-deserved award went to 91-year-old Cape philanthropist B.W. Harrison, who is the 2001 recipient of the Gordon Warren Land-Grant Award, given annually to a person who exemplifies the land-grant mission of the University of Missouri and assists others in the community and state.

Harrison had a long career with the extension service before retiring in 1993.

He is a former Missouri 4-H Foundation trustee. Harrison was recognized for his support of the university's outreach and extension land-grant mission through the Missouri 4-H Foundation, to which he contributed, and for his support of the C. Brice Ratchford Memorial Fellowship. The latter provides a fellowship to a MU faculty member in extension, international education or agricultural education.

As district director for Southeast Missouri, Harrison pioneered the specialist system the extension service now uses. "It's probably the most outstanding system in the United States," said Gerald Bryan, agronomist and county program director for the extension service in Jackson, Mo. "It gives a higher level of expertise and knowledge to the people in the counties."

Congratulations to B.W. Harrison for his lifetime of dedicated service. It is a pleasure to see a fine citizen recognized for his contributions and national leadership.