Arkansas 4-H Alumni Association

Charles Austin Vines

Pulaski County

Outstanding Arkansas 4-H Alumnus, 1998

Charles (C. A.) attended Arkansas Tech University at Russellville, and graduated from the University of Arkansas. During his 41 years with the University of Arkansas he served in many capacities, including county and district agent, assistant director, associate director, and Director of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

His abilities were recognized by appointments to numerous state, national and international boards and committees. Among his many awards for distinguished service were Arkansas’ 1954 Man of the Year in Agriculture, the Superior Service Award in 1960 from the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Distinguished Service Ruby Award by Epsilon Sigma Phi, the National Honorary Extension Fraternity, in 1964. He was cited by the U of A as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1961 and in 1970 was inducted into the Hall of Distinction at Arkansas Tech.

From 1976 until 2001 he served as Executive Director of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation, which exists for the purpose of providing resources for the 4-Hers and volunteer leaders in Arkansas.

His primary accomplishment was to assist in planning and building the Arkansas 4-H educational center at Ferndale in central Arkansas named in his honor, the C. A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center. In May of 1999 Mr. Vines initiated a grant proposal, which resulted in the Arkansas 4-H Foundation being awarded a 4.6 million dollar grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation for new facilities at the C. A. Vines 4-H Center.

He and his late wife, Joye, had two children, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

(September 16, 1907 - February 21, 2001)