Editorial Board:
Editor:
George H. Conklin,
 North Carolina
 Central University

Board:
Rebecca Adams,
 UNC-Greensboro

Bob Davis,
 North Carolina
 Agricultural and
 Technical State
 University

Catherine Harris,
 Wake Forest
 University

Ella Keller,
 Fayetteville
 State University

Ken Land,
 Duke University

Miles Simpson,
 North Carolina
 Central University

William Smith,
 N.C. State University

Robert Wortham,
 North Carolina
 Central University

Editorial Assistants

John W.M. Russell,
 Technical
 Consultant

® 

Volume 9, Number 2

Fall/Winter 2011
 

Ronald C. Wimberley
1942-2011

by

Robert L. Moxley

North Carolina State University

and

Dale Wimberley

Virginia Polytechnic and State University

    Ronald C. Wimberley, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Sociology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh, NC, died on July 26 of complications from bile duct and related cancers. He was 68. 

    Born in Mobile, AL in 1942, he grew up in West Monroe, LA.  He received the M.S. degree in Sociology at Florida State University and the Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He joined the faculty at NCSU in 1971, where he later headed the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work (1981 to 1985).  He most recently served on the faculty of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Wimberley excelled as a scholar, teacher, researcher, administrator, and "Lobbyist" for socioeconomic development.  He was also dedicated to his students.

    Wimberley had a long history of membership in, support of, and appreciation by the North Carolina Sociological Association (NCSA).  He was president elect and program chair (1999-2000), President (2000-2001), and on Council (2001- 2002).  He also received the NCSA Contributions to Sociology award in 2004.  He was a founder and strong supporter of "Sociation Today" and served faithfully on its editorial board.

     Professor Wimberley wrote over 200 articles, monographs, reports, chapters, books, and edited works, and made 400 or more professional presentations.  He especially sought to apply knowledge to improve social conditions.  His research on the Black Belt South's poor living conditions led to initiatives by government agencies, foundations, organizations, and communities.  He co-authored two books on these issues, "The Reference Book on Regional Well-Being" and "The Southern Black Belt: A National Perspective," with Libby V. Morris of the University of Georgia.  He and Dr. Morris proposed a series of congressional bills calling for a federal Black Belt regional commission, culminating in the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission created by the 2008 Farm Bill.  He also collaborated with psychologist Joel Milner to develop the widely-used "Child Abuse Potential" index to detect potential child abusers among child care workers, adoptive parents, and others.

    In 1994 he led a team of U.S. and Russian scientists making recommendations for privatizing Russian land and communities.  Following this experience, Wimberley became the first U.S. member of the Russian Sociological Association.

    In 1979, Wimberley worked in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Science and Education Administration in Washington, DC.  He served on the Census Advisory Committee on Agricultural Statistics for the U.S. Department of Commerce and USDA from 1981 to 2006, twice as the committee's chair.  In 1985-86 he was the first sociologist to serve on the staff of the Joint Economic Committee, the economic think-tank of the U.S. Congress, where he was principal editor of the Committee's book on community and regional policy.  He proposed and organized the Committee's hearing on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

    Professor Wimberley was elected president of five other scientific associations, including, Southern Sociological Society, Rural Sociological Society, and the National Council of State Sociological Associations.  He co-chaired the Professional Agricultural Societies Advisory Group for the National Academy of Sciences.  He received many awards  for his work, including Louisiana College's and the University of Tennessee's distinguished alumnus awards; the USDA Honor Award; Tuskegee University's George Washington Carver Award; the Rural Sociological Society's Distinguished Rural Sociologist Award; and appointment to the Southern Sociological Society's Roll of Honor.

     Ron often said that he was one of the most fortunate people ever to have lived.  Among the factors he cited were his family and friends; one of the best jobs in the world as an NCSU professor; his U.S. citizenship; his professional opportunities and research challenges; and music – especially his son's music. 

    There was a memorial service at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh on September 18 at 2PM. 

    We have lost a great sociologist and a great friend.

    Memorial contributions may be made to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, the American Cancer Society, the endowment fund for the NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, or the endowment fund for the NCSU Department of Sociology and Anthropology.