(1938 – 2023)
A native of Pleasant Hill, TN, Bob Whittenburg became a 4-H member at the age of 10 and immediately became active in the beef project. He began with one heifer, which was purchased with borrowed money, and he exhibited bulls and heifers at county, district and state shows. He concluded his 4-H program with a herd of 15 registered Polled Hereford cows and one bull.
With the exception of four years of undergraduate school, Bob was involved in some phase of 4-H livestock work, first in Tennessee as an adviser, leader, and assistant county agent. For nearly 30 years, he was the familiar face at every 4-H livestock event across Alabama as the 4-H livestock specialist.
When he joined the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the only active 4-H livestock program focused on market steers, and the program was revamped under his guidance, and the market hog program was reactivated.
He also added new dimensions to the livestock programs, which included the beef heifer, horse and lamb shows as well as livestock judging competitions. Thousands of youngsters participated in the livestock programs he coordinated.
Bob was in the inaugural class of the Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame in 2008. Among his other honors was the Lions Club Outstanding Leadership, Vision and Ability in 1996, Award for Excellence in 4-H Youth Development in 1982, and the Melvin Jones Fellow from Lions Club International in 1997.
After retiring from Extension, Bob began a second career at the Auburn Ticket Office until 2021. In all he gave over 50 years of service to Auburn University.
In recognition of his years of service, the name Bob Whittenburg is inscribed on the dedicatory plaque of the Extension Memorial Chapel.
Chapel Plaque Inscription Number 674
