The Oregon State University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development program celebrated its 100th year of service to Oregon youths by inducting 100 4-H supporters and leaders from across the state into the newly created Oregon 4-H Hall of Fame.

Local inductees honored are Clayton Fox, Ralph Hart, Bobbie Cornford, and Roy Hamilton. Posthumous honorees are Bob Cornford and Jim Huber.

The inaugural group of 4-H Hall of Famers, dubbed the "Centennial" class, was recognized at a special ceremony during a luncheon Sept. 24 at the LaSells Stewart Center on the OSU campus. Future members of the Oregon 4-H Hall of Fame will be inducted annually.

"These Centennial inductees all share in common great dedication and excellence in service to 4-H," said Jim Rutledge, OSU 4-H Youth Development program leader, during the luncheon. "For example, we have people in this group who have spent 50 years or more working as volunteer leaders in county 4-H programs."

The 100 inductees selected through a nomination process include 4-H volunteer leaders from throughout the state, campus-based OSU 4-H youth development specialists, county-based 4-H field faculty, and 4-H donors who have provided financial support.

"All six of the nominees from Union County were accepted," said county 4-H extension agent Carole Smith, who submitted the following biographies of each inductee.

James Huber was employed as the Union County agent in 1947, following service in the U.S. Army. Huber spent his entire 36-year career with 4-H here in Union County, finally retiring in 1983. It is estimated he served over 35,000 4-H youth and 7,500 volunteer 4-H leaders. Among his accomplishments was the construction of the Blue Mountain 4-H Center located near Mt. Emily.

Ralph Hart served as an agent for 11 years in Idaho before becoming the Union County agent from 1969 to 1989. He devoted many hours to facilitating field days, livestock shows, and judging contests for 4-H and FFA. Since his retirement, Hart has continued to serve in judging local contests, fairs and livestock shows and remains an active supporter of the Blue Mountain 4-H Center and the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show.

Clayton Fox has a long history with Oregon 4-H and the Oregon 4-H Foundation. He has served as a Foundation Trustee since 1991.

As a 4-H member in the 1930s, Fox attended the National Congress as one of the top four members in the nation. He continues to support the National 4-H Congress trip, as well as the Blue Mountain 4-H Center, and the State 4-H Center.

Roy Hamilton was the Union County 4-H extension agent from 1983 to 1999. Before then, he also served as a county agent in both Grant and Josephine counties. Additional service to state and national levels of the 4-H program include serving as co-chair of the 1983 National Conference held in Portland, and as national committee chair of the Professional Improvement committee. Hamilton was a motivating force for many agents.

Bob and Bobbie Cornford moved to Union County in 1973 and became the foundation for countless projects and events for the next 30 years. Working mostly as a team, the Cornfords played instrumental roles in the many programs including the annual 4-H radio auction, the Blue Mountain 4-H Center, the Union County Fair Board and the 4-H/FFA Blue Ribbon Auction.

The Hall of Fame inductees were honored again Sunday during the Union County 4-H banquet which recognizes the achievements of local 4-H youth over the past year.