"A.B. Yearwood, Jr. Wins State Public Speaking Contest"A.B. Yearwood, Jr. won 1st place in public speaking at the FFA state leadership contest held in Huntsville June 29-30, 1936. In addition, teams from this area won 2 of the 3 leadership contests - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in public speaking!
In other areas, the Rochelle team coached by R.P. Tull won 1st, and the Comyn team coached by D.W. Graves won 2nd in chapter conducting. Both coaches were former Tarleton students and Graves was also a Stephenville boy!
Yearwood was a member of the Stephenville High School FFA, and had graduated in May of 1936. He entered Tarleton in the fall of 1936 and was a member of the Lords & Commoners, the Honorary Corps of Cadets, and was a lieutenant in Company C. He went on to graduate from Tarleton, and to obtain a master's degree from Texas A & M in agronomy. He grew up in Erath County on what later became the Charles Neblett Jr. Ranch. In 1936 he went on to win 2nd at the Tri-State FFA public speaking contest!
In 1940 A.B. Yearwood, Jr. became agronomy and soil conservation professor at Tarleton when professor L.G. Rich was called to serve his country in WWII. Ironically, A.B. Yearwood, Jr. also later left Tarleton to serve his country in WWII! A member of the Air Corp, he was killed October 3, 1944 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana while on a training mission. His plane crashed on the runway as he landed. In addition to his father and step mother, he left a wife and 13 month old daughter.
"Because of his outstanding record as student, teacher, and soldier, A.B. Yearwood, Jr., will long be remembered with affection and respect by his classmates, fellow faculty members, and brothers-in-arms of the United States Army Air Forces."
J-TAC, July 3, 1936, August 28, 1936, October 10, 1944
Stephenville Empire Tribune, April 18, 1958
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