Retired ag extension director marks 50th college reunion
Roy Lee Carter, Sr. celebrated his golden class anniversary on May 11 at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi.
Employed by both the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Gulf County, he was the former agriculture extension director for 36 years, the first Black ag extension director in the state.
Carter received his master’s degree from Florida A & M University in 1978 and had numerous accomplishments in his county role, including development of a robust 4-H program, including but not limited to the Big River Riders Horse Club; livestock judging teams, consumer sciences teams, and summer camps at Camp Timpoochee.
He was awarded grants to begin summer enrichment programs in basketball, baseball, swimming, and marine biology in Gulf County. Exposure to college campuses was a priority as Carter supported students’ participation in the 4-H State Legislature at Florida State University, the 4-H State Congress at University of Florida, and High School Summer Camp at FAMU.
In addition, Carter worked tirelessly to expand agricultural services, initiating programs for Gulf County to participate in such as Master Gardening, the Cattlemen’s Association, and Master Beekeeping. He assisted with beach erosion projects after hurricane devastation and aided residents in starting private fish ponds or fruit groves. He provided expert advice from lawn care to garden maintenance, insight of new initiatives from the University of Florida, and recommendations of what crops, fruits, vegetables grow best in this zone.
Married to the late Veronica Carter for 48 years, Carter has three children, Pamela Williams, of Douglasville, Georgia; Roy Lee Carter, Jr. (Chaleena Carter) of Wewahitchka; and Dr. Lindsey Carter Neal (Dr. Corey Neal), of McDonough, Georgia. Although retired, he continues to be a pillar of the community as a deacon of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and consultant to the Gulf County Schools for student gardening.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.