Phillips, Quinn recognized by Duplin business groups
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on February 1, 2005 2:01 PM
KENANSVIILLE -- Paul Phillips of Kenansville was named Duplin County's Industrialist of the Year and Dr. Corbett Quinn was named the recipient of the Duplin Agribusiness Council's Melvin Cording Award for outstanding contributions to agribusiness.
Both awards were bestowed Monday. Phillips was recognized at the annual Industry Appreciation Luncheon at the Country Squire restaurant. Dr. Quinn was honored at the council's annual membership meeting at the Duplin Country Club.
Photo courtesy of Wallace Enterprise
Phillips
Phillips is the owner of the New Duplin Warehouse in Wallace.
Dr. Quinn's wife, Ruth, and son, Buster, received his award for him. He was at home recuperating from heart surgery.
Woody Brinson, the director of the Duplin County Economic Development commission, said Phillips has worked hard for his neighbors in Duplin and surrounding counties. Whenever industries have needed short-term storage, Brinson said, Phillips has made his warehouse available.
About 10 years ago, Pat Renfrow came to Duplin County to build Accu-Form Polymers, Brinson said. But some of the equipment arrived too soon. The building wasn't finished. Phillips told Renfrow to not worry about taking the equipment to the warehouse in Wallace. He stored the equipment on his farm nearby.
One year, a heavy snow stopped traffic at the Duplin County Airport. Brinson said Phillips and a crew from his farm cleared the runway.
"When Carolina Soy Products needed help, Paul pitched in," said Brinson. Now, Brinson said, Duplin's new industry, Nutragon, is getting help from Phillips.
"When he commits himself, he rises to the top," said Brinson.
Phillips promotes Duplin County, too, said Brinson. The annual Duplin Business Expo held each year during the first weekend in March is possible because Phillips makes the New Duplin Warehouse available.
Dr. Quinn has been an advocate of agribusiness for many years, said Jo Ann Stroud of the Agribusiness Council. The Cording Award is given in recognition of outstanding service to agriculture. Cording was one of the founding members of the council.
After retiring from his medical practice of 39 years in Magnolia, Quinn felt the need to continue to help his county, said Stroud. He saw that farmers were being faced with the same kind of bureaucracy that had plagued him in his work, and he became their advocate.
"He believes regulations should be based on reliable figures and scientific fact," Mrs. Stroud said.
She said Quinn saw the farmers he had known for years become prosperous through contract growing of swine and poultry. They bought cars. They sent their children to college.
"He said, 'No matter how bad hogs smell, they don't smell as bad as poverty.'"