USDA NAMES MEMBERS AND ALTERNATE MEMBERS TO UNIVERSAL COTTON STANDARDS       
                                                               
                                            Release No. 0449.97
                                                               
                                                               
                                Alicia L. Ford   (202) 720-8998
                                                 aford@usda.gov
                                Robert Leverette (202) 720-8998
                                            rleverette@usda.gov


USDA NAMES MEMBERS AND ALTERNATE MEMBERS TO UNIVERSAL COTTON STANDARDS       
  ADVISORY COMMITTEE

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 1997--Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman today
announced the names of 24 members and 11 alternates appointed to the
Universal Cotton Standards Advisory Committee.

     The committee makes recommendations to USDA on revisions and changes
to the official American Upland Cotton Standards used internationally in the
marketing of U.S. cotton.

     Committee members include both U.S. and foreign cotton trade
representatives.

     Representing U.S. cotton growers:  West--John E. Pucheu Jr., Dale C.
Riggins Jr. and alternate William C. Ahrens; Southwest--Woodrow W. Anderson,
Ray Joe Riley and alternate Donald F. Swann; Midsouth--Jack S. Hamilton,
Harold L. Lewis and alternate Kenneth B. Hood; and Southeast--W. L. Carter
Jr., Schley L. Perry Jr., and alternate K. Michael Tate.

     Representing U.S. cotton ginners:  West--Charles C. Owen;  Southwest--Myrl D. Mitchell; West and Southwest alternate is Chris W. Breedlove; 
Midsouth--Charles R. Earnest; and Southeast--Robert W. Greene; Midsouth and
Southeast alternate is Van F. Murphy.

     Representing U.S. cotton merchants and marketing cooperatives:  James
A. Bass, Jan P. Verhage, Joseph Walker II, John D. Mitchell, Jane Anne
Stinnett, and Rodger C. Glaspey; alternates are Egon E. Gropp, William B.
Griffin, and John J. Leary.

     Representing U.S. textile manufacturing firms:  Jack P. Crooks,
William R. Hill, Eugene C. Frye, Waymon D. Gibson, Earnest T. Goolesby and
James E. Thomas; alternates are J. Sollie Foy and William E. Bowen Jr.

     In addition to the above-named committee members appointed from the
U.S. cotton industry, there will be two members from each of the overseas
cotton associations which are signatories to the Universal Cotton Standards
Agreement.  These members will be designated by their associations.


                                
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