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            Auburn University - University Relations
                         (334) 844-9999
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5/19/95                                Bob Lowry

PURSELL IS 1995 AU COLLEGE OF BUSINESS  DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

      AUBURN -- James T. Pursell, whose company is AmericaÕs second 
largest manufacturer of specialty fertilizers, has been named the 1995 
Distinguished Alumnus of the Auburn University College of Business.
      The annual award is the highest alumnus honor granted by the 
college.  The 1994 winner was Bill Heard of Columbus, Ga., president and 
chief executive officer of Bill Heard Enterprises
      Pursell, 65,  who got his B.S. degree in business administration 
from Auburn in 1952, is chairman and CEO of Sylacauga-based Pursell 
Industries, Inc. He was honored at  the Honors Day Banquet hosted by the 
AU Business Advisory Council.
      ÒMr. PursellÕs success in business is well known and he has been 
a tremendous help in the success of the College of Business,Ó said Wayne 
Alderman, dean of the college. ÒOur college is fortunate to have his 
friendship and support.Ó
      PursellÕs company, established in 1904, is one of the oldest 
ongoing fertilizer manufacturers in the United States operating under the 
same originating family management.  The company, which sells more than 
10 million bags of fertilizer annually, has had an annual growth rate of 
more than 20 percent.
      Pursell said the companyÕs goal is to expand its control release 
fertilizer technology to all of the worldÕs developed countries by 2004 
-- the 100th anniversary of the company.
      The Ashland native and former member of the Auburn track team is 
an Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He began working for his 
father-in-law, the late Howard Parker, in 1956 at Parker Fertilizer Co., 
which manufactured fertilizer and operated five cotton gins.
      Pursell later founded and served as president of Coosa Valley 
Advertising Company, an outdoor advertising firm that he sold in 1964.  
He began managing the fertilizer  company in 1964 when Parker died.
      Pursell is a member of the Alabama Ethics Commission and the 
state board of directors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is a 
former member of the Auburn College of Business Advisory Council.
      In addition to his duties at Pursell Industries, Pursell also 
operates and lives on a 2,000-acre cattle farm in the Sylacauga area. His 
two sons,  David and Taylor, who are also involved in Pursell Industries, 
and daughter Chris Fleming of Montgomery are also Auburn graduates.
      
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may95:pursell
      CONTACT: Mary Ann Hooper, 334/844-4030.