Dr. Joe Wheeler High, Jr.

Dr. Joe Wheeler High, Jr, 92, passed away July 22, 2020. He was the son of the late Joe Wheeler and Lillian Patterson High Sr., of Spartanburg, South Carolina. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Greer High; sons Dr. Ben (Sherry), Stephen (Karen), Dr. Gregory, and Jeff (Dawn) High; grandsons, Austin (Jenny), and Nathaniel High; granddaughters, Sarah High Goins (Cody), Leah High (Stefan), Kathryn High Blackman (Daniel), Rachel High, Megan High, Kathleen High-King (Jeremy), Caroline High; great-grandchildren, James Goins, Greer Goins, Meggie Goins, Adelyn Grace High, Vivienne High-King. Winifred Blackmon, and Rosa Blackmon; and sister, Ann High Morrow. He was proceeded in death by his son, Joe (Ted) Wheeler High, III; grandsons Matthew August High and Boone Burris High; siblings, Rephilia High Lynn and Hugh Mack High. He earned his B.S. degree in Animal Science from Clemson University, a M.S. in Animal Science from U.T. Knoxville, and a Ph.D in Population Genetics from Iowa State University. He was the Animal Science staff at UT for nine years, Director of a USDA Livestock Research Center in South Louisiana for three years, and Director of the Middle Tennessee Research Center for 33 years. He was a past president of the Columbia Rotary Club, the Duck River Scout District, the Columbia Chapter of the American Field Service, and the Maury County Chapter of the UT Alumni Association. He was a past board member of the Maury County Park Commission, the UT National Alumni Association, Maury County UGF, Graymere Country Club, and the Middle TN Scout Council. He helped organize and was on the original board of the Southern Association of Research Administrators Society, Leadership Maury, and the Spring Hill Rotary Club. He was a recipient of the Paul Harris Award from both the Columbia and Spring Hill Rotary Clubs. He received outstanding service awards from The American Forage and Grassland Council, Southern Research Center Society, UT Extension Service, Tennessee Cattleman’s Association, and the Columbia Rotary Club. He wrote research articles in the Journals of Genetics, the Journal of Animal Science, and for the Institute of Agriculture at UT. He served as a medic with the 82nd Airborne Division in the ETO from 1945-1947. He retired as a captain from the Tennessee National Guard in 1961. The family will hold a private graveside service on Saturday. Memorials may be sent to the Maury County Public Library.