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'''Cully Alton Cobb, Sr.''' (February 25, 1884 &ndash; May 7, 1975),<ref name=ssdi>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi|title=Social Security Death Index|publisher=ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref> was an agricultural pioneer, [[educator]], [[journalist]], printer, publisher, and philanthropist in the American South who with his second wife, Lois Pauline Dowdle Cobb (August 1, 1889 &ndash; August 9, 1987),<ref name=ssdi/> co-founded the Cobb Institute of Archaeology on the campus of [[Mississippi State University]] in Starkville, [[Mississippi]].

'''Cully Alton Cobb Sr.''' (February 25, 1884 &ndash; May 7, 1975),<ref name=ssdi>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi|title=Social Security Death Index|publisher=ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref> was an agricultural pioneer, [[educator]], [[journalist]], printer, publisher, and philanthropist in the American South who with his second wife, Lois Pauline Dowdle Cobb (August 1, 1889 &ndash; August 9, 1987),<ref name=ssdi/> co-founded the Cobb Institute of Archaeology on the campus of [[Mississippi State University]] in Starkville, [[Mississippi]].

==Background==

==Background==

Cobb was originally a poor farm boy born in his grandfather's cabin near Prospect in Giles County in rural southern [[Tennessee]].<ref>[[Jimmy Shoalmire]] and Roy Vernon Scott, ''The Public Career of Cully Cobb: A Study in Agricultural Leadership'' ([[Jackson]], [[Mississippi]]: University and College Press of Mississippi, 1973), p. 1; Shoalmire and Scott used materials from the [[Henry A. Wallace]] Collection at the [[University of Iowa]] in Iowa City in their biography of Cobb.</ref> He was a son of Napoleon Cobb (1849–1913) and the former Mary Agnes Woodward (1855–1932). In 1908, at the age of twenty-four, Cobb received his bachelor's degree from the then Mississippi A&M College. Thereafter, he accepted for two years the position of superintendent of the first agricultural high school, established in the unincorporated community of Buena Vista in Chickasaw County in northern Mississippi. From 1910 to 1918, Cobb was director of the men's agriculture club at Mississippi State University.​

Cobb was originally a poor farm boy born in his grandfather's cabin near Prospect in Giles County in rural southern [[Tennessee]].<ref>[[Jimmy Shoalmire]] and Roy Vernon Scott, ''The Public Career of Cully Cobb: A Study in Agricultural Leadership'' ([[Jackson]], [[Mississippi]]: University and College Press of Mississippi, 1973), p. 1; Shoalmire and Scott used materials from the [[Henry A. Wallace]] Collection at the [[University of Iowa]] in Iowa City in their biography of Cobb.</ref> He was a son of Napoleon Cobb (1849–1913) and the former Mary Agnes Woodward (1855–1932). In 1908, at the age of twenty-four, Cobb received his bachelor's degree from the then Mississippi A&M College. Thereafter, he accepted for two years the position of superintendent of the first agricultural high school, established in the unincorporated community of Buena Vista in Chickasaw County in northern Mississippi. From 1910 to 1918, Cobb was director of the men's agriculture club at Mississippi State University.​

 

==Agricultural publisher==

==Agricultural publisher==

In September 1918, Cobb became editor of ''The Southern Ruralist'' [[magazine]] in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]]. He was named president of the American Agricultural Editors Association for three consecutive years. In 1932, the ''Southern Ruralist'' was sold to ''The Progressive Farmer''. Cobb was the managing editor of the Georgia-Alabama edition of ''Progressive Farmer.''<ref name=cobbinst/>​

In September 1918, Cobb became editor of ''The Southern Ruralist'' [[magazine]] in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]]. He was named president of the American Agricultural Editors Association for three consecutive years. In 1932, the ''Southern Ruralist'' was sold to ''The Progressive Farmer''. Cobb was the managing editor of the Georgia-Alabama edition of ''Progressive Farmer.''<ref name=cobbinst/>​

 

In 1933, however, he accepted an appointment in [[Washington, D.C.]], under [[U.S. President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] as director of the Cotton Division of the [[New Deal]] agency, the [[Agricultural Adjustment Administration]].<ref name=cobbinst>{{cite web|url=http://www.cobb.msstate.edu/cobbfndr.html|title=The Founders of the Cobb Institute of Archaeology|publisher=msstate.edu|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref> Cobb supervised the controversial decision to plow under cotton fields to reduce farm output in the expectation of reversing the slump in prices which had adversely affected millions of farmers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5206|title=Agricultural Adjustment Act|publisher=''Encyclopedia  of Arkansas''|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref>​

In 1933, however, he accepted an appointment in [[Washington, D.C.]], under [[U.S. President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] as director of the Cotton Division of the [[New Deal]] agency, the [[Agricultural Adjustment Administration]].<ref name=cobbinst>{{cite web|url=http://www.cobb.msstate.edu/cobbfndr.html|title=The Founders of the Cobb Institute of Archaeology|publisher=msstate.edu|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref> Cobb supervised the controversial decision to plow under cotton fields to reduce farm output in the expectation of reversing the slump in prices which had adversely affected millions of farmers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5206|title=Agricultural Adjustment Act|publisher=''Encyclopedia  of Arkansas''|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref>​

==Family==

==Family==

Cobb's first wife was the former Byrdie Ball of Buena Vista, Mississippi, where he had been the superintendent of the agricultural high school. The couple had two children, Cully, Jr., and David A. Cobb. Byrdie died in 1932, the same year that Cobb's mother expired.<ref name=cobbinst/> Cully, Jr., practiced neurosurgery in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howellallen.com/clinic/clinic_history.htm|title=Howell/Allen Clinic History|publisher=howellallen.com|accessdate=July 18, 2010}}</ref> Grandson Cully A. Cobb, III (born 1943), is a neurosurgeon in [[Sacramento]], [[California]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Cully_Cobb.html|title=Dr. Cully Cobb: Neurological Surgeon|publisher=vitals.com|accessdate=July 18, 2010}}</ref> and is affiliated with the John Sutter Neuroscience Institute there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://checksutterfirst.org/neuro/neurology/SNI_directory.pdf|title=Sutter Neuroscience Institute|publisher=checksutterfirst.org|accessdate=July 18, 2010}}</ref>​

Cobb's first wife was the former Byrdie Ball of Buena Vista, Mississippi, where he had been the superintendent of the agricultural high school. The couple had two children, Cully Jr., and David A. Cobb. Byrdie died in 1932, the same year that Cobb's mother expired.<ref name=cobbinst/> Cully Jr., practiced neurosurgery in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howellallen.com/clinic/clinic_history.htm|title=Howell/Allen Clinic History|publisher=howellallen.com|accessdate=July 18, 2010}}</ref> Grandson Cully A. Cobb, III (born 1943), is a neurosurgeon in [[Sacramento]], [[California]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Cully_Cobb.html|title=Dr. Cully Cobb: Neurological Surgeon|publisher=vitals.com|accessdate=July 18, 2010}}</ref> and is affiliated with the John Sutter Neuroscience Institute there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://checksutterfirst.org/neuro/neurology/SNI_directory.pdf|title=Sutter Neuroscience Institute|publisher=checksutterfirst.org|accessdate=July 18, 2010}}</ref>​

In 1934, Cobb wed the former Lois Pauline Dowdle, a graduate of the [[University of Georgia]] at Athens who also enrolled in graduate studies at [[Cornell University]] in Ithaca,  [[New York]].  During [[World War I]], Lois Dowdle had been director of Food Production and Food Preservation for Georgia as an appointee of [[Herbert Hoover]], the federal Food Administrator, who became U.S. President in 1929. Between 1932 and 1934, she was director of the American Institute of Home Grown Fats and Oils. She worked to convince the U.S. Congress to repeal restrictive legislation against the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine. She too wore many hats: editor, writer, schoolteacher, administrator, trustee, and homemaker. She was a president of the Georgia Home Economics Association and the only woman to have served as president of the Southern Association of Agricultural Workers, now known as the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists, Inc.,<ref name=cobbinst/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saasinc.org/Misc/By-Laws.pdf|title=Bylaws, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists, Inc.|publisher=saasinc.org|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref>​

In 1934, Cobb wed the former Lois Pauline Dowdle, a graduate of the [[University of Georgia]] at Athens who also enrolled in graduate studies at [[Cornell University]] in Ithaca,  [[New York]].  During [[World War I]], Lois Dowdle had been director of Food Production and Food Preservation for Georgia as an appointee of [[Herbert Hoover]], the federal Food Administrator, who became U.S. President in 1929. Between 1932 and 1934, she was director of the American Institute of Home Grown Fats and Oils. She worked to convince the U.S. Congress to repeal restrictive legislation against the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine. She too wore many hats: editor, writer, schoolteacher, administrator, trustee, and homemaker. She was a president of the Georgia Home Economics Association and the only woman to have served as president of the Southern Association of Agricultural Workers, now known as the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists, Inc.,<ref name=cobbinst/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saasinc.org/Misc/By-Laws.pdf|title=Bylaws, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists, Inc.|publisher=saasinc.org|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref>​

Cobb was involved in civic and church affairs, having taught [[Sunday school]] for more than three decades at the Druid Hills [[Baptist]] Church in Druid Hills in Atlanta. He was also a member of the Masonic lodge. Mrs. Cobb was of [[Methodist]] affiliation but regularly taught a class at her husband's Baptist church.<ref name=cobbinst/>​

Cobb was involved in civic and church affairs, having taught [[Sunday school]] for more than three decades at the Druid Hills [[Baptist]] Church in Druid Hills in Atlanta. He was also a member of the Masonic lodge. Mrs. Cobb was of [[Methodist]] affiliation but regularly taught a class at her husband's Baptist church.<ref name=cobbinst/>​

​The Cobbs were also patrons of charity. They assisted student ministers from [[Emory University]] in Atlanta by providing some of them free housing in their garage apartment.<ref name=cobbinst/> In 1938, the Cobbs purchased an historic house in Decatur, Georgia, built by Michael Steele, a pioneer of DeKalb County, along with eighty-seven adjacent acres on which to raise grain and livestock. Upon Cobb's death, the property was donated to Emory University. The current owners bought the Steele-Cobb property in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicforsale.com/historicrealestate/PropertyDetail.aspx?id=812|title=Steele-Cobb House|publisher=historicforsale.com|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref>​

The Cobbs were also patrons of charity. They assisted student ministers from [[Emory University]] in Atlanta by providing some of them free housing in their garage apartment.<ref name=cobbinst/> In 1938, the Cobbs purchased an historic house in Decatur, Georgia, built by Michael Steele, a pioneer of DeKalb County, along with eighty-seven adjacent acres on which to raise grain and livestock. Upon Cobb's death, the property was donated to Emory University. The current owners bought the Steele-Cobb property in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicforsale.com/historicrealestate/PropertyDetail.aspx?id=812|title=Steele-Cobb House|publisher=historicforsale.com|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref>​

 

Mrs. Cobb spent her remaining years in Decatur, where she died at the age of ninety-eight a dozen years after her husband's death. The couple is interred in DeKalb County. Mississippi State University [[historian]] [[Roy Vernon Scott]] of Starkville, co-author with [[Jimmy Shoalmire]] of a 1973 biography of Cobb, was a pallbearer at Cully Cobb's funeral.​<ref>Statement of Roy Vernon Scott, July 16, 2010.</ref>

Mrs. Cobb spent her remaining years in Decatur, where she died at the age of ninety-eight a dozen years after her husband's death. The couple is interred in DeKalb County. Mississippi State University [[historian]] [[Roy Vernon Scott]] of Starkville, co-author with [[Jimmy Shoalmire]] of a 1973 biography of Cobb, was a pallbearer at Cully Cobb's funeral.​<ref>Statement of Roy Vernon Scott, July 16, 2010.</ref>

==Cobb Institute of Archaeology==

==Cobb Institute of Archaeology==

 

In June 1971, the couple first provided funding for the Cobb Institute of Archaeology, which includes multiple classrooms, research labs, offices, a library, and a [[museum]].<ref>http://www.cobb.msstate.edu/</ref> Groundbreaking at the building site followed on April 14, 1973. On that occasion, the Cobbs were joined by MSU president William L. Giles. Cobb said that he was inspired to establish the institute in Starkville because of how much Mississippi State had meant to his life. Construction began in 1974 and was completed in 1975, five months after Cobb's death. Mrs. Cobb last visited the institute in 1979 on the occasion of her ninetieth birthday.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4AWmyJvZwkwC&pg=PA208&lpg=PA208&dq=Cully+A.+Cobb+of+Mississippi&source=bl&ots=nAzOqyAYY0&sig=KoO2owS8OASqKGmUNvVYqDm6vxs&hl=en&ei=2t0_TMafEoK0lQeOksGvDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=Cully%20A.%20Cobb%20of%20Mississippi&f=false|author=Victor A. Danilov|title=''Women and Museums: A Comprehensive Guide''|publisher=Google Books|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref>​

In June 1971, the couple first provided funding for the Cobb Institute of Archaeology, which includes multiple classrooms, research labs, offices, a library, and a [[museum]].<ref>http://www.cobb.msstate.edu/</ref> Groundbreaking at the building site followed on April 14, 1973. On that occasion, the Cobbs were joined by MSU president William L. Giles. Cobb said that he was inspired to establish the institute in Starkville because of how much Mississippi State had meant to his life. Construction began in 1974 and was completed in 1975, five months after Cobb's death. Mrs. Cobb last visited the institute in 1979 on the occasion of her ninetieth birthday.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4AWmyJvZwkwC&pg=PA208&lpg=PA208&dq=Cully+A.+Cobb+of+Mississippi&source=bl&ots=nAzOqyAYY0&sig=KoO2owS8OASqKGmUNvVYqDm6vxs&hl=en&ei=2t0_TMafEoK0lQeOksGvDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=Cully%20A.%20Cobb%20of%20Mississippi&f=false|author=Victor A. Danilov|title=''Women and Museums: A Comprehensive Guide''|publisher=Google Books|accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref>​

==References==

==References==

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{{reflist}}​

 

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[[Category:Tennessee]]

[[Category:Tennessee]]