Born: December 28, 1916

Occupation: Educator; congressional aide to Senator Sam Nunn.

Accomplishments: Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Earl H. Cheek's efforts on behalf of agricultural education have made a tremendous impact on hundreds of young people and agribusiness leaders in the southeastern United States. During Mr. Cheek's 37 years as an educator, he established two vocational agriculture departments and trained and supervised 10 UGA student teachers in vocational agriculture. He was a charter member of the State Vocational and Extension Service Coordinating Committee and served on the state Agriculture Education Committee, which helped establish and improve school shop facilities and programs. After retirement, Mr. Cheek continued to work on behalf of Georgia's farmers by serving as an aide for U.S. Senator Sam Nunn. In 1995, Mr. Cheek was recognized for his generous service when he was presented the National FFA Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award for his contributions to the FFA and the field of agricultural education. On a state level, he was selected as the Georgia Retired Educator of the Year in 1997 and inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame in 2000.