Charles Parker, a Senath, Mo., cotton producer, was elected chairman of the National Cotton Council (NCC) for 2011. Named during the NCC’s annual meeting held in San Antonio February 4-6, he served as the NCC’s vice chairman in 2010 and succeeds Eddie Smith, a Floydada, Texas, cotton producer.

Parker also is chairman of the NCC’s Boll Weevil Action Committee. He served as the Missouri state chairman for the American Cotton Producers from 1995-2007 and as chairman of The Cotton Foundation in 2008-09 and as its president in 2007-08.

Active in state and regional organizations, Parker is past president of the Cotton Producers of Missouri and the Arkansas Agricultural Council. In 1995, he received Cotton Grower magazine’s Cotton Achievement Award which recognizes growers who are outstanding innovators, sound stewards of the environment, and leaders in the cotton industry as well as their communities.

Parker, a partner in Parker and Jones Farms, also is the vice president of Farmers Union Gin in Senath and a director of Planters Cotton Oil Mill in Pine Bluff, Ark. In addition, he serves as chairman of Progressive Farm Credit in Sikeston, Mo., is chairman of Missouri Cotton Growers and a director of the Southeast Boll Weevil Foundation.

A Harding University graduate and a certified public accountant, Parker is active in his church and community. He also serves on Harding University’s President’s Advisory Council and is a director of Crowley’s Ridge College. He and his wife, Phyllis, have two daughters and six grandchildren.

The NCC’s vice chairman for 2011 is C.B. “Chuck” Coley, a Vienna, Ga., producer/ginner.

Re-elected NCC vice presidents by industry segment are: COOPERATIVE - Meredith B. Allen, Greenwood, Miss., GINNER - Sid Brough, Edroy, Texas; COTTONSEED - John C. Fricke, Pine Bluff, Ark.; and MERCHANT - G.W. “Bill” Winburne, Peoria, Ariz.; WAREHOUSE - Shane Stephens, Greenwood, Miss.; and TEXTILE MANUFACTURER – Anderson C. Warlick, Gastonia, N.C.

Sledge Taylor, a Como, Miss., ginner, was elected secretary-treasurer.

NCC staff officers include: Dr. Mark Lange, NCC president/chief executive officer; John Maguire, senior vice president, Washington Operations; Allen Terhaar, vice president, Foreign Operations; Dr. Gary Adams, vice president, Economics and Policy Analysis; Craig Brown, vice president, Producer Affairs; Dr. Bill Norman, vice president, Technical Services; Harrison Ashley, vice president, Ginner Services; and Fred Johnson, vice president, Administration and Program Coordination.