The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture’s Medal was awarded to Ralph E. Bartholomew, Ed. D. on June 3, 1999. The award was made in recognition of his contributions as Principal of the Walter Biddle Saul School of Agricultural Sciences and his services to the Society as Secretary-Treasurer.

Dr. Ralph E. Bartholomew received his B.Sc. degree in Agricultural Education from Pennsylvania State University in 1951. He then served as a teacher of Vocational Agriculture in the Otego, New York school district for three years before being drafted into the U.S. Army where he served for the following three years. Subsequently he returned to Pennsylvania State University and obtained an M.Sc.degree. For the next ten years he held the position of Head of the Vocational Education Department in the Oxford, Pennsylvania school district. 1n 1966 Dr. Bartholomew was recruited to develop a Vocational Agricultural program in the Philadelphia Farm School and one year later he was appointed the first Principal of the Walter Biddle Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences. He later obtained his Ed. D. degree from the University of Sarasota in Florida. He remained Principal of the Saul High School until his retirement in 1986.

Dr. Bartholomew joined the PSPA in 1974. He was named Secretary of the Society in 1982 and Secretary-Treasurer in 1992. His service to the Society in these positions has been outstanding. His activities outside the Society include his church, the Masonic Order, several professional organizations and the Spring-Ford and Pottstown Stamp Clubs. Ralph and his wife, Cleo, have been married for 48 years and have three daughters and three grandchildren.

PSPA President, Darryl Biery presented the Society’s medal and a framed certificate to Dr. Ralph E. Bartholomew.

Dr. Bartholomew and his wife, Cleo, displaying the PSPA Medal and certificate.

Six Past Presidents of the Society joined President Darryl Biery as the PSPA Medal was awarded to Ralph Bartholomew. Past Presidents from left to right Eldrow Reeve, Leon Wilkinson, Walter Michener, James Hopkinson, Malcolm Barlow, and Stuart Younkin.