Arizona republican., 1920-08-12
HISTORY OF PIMA COTTON
 IN ARIZONA RELATED BY
 MAN WHO ORIGINATED II

The story of the beginning of the Egyptian cotton industry in Arizona was never so authoritatively told as in connection with the commencement exercises of the University of Arizona during the first week of June, 1920.
 By unanimous vote the university faculty recommended that the honorary degree of doctor of laws be conferred upon Thomas Henry Kearney, the originator of the Pima variety of long staple cotton. This recommendation was approved by the board of regents, and on the evening of June 2, the de- gree was conferred in the presence of the large assembly brought together to witness the final commencement exercises. In introducing MT. Kearney to receive his great academic honor. Dean Working of the college of agri- culture said:
 Tn the summer of 1902 a young scientist of the United States depart ment of agriculture visited the land of the PharaohS to study the growing of cotton on the banks of the Nile. As a result of his studies, he recommended that work with Egyptian cotton be done in Arizona rather than in the humid southern states. This recom- mendation was approved and work was begun at Yuma and later transferred to Sacaton where the Pima variety was originated in 1910. This is the variety on which our great cotton growing industry has been established. MT. President, have the honor to in troduce Thomas Henry Kearney, the young scientist whose visit to Egypt in 1902, resulted in establishing the Pima variety of cotton, worth last year to the state of Arizona no less than twenty millions of dollars"
 The degree was conferred by Dr. R. B. won K1einSmid in the following words:
 Praise For Pima Originator
 "Thomas Henry Kearney: Jealous student of science, whose labors have led to renown; research workers in economic agriculture, whose dedication has brought success. servant of the American people and benefactor of this commonwealth
 By virtue of the authority vested in me by the board of regents of the university of Arizona, and upon recom- mendation of the faculties of this in stitution. I confer upon you the hon orary degree of doctor of laws In an interview published by the Arizona Star on June 3, the morning after commencement, Dean Working was quoted as follows:
 t"The long staple cotton industry of | Arizona was worth about S20, 900 00O last year. It promises to be worth nearly twice as much this year and 1 will greatly increase in importance from year to year. It is difficult to realize that all this has come to pass from the single cotton plant selected | in 1910 by MT. Kearney. But the fact stands that our most important field crop owes it's existence to that single plant that opened its bolls to the sum- shine ten summers ago.
 Tn view of the fact that the Pima variety of Egyptian cotton originated in Arizona, it is particularly appro- prate that the man chiefly responsible for it's origin and consequent man. agement should be given this academic recognition by the university of Ari- ZOna-
 Service is the Reward" There are rich men in Arizona who owe their wealth to the work that MT Kearney and others did in obscurity at Sacaton; but the high service done