Joseph Wesley Houston

Joseph Wesley Houston age 85 of Sweetwater died Wednesday, March 10,2011. Joe was born on December 29, 1925 in Henson Creek, North Carolina. His parents were Wes and Hettie Houston. Joe grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina with his six brothers and sisters. After graduating from Cranberry High School, Joe attended Berea College in Berea, Kentucky on a work-study program. While he was at Berea, Joe met Gladys Virginia Houston who lived in the neighboring town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Joe served during World War II in the Army Air Force. Joe and Gladys were married while he was at Berea. They then moved to Lexington, Kentucky where Joe attended the University of Kentucky. Joe received his Masters from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. After this Joe moved back closer to home when he became an Extension Specialist with the University of Tennessee. Joe and Gladys made their home in south Knoxville. During his years with the University of Tennessee, Joe traveled the state putting on cooking schools and livestock demonstrations. In the early 1960s Joe and his fellow specialist Bill Tyrell were responsible for starting graded feeder pig and cattle sales across the state which allowed farmers to receive more money for their livestock. In 1962 Joe and four partners founded the East Tennessee Livestock Center in Sweetwater to serve the marketing needs of the farmers in the Sweetwater Valley. In 1965 Joe became the Executive Secretary of the Tennessee Livestock Association where he served until 1973 when he began working in the market full-time. Throughout his career, Joe has been a leader and a pioneer in the livestock industry both in Tennessee and nationally. In 1987 Joe was appointed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board where he served on the first executive committee. Joe was also a member of the Livestock Marketing Association. In 1987 Joe’s wife Gladys was tragically killed. In addition to his wife, Joe was preceded in death by his mother, father, brothers Bill and Jake, sisters Lillian and Zula. Joe is survived by his wife Joyce Arden Houston, his sons John D. Houston and Mark W. Houston as well as his grandchildren, Laura Elaine Houston MD, Holly Christine Houston, Virginia Leigh Houston and Ross Wesley Houston. Step-daughter: Annette Richeson and Step-son: Jeff Arden. Joe was a member of First Baptist Church in Sweetwater. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. Funeral services will be at First Baptist Church in Sweetwater at 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 13 with family visitation to follow. Burial will be Monday, March 14 at 11:00 AM at Sherwood Memorial Gardens in Alcoa, Tennessee. Beloved nephew Reverend Danny Georges and Dr. Frank Crawford will be officiating. Kyker Funeral Home of Sweetwater is in charge of arrangements.

Joseph Wesley Houston

December 29, 1925 - March 9, 2011