MARTIN, Tenn. — Past generations of agriculture students studied soil science under University of Tennessee at Martin faculty member Elmer Counce. Now, future generations will benefit from his legacy as the Elmer Counce Memorial Scholarship is established in his memory.
Counce, who died March 13 at age 90, retired in 1988 from the UT Martin Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources as Professor Emeritus of Soil Science. Scholarship awards will go to plant and soil science students who also exhibit good citizenship, a quality exemplified by Counce throughout his personal and professional life.
“I laugh when I say this, but it’s true. Elmer Counce was the Billy Graham of soils,” said Anthony Haynes, University of Tennessee associate vice president and director of state relations and a former Counce student. “His passion for teaching and science was clear to all who knew him.”
Dr. Tim Burcham, UT Martin agricultural engineering professor and interim chair, UT Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources, credits Counce and others from that era for the department’s strong position in teaching and research. “Mr. Counce and others laid the foundation for the success of our department today,” he said.
Counce first came to UT Martin as a student when the campus was home to the University of Tennessee Junior College. He transferred to UT Knoxville to complete his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, returning to Martin in 1953 as a faculty member. He met his wife, Marilucille, during their UTJC days. They were married for 65 years and have one son, Ben, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Counce taught all agronomy classes and introduced the university’s first forestry class. He served as the soils team coach and trained teams that placed in national competition for 10 years. Many of those same students made major contributions to the soil conservation efforts in Tennessee and other states.
One-time soils team member, Mike Johnson, senior agribusiness analyst with Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, recalled how Counce prepared them for competition.
“One of the tricks, if you wanted to test and see if it was sandy soil or not, was to put it in your mouth and test for the grit,” Johnson said. “There are not many people in the world who could get me to put dirt in my mouth, and you never called it dirt around him.
“If you did, a quick lecture followed explaining how soil was sent straight from God for growing the food that feeds the world. Dirt was something you got under your fingernails and in your belly button.”
In 1953, Counce was asked to head UTJC’s first alumni and placement office, a position he held until 1964. He continued his full-time teaching and research position while he led the alumni office.
Counce won the UT Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award and many Farm Bureau and Soil Conservation awards for service to Tennessee agriculture. He was recognized as a Fellow of the Soil Conservation Society of America in the 1980s. Teaching students was his greatest joy as he taught an estimated 12,000 students during his career.
“He challenged us in the classroom, and he was tough but fair. He called his tests ‘sod busters,’” Johnson said. “When you got a good grade in his class, you had to earn it. He was one of the finest men I’ve ever known.”
Haynes, also a member of Counce’s soil judging team, added, “Elmer connected the dots between the critical importance of the soil, food security and global political stability. Those of us who benefitted from his knowledge and talent can show our gratitude by supporting this scholarship.”
Contact the UT Martin Office of Development at 731-881-7629 to make a gift or for more information about the scholarship.
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