The Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame

William Lovel Lanier Sr.

• Born: March 17, 1927
• Honored: September 17, 2004

Occupation: Member Georgia Legislature, Six 2-year terms (Chairman of House Ag. Communication) State Executive Director ASCS; President of Georgia Farm Bureau, Director of Tobacco Division USDA, Director of Tobacco/Peanut Division USDA, Director of Policy Analysis Staff USDA, and Assistant Administrator- ASCS, USDA.

Accomplishments: A United States Navy and World War II Veteran, Lanier earned degrees from both Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and The University of Georgia in Agronomy. He advanced his career to Washington, D.C. and served as a Director for several divisions in the USDA including Tobacco, Tobacco/Peanut, Policy Analysis, and was also the Assistant Administrator for ASCS. An accomplished author and member of the Georgia Legislature, Lanier introduced and passed more farm and consumer protection legislation than any member in Georgia history. He also served under Governors Talmadge and Vandivier as Chairman of House Agricultural Committee and Vice Chairman under Governor Griffin.

Lanier has been a member of the Advisory Board for C&S National Bank, Agriculture’s Public Relations Committee, Cotton, Inc., Board of Directors at Pineland State Bank, the President’s Consumer Advisory Board, Tobacco Stabilization Corporation, Board of Directors for the National Cotton Council, Board of Directors for Candler County Hospital, Resolution Committee for the American Farm Bureau, US/USSR Exchange Team, Altamaha Georgia Southern Area Planning and Development Commission, Eterna Club, the Booster’s Club of Georgia Southern University, and District Director of the Boy Scouts of America. In addition, Lanier was honored as Man of the Year in Georgia Agriculture by Progressive Farmer Magazine and was a past president for the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association.