Expo fields to be named for Darrell Williams

Alan Mauldin

July 04, 2009 10:45 pm

— MOULTRIE — The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition fields that Darrell Williams loved to tend will be dedicated in his honor during Tuesday’s annual field day event.
Williams, who worked at Expo for nearly 30 years as assistant field manager and field manager, died of cancer in February.
On Tuesday Expo will be dedicated to his memory as the Darrell Williams Research Farm.
“Darrell Williams is a man who put his heart and soul into the research plots at Expo for 29 years,” Expo Executive Director Chip Blalock said. “For Darrell there was one way, and that was the right way. Over the last 10 years he really embraced technology. He took a great deal of pride in knowing he and the Sunbelt research farm played a role in bringing new technology to the market place.”
Williams started work at Expo in 1980.
During the Tuesday field day a sign will be unveiled at the entrance to the farm plots.
“Other than that it’s going to be business as usual just like Darrell would want,” Blalock said. “It’s an honor for us to be able to honor him in such a personal way.”
Since Williams’ departure his son Michael Williams has taken over as manager of the farm.
“We were fortunate enough to talk to his son during his illness and saw we had common ground, and he was able to continue the research,” Blalock said. “I think his daddy would be proud of him.”
Gina McDonald, communications director at Expo, said that field day will bring home Darrell Williams’ absence this year.
“I think it’s really doing to hit more on field day,” she said. “Things have run just as smoothly. I think it’s just more or less not having him in and out every day. It’s just a presence you’re going to miss. Michael’s doing a great job, it’s just he’s missing.”