State Department of Agriculture Honors Employees with Long Service Awards

ANNAPOLIS, MD (Oct. 6, 2009) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) honored 68 employees today for their years of service dedicated to the department. Harwood Owings, III, received special recognition for 40 outstanding years of public service to MDA. Four employees were honored for their 35 years of service; nine for 30 years of service, and eight for 25 years of service.  The remaining honorees were recognized for public service of 10, 15, or 20 years.

“MDA and the agriculture community are fortunate to have such a dedicated and knowledgeable corps of employees working to strengthen the State of Maryland and this agency each and every day,” said MDA Secretary Buddy Hance. “For more than 35 years, MDA has been protecting consumers and the environment and ensuring fairness in the marketplace. It is a true testament to the value of our work that many of the employees honored this year have been with department since its founding.”

The following is a listing by county of the MDA awardees who have reached a 25-year or greater milestone in their careers of public service.

Anne Arundel County
Carol S. Council (30), Agricultural Land Preservation
L. Michael Goff (30), IT Services
Kirk Penn (30), Central Services
Janet L. Schmid (30), Fiscal Services
Sherry L. Weygant (30), Food Quality Assurance

Baltimore City
Aaron N. Webb (35), Weights & Measures

Baltimore County
Kenneth McManus (25), State Chemist

Carroll County
Richard W. Wotthlie, Jr. (30), Weights & Measures
Charles E. Null, Jr., Resource Conservation

Garrett County
Cheston E. Miller (25), Resource Conservation
Donald W. DeWitt (35), Animal Health

Howard County
Harwood W. Owings, III (40), State Chemist

Prince George’s County
Noreen L. Eberly (25), Aquaculture/Seafood Marketing
Catrilla D. Simpkins (25), Animal Health
Christal L. Stanbrough (35), Animal Health

Queen Anne’s County
Lynne D. Willson (25), Resource Conservation

Washington County
Neil E. Rotruck, Jr. (30), Resource Conservation

Wicomico County
Mark C. Taylor (30), Plant Protection
Lawrence A. Lembeck (30), Mosquito Control
David A. Schofield (30), Mosquito Control

Delaware
Keith H. Connolley (25), Food Quality Assurance

West Virginia
Diana G. Mullinex (25), Animal Health

EDITOR’S NOTE: Digital photos available upon request.