SYLACAUGA — Jimmy Pursell is a recipient of the Auburn Alumni Association’s 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.Pursell and three other Auburn University graduates were honored at a black tie dinner and induction ceremony held at the Auburn University Dixon Conference Center on March 1.
“It’s a huge honor to be given this award,” said Tanja Matthews, Auburn alumni programs coordinator. “Mr. Pursell is a generous man. He is generous with his time and his money. He is also a very humble man. He gives back without thinking about himself. Auburn is very happy to have him as an alumnus. The Auburn Alumni Association is proud to have honored him.”
Matthews said to be selected for the award, nominees must have attained prominence in their professional careers, and they must be persons of integrity, stature and demonstrated ability.
“I was just thrilled to death about receiving the award,” Pursell said. “I’m just blessed. I’m very thankful.”
Pursell said his career with horticulture began when he started working for his father-in-law, Howard A. Parker, who owned Parker Fertilizer Company.
Pursell said he didn’t know much about the business, but he was willing to learn. He said he wanted the company to get into the lawn and garden fertilizer business. He came up with the idea of selling specialty controlled release fertilizers under the Sta-Green brand name.
In 1964, Pursell became president of the business, which is now Pursell Technologies Inc.
Pursell said some of the company’s achievements are producing coating technologies with brands such as POLYON polymer-coated fertilizers and TriKote polymer sulfur coated fertilizers.
The company is also known for The Experience at FarmLinks, a customer-focused marketing strategy for evaluating, testing and exhibiting the newest and best products and services the golf-course industry has to offer.
Pursell graduated from Auburn University in 1952, and he said he has been involved with the university since.
“I’ve gotten a lot of nice honors from Auburn over the years,” he said. “We have worked very closely with the school of business to establish the James T. Pursell Sr. Eminent Scholar Chair. About three years ago, we started working with the athletic department providing a tutoring program called Champs. We start with students as freshmen and make sure they graduate. We also help with Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ chaplain school.”
Pursell said in 1996, the consumer division of Pursell Technologies was sold. In 2006, the technology part of the company was sold to Agrium, marketer and producer of crop inputs, specialty fertilizers and industrial products.
