Mr. Jim Whitehurst, Mr. Scott Griffin, Mrs. Ann Whitehurst, Mrs. Helen Kirven, Mrs. Elizabeth Turner

Mr. Whitehurst was a pioneer in North Carolina agribusiness. He was a true visionary and through empowering people contributed significantly to an industry which has brought much prosperity to North Carolina. J.C. graduated from Ayden High School and Randolph Macon Academy, and earned a degree in agronomy from N.C. State University. In 1951, he began a career in agribusiness and in 1953, he founded Coastal Chemical Corp (now Coastal AgroBusiness, Inc.), and served as president and CEO until 1997. He continued to serve as Chairman until he passed away in April 2013. Mr. Whitehurst was instrumental in the formation of the Crop Protection Association of NC for which he served as the first president in 1972. He was president of the Carolina-Virginia Pesticide Formulation Association in 1964, an organization which later evolved into the Southern Crop Production Association, for which he served on the Board of Directors. He served on the board of the National Agricultural Chemical Association, nor CropLife America. He also served on the board of the NC Agribusiness Council. A lifelong Methodist, J.C . was a member of Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served on the Administrative Board and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. In 1966, he was appointed to the Regional Board of Wachovia Bank and served until his retirement in 1999. He was a member of the Rotary Club and served as President of the Greenville Country Club, where he was an avid golfer. Mr. Whitehurst was also an ardent member of the NCSU Wolfpack Club. He is remembered for his love of family, the people of Coastal and his passion for his profession and farming operation in Jones and Craven counties. Enabling the success of the agricultural sector was a vision of J.C. Whitehurst and is one of Coastal’s primary goals. Helping to fill the pipeline of highly trained professionals for agribusiness and farming is one way to meet that goal.