Sunday Chicago bee. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1925-19??, 1941-05-04

41OOO1 wv. AM . OfDhdn-
ed at an early age, later becoming
a runaway from an orphan asy-
lurn, j. H. Williams, known as the
only Negro meat specialist in the
South and one Of the countrv's
foremost authorities in the curing
and preservation of meats, now
holding tie important position of
district county agent in Texas I'M
der the national defense program.
has had varied and interesting
career.
The Second Annual South Texas
Meat Show held in Houston this
past week, when over 1 900 pieces
Of farm cured and preserved meat
were shown, most of which sold
at the pegged price Of so cents
per pound, directed attention to
the public or the work being done
by this pint-sized man in Texas.
He is known to intimates as 'Pee
Wee" Williams and his work has
raised the standards Of health and
living for thousands Of Negroes
who participate in the extension
work conducted by Texas.
He has been a stable boy, ex-
ercise boy, jockey, Barnum and
Bailey circus man, ranch hand
rodeo performer, trainer Of hors-
es, packing house employee, ranch
foreman and is a World War vet
eran. He finished his schooling
following his return from France
in 1918. He was wounded in ac-
ton at scissors and Metz.
Born in Louisville he and a
younger brother were placed in
an orphan asylum when their pa
rents died. He later ran away
and became a stable hand at
Churchill Downs. Gaining a large
amount Of experience on the track,
he soon rose to be one Of the
leading jockeys Of that day. He
rode Black Mare in the Derby Of
1906 and brought her in second. It
was while jockey that the nick
name Of pee Wee" was fastened
to him for life.
Following an injury on the track
while riding horse, he drifted
westward and became a ranch
hand for Col. lack Mulhall, own
er Of one of the biggest spreads
in Oklahoma territory. His
knowledge Of horses made him
an expert horsebreaker and train
er ans he soon became ranch fore
man with several white employees
under him. Col Mulhall treated
him more like a son than en-
ploye, according to him.
Entry into the World War draft
ed him for the army. Though he
had broken hundreds of horses
to be sold to the army he was
/ placed in the infantry, despite ef-
forts of friends to secure him d
| place in the cavalry. He served
II months overseas, coming back
as a sergeant.
He went back to ranching fol-
lowing his release from the army.
1t was during this time that he
entered many rodieOs, winning
several prizes. He also spent a
period Of tine with Barnum and
Bailey's circus before going to
Chicago where he worked in the
! packing houses.
Prairie View Graduate
Deciding to enter and finish
school, he came to Texas and en-
tered Prairie View, graduating in
1924. He also attended Iowa
State for a year and received his
BIS. from Prairie View in agri-
culture.
Entering extension work in Mi
lam county, in 1925, his knoWl-
edeg Of meats and their cure and
preservation, learned from Ger
man ranchers i'll Oklahoma, soon
led to his promotion to agent in
charge Of meats. According to
him, the German ranchers had a
secret method Of preserving meats
which has later been adopted by
Texas A and w col eye, who are
leaders in this movement.
In the nine years he has been
in charge of this work in Texas,
he has saved farm families thOus-
ands Of dollars in prevention Of
spOi}atiOn of home cured meats.
Millions Of pounds Of pork and
! beef products are preserved in
Texas each year. There are 20
agents working under him, all APP
pointed by the state, which pays
a small part Of their $1,000 yearly
salary. The counties in which
they work pays the larger part Of
this salary. All are taught the
SEsS III