Former county extension director selected for the Marion County Agriculture Hall of Fame

William “Bill” Phillips [Courtesy of Marion County]

William “Bill” Phillips, former county extension director, has been selected to be inducted into the Marion County Agriculture Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony will take place from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala.

The Hall of Fame, established in 2003, acknowledges people who have greatly contributed to furthering agriculture in the community.

Phillips worked for the Marion County extension department for horticulture, fruit crops and commercial vegetables from 1967 until 1996. He worked to establish a freeze warning program to notify agriculturists with the latest weather information on freeze nights, in addition to his work with the master gardener program to educate residents on common issues and solutions for home gardens.

Phillips will be honored with a bronze plaque to be displayed in the Hall of Fame exhibit at the extension service auditorium. A “Hall of Fame video” will also be released to commemorate him during farm city week.

For more information, contact County Extension Director Patricia Nobles at (352) 671-8400 or [email protected].