Alpacas Magazine - 2013 Herdsire

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Editor’s note: Dr. Chris Lupton, Ph.D.,
has authored several papers on alpaca
fiber, including “Measures of Alpaca Fiber
Quality,” “Applied Research to Improve
Alpaca Quilts and Textiles,” and
“Characteristics of North American
Suri Alpacas.” For more information on
Dr. Lupton’s research, visit the website
faculty/dr-chris-lupton-professor-retired/.
Chris Lupton, Ph.D. (Texas), a long-
standing American wool industry
member received the prestigious American
Wool Council Wool Excellence Award at
the American Sheep Industry Association
(ASI)/National Lamb Feeders Association
Annual Convention, Jan. 23-26, 2013, in
San Antonio, Texas.
Having given nearly 40 years of service
to the American sheep industry, Lupton is
being recognized for his many contributions
that led to growing superior, higher-value
wool that is more competitive in domestic
and international markets. Lupton has
spent the majority of his career focusing
on wool research at the Bill Sims Wool and
Mohair Laboratory at the Texas AgriLife
Research Center. He contributed to the
research that revolutionized the way fiber
diameter and modulation are measured.
These technologies helped to make low-
cost, on-the-farm fiber measurements avail-
able to countless breeders and producers.
“Lupton has developed a program
and reputation that are highly respected
throughout the world,” said Gil Engdahl,
Ph.D., president of the Texas Sheep and
Goat Raisers’ Association. “He is not only
very knowledgeable but has been instru-
mental in looking ahead to find ways to
better the wool industry.”
“It is nearly impossible to measure his
total impact to the industry because he
cooperated with and provided invalu-
able assistance to scores of researchers,
educators and industry representatives,”
said Larry Miller, Ph.D., past associate
administrator of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Cooperative State Research,
Education and Extension Service.
“The Wool Roundtable chose well
when they selected Lupton as the recipi-
ent of the Wool Award this year. It takes
many individuals to build a successful
industry and Chris definitely stands out
in the crowd as being well deserving of
this award,” said Rita Kourlis Samuelson,
ASI’s wool marketing director.
“We encourage everyone who knows and
has been fortunate to work with Chris to join
the Wool Council in celebrating his life-long
contribution to the wool industry,” added
Dan Gutzman, chairman of the U.S. Wool
Roundtable. “It will be an honor to recognize
Chris for his service to the industry and we
hope you will be able to join us.”
ASI is a national trade organization
supported by 46 state sheep associations,
benefiting the interests of more than
81,000 sheep producers.
Wool Industry to Recognize Lupton
for Life-Long Contribution
FROM THE AMERICAN SHEEP INDUSTRY, , DECEMBER, 2012
FIBER Industry News
Dr. Chris Lupton with some of his alpacas at Texas A&M University’s Agricultural Research Extension Center
in San Angelo in 2004.
AlpacasMagazine
filephoto
Dr. Lupton’s work has had a
significant impact on both the
wool and alpaca fiber industries. { }