CORDELE – For much of his life, Buddy Leger has promoted watermelons. To show its appreciation for his service to Cordele, Crisp County, the state and nation, the Cordele-Crisp Chamber of Commerce is spotlighting him at its annual “This is your life” program Friday, June 20.
Tickets for the dinner, which will be served at 7 p.m. at the Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club, are on sale now. Anyone who would like to obtain a ticket should contact the Chamber office at 273-1668 no later than June 13.
A native of Knox County, KY, Leger moved to Crisp County at the age of three and completed his education in Crisp County at East Crisp High.
Following a stint in the U. S. Navy, he farmed in the early 1950’s, producing cotton, watermelons and pecans. His knowledge as a grower was then put to use as an inspector of fruits, vegetables, peanuts, etc. with the Federal State Inspection Service.
He also was employed for about six years between 1956 and ‘62 as manager of the Cordele Farmer’s Market.
As a member of the National Watermelon Association, he and Bruce Price of Oklahoma spearheaded work to enact through Congress the National Watermelon Research and Promotion Act.
This act established the National Watermelon Promotion Board, and for several years, Leger devoted much of his time toward getting that Board organized. He co-drafted the original by-laws, rules and regulations, served as chairman during the organizational period and later as the Board’s first president.
Leger has served on the board of the Crisp County Power Commission and the Federated Pecan Association and chairman of the Board of the Georgia and National Watermelon Associations.
Presently, he is a member of the executive council of the National Watermelon Association. He is chairman of the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Pecans and a past chairman of the Crisp, Turner and Pulaski County FMHA Committee.
An active Republican since 1952, Leger has served on U. S. Senator Mattingly’s Agriculture Advisory Committee, as state chairman for Farmers for Bush and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.
For four years, Leger served on the Research Advisory Board for the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and was president and is still serving on the Advisory Council for the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
He is a member of Governor Sonny Perdue’s Agriculture Advisory Committee and serves as chairman of the sub committee for education.
Locally, Leger is a member of the Cordele-Crisp Chamber of Commerce, a former member of the Cordele-Crisp Planning and Zoning Commission, a member of Crisp County Farm Bureau and an active member of Penia Missionary Baptist Church.
He and his wife Margie have five children, Susan Boike, Sherrie Leverett, Maria Coslett, Greg Leger and Charles Leger; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
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Buddy Leger
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