(1935 – 2015)
Mr. Billy Ray Baswell was born on March 15, 1935, in DeKalb County to the late W.E. and Nallie Gregory Baswell.
He was employed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in Cullman County until his retirement with 29 years of service. He was a member of the North Brock Baptist Church.
Mr. Baswell worked with the farmers growing sweet potatoes. He actively campaigned that they develop strong methods of farming and increasing the yield of sweet potatoes. He helped them form the Cullman County Sweet Potato Growers Association. Cullman is one of the largest producers of sweet potatoes in the state.
Using his agricultural and horticultural knowledge, he had small backyard gardens blooming with vegetables and herbs and establishing plots that provided food for needed pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. The Cullman County Master Gardeners continue Mr. Baswell’s legacy in promoting home horticultural throughout the county.
His survivors include Mrs. Betty Horton Baswell; daughter, Debby Meacham; and sons, Steve, Tim, and Chris Baswell; ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
The Alpha Pi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi honors and remembers Mr. Billy Ray Baswell by placing his name on the dedicatory plaque of the Memorial Chapel.
Chapel Plaque Inscription Number: 593
