Hereford Breed Remembers Orville Sweet
Orville Sweet
June 21, 1923 - April 19, 2007
Orville Sweet, 83, died in Springfield, Mo., April 19. Orville will be fondly remembered as a leader and friend to the Hereford breed and livestock industry. He served as president/executive secretary of the American Polled Hereford Association (APHA) from 1963-79 and authored Birth of a Breed: The History of Polled Herefords – America's First Beef Breed.
"Mr. Sweet was truly one of the fine gentlemen to serve the beef industry," says Craig Huffhines, American Hereford Association (AHA) executive vice president. "And he had a wide sweeping influence in the livestock industry. Of all the people I have ever met that had the opportunity to work with Mr. Sweet, they all held him in very high regard."
Orville served as a U.S. naval air crewman in the South Pacific during World War II. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Oklahoma State University and then taught vocational agriculture, managed a beef cattle ranch and was a beef specialist at the University of Georgia. After his years of service with the APHA, he was hired as executive vice president of the National Pork Producers Council. He worked for the council until 1989 and spearheaded the "Pork. The Other White Meat®" campaign.
He was active and influential in many livestock industry associations and well-known for his speeches, averaging more than 100 speeches a year in 49 states and 63 countries during his career.
Orville was a dedicated steward of the Church of Christ, serving in numerous leadership roles at the Overland Park Church of Christ in Kansas and the Kimberling City Church of Christ in Missouri. He also volunteered at Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch in Lampe, Mo., and served on the board of directors of BNL Insurance Co.
Orville was married to Mary Lewellwyn Gwaltney Sweet for nearly 61 years when he passed away. The couple had four children, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday, April 22 from 3-5 p.m. at Greenlawn Funeral Home in Branson, Mo. Funeral services will be Monday, April 23 at 10 a.m. at the Kimberling City Church of Christ in Kimberling City, Mo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch, 296 Boys Ranch Rd., Lampe, MO 65681.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Orville's family and friends. His influence in the Hereford breed will not be forgotten.
Orville Sweet
June 21, 1923 - April 19, 2007
Orville Sweet, 83, died in Springfield, Mo., April 19. Orville will be fondly remembered as a leader and friend to the Hereford breed and livestock industry. He served as president/executive secretary of the American Polled Hereford Association (APHA) from 1963-79 and authored Birth of a Breed: The History of Polled Herefords – America's First Beef Breed.
"Mr. Sweet was truly one of the fine gentlemen to serve the beef industry," says Craig Huffhines, American Hereford Association (AHA) executive vice president. "And he had a wide sweeping influence in the livestock industry. Of all the people I have ever met that had the opportunity to work with Mr. Sweet, they all held him in very high regard."
Orville served as a U.S. naval air crewman in the South Pacific during World War II. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Oklahoma State University and then taught vocational agriculture, managed a beef cattle ranch and was a beef specialist at the University of Georgia. After his years of service with the APHA, he was hired as executive vice president of the National Pork Producers Council. He worked for the council until 1989 and spearheaded the "Pork. The Other White Meat®" campaign.
He was active and influential in many livestock industry associations and well-known for his speeches, averaging more than 100 speeches a year in 49 states and 63 countries during his career.
Orville was a dedicated steward of the Church of Christ, serving in numerous leadership roles at the Overland Park Church of Christ in Kansas and the Kimberling City Church of Christ in Missouri. He also volunteered at Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch in Lampe, Mo., and served on the board of directors of BNL Insurance Co.
Orville was married to Mary Lewellwyn Gwaltney Sweet for nearly 61 years when he passed away. The couple had four children, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday, April 22 from 3-5 p.m. at Greenlawn Funeral Home in Branson, Mo. Funeral services will be Monday, April 23 at 10 a.m. at the Kimberling City Church of Christ in Kimberling City, Mo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch, 296 Boys Ranch Rd., Lampe, MO 65681.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Orville's family and friends. His influence in the Hereford breed will not be forgotten.