farmers were producing too much short 
cotton on poor land and not enough food 
and feed for themselves and their work 
stock. 
® “Improvement of Southern 
Agricukure” 
In 1937, a year before his death, Mr. 
Coker said: “The main purpose for which 
Coker’s Pedigreed Seed Company was or- 
ganized and is operated is the improve- 
ment of Southern agriculture. During 
several intervals, one of six years’ dura- 
tion, we sustained heavy losses but went 
steadily along without sacrificing our 
scientific or social ideals. Everything 
seems now to indicate,” he said, “that 
we are so firmly established with the 
scientific world and in the confidence of 
our very large line of customers that 
we will be able to continually broaden 
our work and, from year to year, make 
it more and more useful for the upbuild- 
|. 4ill[’C. HOYT ROGERS, above, heads up th h breed Coe eee 
be Ait Ce , above, heads up the research breeding work in cotton an : “ 
: ‘tobacco at Coker’s Pedigreed Seed Company. There are other competent cotton ee eae po eNe eee) pene 
breeders on the Coker staff at Hartsville and in Mississippi. Beciee ae orter ells ee rnetiniecrmade 
it appear not worthwhile to continue. But 
there never was any real thought of 
giving up. Instead, Mr. Coker began to 
surround himself with capable men and 
with their help he overcame many diffi- 
cult problems. Indeed one of Mr. Coker’s 
finest gifts seemed to be his ability to 
pick good men. One of these men was 
George J. Wilds, who in 1908, as a young 
college sophomore, first went to Harts- 
ville as a helper to Mr. Coker in his 
plant breeding and experimental work, 
and is now the man at the helm of the 
company. 
Another, who was famous as a plant 
breeder when he joined Mr. Coker in 
1920, was Herbert J. Webber, the man 
for whom the famous Webber cottons 
were named. As the company grew, there 
were added to the staff such men as J. B. 
Norton, well known scientist and plant 
breeder; John F. Clyburn, outstanding 
farm manager and salesman; and R. S. 
Entzminger, who is still topping the com- 
pany’s sales of seed after 17 years. 
In the business operation of the com- 
pany, Mr. Coker had the help of men 
who were extremely capable. Chief among 
these were J. J. Lawton and A. L. M. 
Wiggins. Mr. Lawton served the Pedi- 
greed Seed Company as vice-president 
along with his primary job as president 
S. J. HADDEN, left above, is in charge of small grain, breeding work at of the oil mills at Hartsville, Greenville 
ie 
Coker’s. R. E. GETTYS, right above, heads up the hybrid corn breeding work. and Bishopville, and his connection with 
R. S. CATHCART, at left in lower left picture, is in charge of all farm opera- the other Coker industries. Mr. Lawton’s 
tions. WALLACE TALBERT, at left in lower right picture, is in charge of sales. son Edgar, a nephew of Mr. Coker, has 
oa ome “s 2 now succeeded to all of these positions 
and lends his wise counsel to the company 
as did his father before him. The Coker 
brothers, including Mr. Lawton, the 
brother-in-law, were “partners in every 
enterprise,” to quote David R. Coker, 
and each put forth his best effort to 
support the others. 
A. L. M. Wiggins, who had been con- 
nected with the various Coker enterprises 
since 1913, had the major part in the 
basic organization and development of 
the business structure of Coker’s Pedi- 
greed Seed Company as it exists today. 
He was secretary and treasurer of the 
seed company until he accepted the ap- 
pointment of Undersecretary of the 
Treasury in 1947. Mr. Wiggins was also 
managing director of J. L. Coker and 
Company and a former president of the 
American Bankers Association. He is 
now chairman of the A.C.L. and Louis- 
