Alabama Farmers Federation former executive director John H. Dorrill Jr. died Jan. 28 at his home in Montgomery. He was 90.

“The Alabama Farmers Federation joins Mr. Dorrill’s family in mourning the loss of this legendary leader who throughout his life never lost his agricultural roots,” said Federation President Jimmy Parnell. “I’m not sure we’ll ever know the full impact he had on Alabama agriculture, but there is no doubt farming in Alabama would not be what it is today without the work and dedication of John Dorrill.”

Dorrill was a Pike County native whose father was a sharecropper. He graduated from Pike County High School. After attending Troy State University, he served two years in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps during the Korean War. When he returned to Alabama, Dorrill enrolled at Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University (AU), where he earned a degree in agricultural economics.

Dorrill began his career at the Federation in June 1955 as an area organization director. He soon became a lobbyist for the organization and assistant to then-president J.D. Hays. He later served as Federation executive director under former president Goodwyn Myrick, a position he held until retiring in 1998.

In 2003, Dorrill received the Federation’s Special Service To Agriculture Award — the highest award given by the state’s largest farm organization. In 2006, he was inducted into AU Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor.

While serving the Federation, Dorrill helped form the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, the Federation’s Young Farmers Program and ELECT— the Federation's political action committee. His political prowess also helped tackle tough issues like sales tax exemptions on agricultural items, current use tax legislation and the lid bill. Commodity checkoff legislation was written and implemented during his tenure with the Federation, and he helped establish important farm programs such as the Boll Weevil Eradication Program, Dairy Marketing Association and the Alabama Milk Control Board.