George Watts recipient of prestigious US poultry award

31-01-2011 | Home | News

George Watts, retiring president of the National Chicken Council, was honored by US Poultry & Egg Association during the 2011 International Poultry Expo, where he received the Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award.

The prestigious honor was presented to Watts by Don Dalton, recipient of the 2008 Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award and past president of the US Poultry & Egg Association.

The Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual whose dedication and leadership over the years have far exceeded the ordinary and impacted both the poultry industry and US Poultry & Egg Association in an exemplary manner. The award is presented non-annually and when the Awards and Recognition Committee unanimously recognises and endorses the need for occasional, unique recognition for exceptional contributions.

“For almost four decades, George has made definable contributions that have helped advance the broiler industry,” remarked Dalton. “George has labored diligently and efficiently on behalf of the industry, and his touch can be seen and felt on many of the initiatives and programs that have contributed to the industry’s success. He has been a visionary in evaluating the industry’s future needs and has acted to address those needs. George is well respected and thought of within the industry; and his legacy will be felt for many years to come.”

A graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism and a minor in political science, Watts served as Administrative and Legislative Assistant for two Members of Congress, both of whom served on the House Committee on Agriculture, before joining the National Chicken Council (formerly National Broiler Council) in 1972.

Watts currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Poultry Development Program joint-venture broiler project in Russia (Elinar Broiler). He received the Poultry Industry Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Poultry and Food Distributors Association in January 2002 and the Merial Distinguished Poultry Industry Career Award at the 2009 Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting.