Sykes Martin Honored As Recipient of Cotton Industry Achievement Award

The late Sykes Martin, an innovative Alabama cotton producer and ginner who demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the U.S. cotton industry during his career, is the recipient of the 2002 Oscar Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award.

February 11, 2002
Contact: Marjory Walker
(901) 274-9030

DALLAS, TX – The late Sykes Martin, an innovative Alabama cotton producer and ginner who demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the U.S. cotton industry during his career, is the recipient of the 2002 Oscar Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award.

The announcement was made here today at the NCC’s annual meeting. Martin’s widow, D. D., accepted the award.

The annual award, established in 1997, is named for Oscar Johnston, whose vision, genius and tireless efforts were foremost in the organization and shaping of the NCC more than 60 years ago. The award is presented to an individual, now deceased, who served the cotton industry, through the NCC, over a significant period of his or her active business career. Recognizing more than office or position held, the award honors someone who, like Johnston, exerted a positive influence on the industry and who demonstrated character and integrity as well as perseverance and maturation during that service.

NCC Chairman James Echols said Martin’s dedication and duty to the U.S. cotton industry, as well as his dignity and charm, were known across the country, and that the leadership he provided was invaluable.

His service included 12 years as a NCC delegate, four years as Board member, chairman of the American Cotton Producers (formerly Producer Steering Committee) and president of The Cotton Foundation. At the time of his death in 1993, he was treasurer of Cotton Incorporated.

In addition to being an inventive cotton producer, Martin was founder and chairman of Servico Gin Company in Courtland, AL. This vertically integrated ginning and warehousing firm has grown into one of the largest cotton operations in the Southeast.

Previous Oscar Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are: George C. Cortright, Jr., a Rolling Fork, MS, producer and 14th NCC President; Walter Montgomery, Sr., a Spartanburg, SC, textile manufacturer; William Rhea Blake, a former NCC executive vice president; and Roger Malkin, long-time chairman and CEO of Delta and Pine Land Company.