Long-time Godley High School agricultural science teacher Jack Rowland was honored at Johnson County Commissioners’ Court on January 23, 2023, in Cleburne.

With a proclamation by Commissioner Larry Woolley, the commissioners honored Rowland, his wife Patty and three daughters at the beginning of the governmental meeting.  This included a reading of the proclamation, remarks by Rowland and his wife as well as testimonials from colleagues and friends.

The proclamation detailed Rowland’s career, which began in 1955 when he was hired as a vocational agriculture teacher for Godley High School.  He continued teaching in Godley until 1999, when he retired after 44 years of service.

“The mark of any educator lies in the achievements of his or her students,” the proclamation stated, listing a number of achievements as an ag teacher and FFA sponsors - including advising a state FFA officer, coaching a state champion dairy cattle judging team, having multiple Young Farmer state champions, excelling at the county livestock show and having a reserve champion turkey two years in a row at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Rowland also served eight years as Mayor of Godley, was selected President of the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas, served on many state FFA committees, was an active leader in his church and was a member of the Board of Directors of Ag Workers Insurance Company for over 35 years.

The honoree graduated from Mesquite High School in 1950, attended Tarleton State College and then received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Sam Houston State University in 1955.  While teaching in Godley, Rowland earned a master’s degree from East Texas State University in the mid-1960’s.

In 2019, Godley ISD named the district’s ag facility after Rowland in honor of his service to GISD students.  Last July, Rowland was inducted into the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas Hall of Fame. He was among 54 former ag teachers in the hall of fame’s second class of inductees.