Wellons, William

Born September 1, 1928

William Wellons' connections to rural life began while he grew up on his family's farm in Princeton, North Carolina. With his wife Dorothy, William later raised their family on that same farm and are now watching their grandchildren grow up and become stewards of the land.

William attended Princeton School, where his mother, children, and grandchildren also went. After high school, he enrolled at North Carolina State University but returned home in 1952 to work the family farm after his father became ill. In 1955, he married Dorothy, a farm girl from Brogden community, and they began a family. In 1960, he began serving as an ASCS County Committee member. In 1967, he went to work for the Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service as County Executive Director for Johnston County. From then until his retirement in 1996, William trained 22 other directors for neighboring counties.

Realizing that service to the community is the surest way to build a better community, William was active in several organizations including: being a member, Trustee, and Deacon of Princeton Baptist Church; being a member and past master of St. Patrick's Lodge Number 617; member of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry; served as President and Board of Directors member for the Princeton Lions Club; active in the Johnston County 4-H Alumni Association; member of the Johnston County Livestock Association; and member of the Johnston County Farm Bureau.

Over the course of his career, William also received several awards and honors. These included: the Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer Award; served as the State Legislative Chairman for the National Association of ASCS County Office Employees; received several Certificates of Merit from the United States Department of Agriculture as well as a Distinguished Service from the National Association of ASCS County Office Employees; earned the Distinguished Service to Agriculture award given by the Johnston County Agribusiness Council; appointed to the Johnston County Agriculture Hall of Fame in recognition of his service to Agriculture; named "2002 Farm Family of the Year" by the Johnston County Farm-City Week Committee; and received the Farm Bureaus "Tribute of Appreciation for Service" from 1967 to 1996.

Beyond his job, William worked particularly hard for the school children of his community. For years he served as Chairman of the Princeton School Advisory Board, and in recognition of his work, he received the "Hero" Award for Outstanding Service to the Schools of Johnston County.

Since 1996, William has not let retirement slow him down. He currently serves as the Board of Directors Chairman for the Johnston County Council on Aging. William Wellons also helps his sons and their families tend over 500 acres and continues to instill in his children a love for the farm and rural way of life. He hopes that by grooming another generation to treasure the farm that has been in the family for over 122 years that it will remain with the Wellons for hundreds of years to come.

This page was donated in honor of William Wellons by his children Chloe J. Wellons, Mark Wellons, and Bryant Wellons.