George Washington Carver 
January 5 Has Been Designated, George Washington Carver Day, In Honor Of The Brilliant Agricultural Chemist Who Died On This Day In 1943, At The Age Of 78. George Washington Carver Was Born A Slave In Diamond, Missouri, During The Civil War. His Birthplace Is Now A National Monument. Nicknamed "The Peanut Man" And The "Wizard Of Tuskegee," Carver Headed The Agricultural Deprtment Of Tuskegee Institute In Alabama And Was One Of The Most Prominent Scientists Of His Day. He Was Famous For Finding New Uses For Everyday Items. Carver Discovered 188 Ways To Use The Sweet Potato And 300 Uses For The Peanut, Which Included Peanut Milk, Dye, A Scrubbing Powder, Sweets, Flour And Livestock Feed. Dr. Carver's Research In Improved Farming Techniques Helped Revolutionize Farming In America. His Main Concern Was Improving The Condition Of Poor Southern Farmers. He Organized Our-Reach Programs To Assist Them. He Encouraged Farmers To Diversify From The Single-Cash Crop Of Cotten, Which Depleted Nutrients From The Soil, And Promoted The Planting Of Peanuts Cowpeas And Sweet Potatos. In Addition, He Formulated Cheaper Farm Inputs Like Organic Fertilizer, To Substitute For More Costly Commercial Fertilizers.
Among Dr. Carver's Honors: The NAACP Spingarn Medal In 1923, The Roosevelt Medal For Distinguished Service In 1939 And The Thomas Edison Foundation Award In 1943. "In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr. 
Hugh Gaddy
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Posted By: Hugh Gaddy
Monday, January 4th 2010 at 8:16PM
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