PSPA MEDAL AWARDS

On June 7, 2001 the Medal of The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture was awarded individually to Walter W. Michener and to Leon H. Wilkinson. Both recipients are members of the Society. Recipients of the Society's Medal are persons who have promoted the objectives of the Society in a manner warranting special recognition.

 

WALTER M. MICHENER

Walter M. Michener was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Germantown High School and the University of Pennsylvania Evening School in Accounts and Finance. He was employed by several advertising agencies as a Copywriter and Account Executive and later as an Advertising Manager for Sun Oil Company. In 1950 he founded The Michener Company which specialized in industrial and agricultural advertising. In 1983 the company merger with Kelly Advertising in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and became Kelly Michener, Inc. Mr. Michener retired in 1985. Following retirement he served as a trustee of Delaware College of Science and Agriculture, as trustee of Woodmere Art Museum of Philadelphia and a member of the Industrial Development Board of Whitemarsh Township. Mr. Michener is a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown where he has served on the Boards of Deacons, Trustees and Elders for many years. He joined the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture in 1986 and served as the Society's President in 1994-95. He currently resides in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania with Nancy, his wife of 61 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Michener
The PSPA Medal may be seen within the frame and located just below the certificate.

 

LEON H. WILKINSON

Leon H. Wilkinson was born in Kemblesville, Pennsylvania and graduated from Kennett Square High School. After graduation he started farming with his father and later acquired his own 285-acre farm near Landenberg, Pennsylvania. The farm, named Edondell, was developed as a dairy farm consisting of 400 head of milking cows and an equal number of replacement heifers. At one time the Edondell farming operations involved an additional 8000 acres of leased land on which corn, soy beans, alfalfa and other forage crops were grown. Mr. Wilkinson has been active in local, county and state affairs including the London Britain Township Zoning Board, Chester County Conservation Committee, Chester County Assessment Appeals Board, the agricultural representative for the Delaware River Basin Commission and the White Clay Scenic River System Study Group. For 12 years he served on the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board. He joined The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture in 1987 and served as the Society's President in 1993-94. Mr. Wilkinson has authored two books that were privately published for limited distribution entitled "The Wilkinson Trek" and "Wheels of Time". He currently resides in Oxford, Pennsylvania with Edna, his wife of 57 years. Edondell farm is now operated by one of Mr. Wilkinson's sons while his three other sons are actively involved in other agricultural pursuits.

Mr. and Mrs. Leon H Wilkinson with the framed PSPA Certificate and
Medal presented to Mr. Wilkinson on June 7, 2001.