CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 10/22/13

Ryles named to National 4-H Hall of Fame

By Sharon Dowdy

Retired Georgia 4-H Leader Roger “Bo” Ryles was one of 16 individuals named to the National 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony held Oct. 11 at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md.

Ryles was selected for the National 4-H Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to 4-H, the nation’s premier youth development organization, which serves more than 6.5 million youth across the U.S. The honorees received a National 4-H Hall of Fame medallion, plaque and a memory book.

With his induction into the hall of farme, Ryles joins past honorees from Georgia 4-H, including Tom Rodgers, Bill Sutton and Tommy Walton.

Influenced thousands of Georgia students

“During his tenure, Dr. Bo took a truly outstanding 4-H program to the next level, and Georgia 4-H became one of the most admired youth development programs in the nation, if not the world,” said Beverly Sparks, associate dean of University of Georgia Extension. “Thousands of our youth have benefitted from his leadership and passion for youth development.”

UGA Extension administers the 4-H program in Georgia.

Ryles led the Georgia 4-H program from 1994 to 2009, but his connection with 4-H began when he was a 10-year-old boy attending 4-H meetings in Dodge County, Ga. He stayed active in 4-H and became a 4-H district officer and a 4-H camp counselor. He was a state 4-H winner and earned Master 4-H status in recreation talent, crop production (national winner) and leadership scholarship.

While working toward an undergraduate degree in agricultural economics at the University of Georgia, Ryles served as a 4-H program assistant in the Clarke County Extension office. After graduation, he became the 4-H agent in McDuffie County and later the Clarke County 4-H agent.

He earned his master’s degree in Extension education in 1987 and later that year joined the Georgia 4-H state staff as an animal science specialist. In 1988 he was named the central district 4-H agent. He received a doctorate in adult education from UGA in 1994 and was appointed Georgia’s seventh state 4-H leader the same year.

Credits 4-H for his success

“No matter how long I live, I can never give back all 4-H has given to me, but I surely can keep working at it,” Ryles said. “4-H gave me a forum to gain confidence, gain knowledge, learn to communicate, and a safe place to fall down and get back up. This recognition is huge in my mind and even bigger in my heart.”

While leading the Georgia 4-H program, Ryles established the Georgia 4-H Green Jacket Award to recognize an outstanding public servant for significant support of 4-H. He also helped develop the volunteer-led Legacy Ball, a black-tie fundraising event that also recognizes the Georgia 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

During his 15 years leading the program, Georgia 4-H centers received more than $20 million in public and private funds for improvements. He was instrumental in acquiring what is now Fortson 4-H Center to replace the aging Fulton 4-H Center. He also co-founded and led the biennial Georgia Youth Summit, a program designed to increase youth awareness of state and local issues.

Internationally, Ryles led a team of youth and adults to Tunisia to initiate a 4-H type program in partnership with university systems in northern Africa. He also implemented a partnership in Puerto Rico, so students there can participate in an intensive program studying the environment and practicing citizenship.

Numerous other honors, too

In addition to the National 4-H Hall of Fame recognition, Ryles has received numerous 4-H honors, including the NAE4-HA Achievement in Service Award, NAE4-HA Distinguished Service Award, GAE4-HA Outstanding New Agent Award and the GAE4-HA 4-H Volunteer Program of the Year. He was inducted as an honorary member of the UGA AGHON Society and received the 4-H/Air Force Aim High Award.

Through his leadership, he influenced many Georgia children like Terri Kimble Fullerton who first met Ryles when she was a 4-H’er in Newton County.

“Dr. Bo was larger than life to me while I was a Junior and Senior 4-H’er. Maybe it was the height of the Rock Eagle stage, but he seemed 10 feet tall,” said Fullerton, now a 4-H agent in Newton County. “Even kids who never joined 4-H remark on what an inspiration he is when they meet him, especially when he sings for them. I guess you could say he’s still 10 feet tall to me.”

Now retired, Ryles continues to support Georgia 4-H as a 4-H volunteer, coach of the Oconee County 4-H Poultry Judging Team and co-director of the Georgia 4-H performing arts group Clovers and Company, a group he co-founded in 1980 with then Associate State 4-H Leader Bill Edwards. An avid runner, he established the Clover Glove Race Series to raise private funds for the Georgia 4-H Foundation, where he is a member of the board of trustees.

“While Bo’s achievements are many and his successes can be highlighted in facts, figures and numbers, what cannot be quantified are the personal and individual triumphs that so many youth attribute to Dr. Bo’s leadership,” said Georgia State 4-H Leader Arch Smith who nominated Ryles for the hall of fame honor. “Bo has dedicated his life to assisting 4-H members realize their goals and cultivating individual talents. The fact that he challenged others to pass the 4-H legacy to children is still developing leaders today.”

For more information about the National 4-H Hall of Fame, visit www.nae4ha.com/hof. For information on the Georgia 4-H program, call 1-800-ASK-UGA1 or visit www.georgia4h.org.

Sharon Dowdy is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:
Sharon Dowdy
Experts/Sources:
Beverly Sparks
Arch D. Smith
Retired Georgia 4-H State Leader Roger "Bo" Ryles was recently named to the National 4-H Hall of Fame. Bo Ryles served as the 4-H agent in Clarke County (Athens). In this circa 1980's photo, he is shown teaching 4-H'ers what to look for when deciding which White Leghorn Hen had laid the most eggs. "Every student had on a 4-H Jacket. That was a Clarke Co. 4-H tradition. When we put on the green, we were getting serious about competing," Ryles said. Bo Ryles is shown playing the organ when he was a ninth grade 4-H'er.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
This photo represents pseudo-colored MRI T1 maps of a Zika-infected chicken embryo. The embryo was infected with the Zika virus at a time associated with the first trimester of a human pregnancy. The photo captures a well-developed chicken embryo within the egg, and lesion within the brain, attributed to the Zika virus infection. CAES News
Neurodevelopmental model of Zika may provide rapid answers 10/20/16 Charlene Betourney
A University of Georgia graduate student is using early stage chicken embryos to monitor the progression of the Zika virus. By collecting data on how the virus affects brain development, researchers at UGA can pinpoint the best treatments to stop or slow the progression of early-stage microcephaly, a rare birth defect linked to the Zika virus.
Former Georgia 4-H State Leader Bo Ryles, Grady County 4-H volunteer extraordinaire Yvonne Childs and current Georgia 4-H State Leader Arch Smith at an awards ceremony at National 4-H Council in Chevy Chase, Maryland. CAES News
Georgia 4-H volunteer recognized with top national service award 10/07/16 Merritt Melancon, Josh Paine
Yvonne Childs, a 4-H Youth Development volunteer for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension’s Grady County office, was recognized as the Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer during the National 4-H Council Heritage Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 7. Part of the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards, it is the most prestigious award given each year to a person with 10 or more years as a 4-H volunteer.
A group of students enjoys canoeing on the lake at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Ga. CAES News
Georgia 4-H celebrates National 4-H Week Oct. 2-8 09/29/16 Sharon Dowdy
Georgia 4-H’s 172,354 student members will celebrate National 4-H Week Oct. 2-8. During the week, the state’s largest youth development organization wants to raise awareness of the program that started as a club for farm kids and has grown into a place that helps youth become successful and confident adults.
University of Georgia Griffin Campus student Joshua Hamilton (center) is shown leading a group of high school students through a science experiment on the college campus. The high school students' visit to campus helped Hamilton fulfill a new UGA service-learning requirement. UGA students must complete an activity, outside of the classroom, that helps someone in their community. CAES News
UGA Griffin students lead science experiment for Griffin High School students 09/28/16 Sharon Dowdy
A group of Griffin High School biology students visited the University of Georgia Griffin Campus last week to conduct a science experiment under the direction of college students. The UGA students learned to give back to the community and the high school students were exposed to college life and scientific laboratory equipment.
Georgia 4-H members have been collecting aluminum pop tabs to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities for the past 15 years. CAES News
Georgia 4-H members need pop tabs to reach 15-year goal for Ronald McDonald House Charities 09/06/16 Sharon Dowdy
Georgia 4-H members have collected aluminum pop tabs to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Georgia for the past 15 years. The students need to collect 16,500 pounds of the tiny tabs by Nov. 5 to reach their goal, a total 15-year donation of $100,000.
Family members of all ages can join in the fun and play "Pokemon Go." The game was designed to encourage activity, but University of Georgia Cooperative Extension experts say be mindful of your surroundings and don't focus just on the game. CAES News
“Pokemon Go” brings families together and provides exercise 08/31/16 Keishon Thomas
A new technological craze has invaded our towns and cities. “Pokemon Go” has people wandering around aimlessly, looking at their phones. Because “catching” those little characters can be distracting, players sometimes put themselves into dangerous situations as a result of being unaware of their surroundings. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension urges “Pokemon Go” players to be alert at all times.