Herman Connor Kennett, Jr., passed away yesterday at his home in Sanford, North Carolina. He was 83. In 1956, Kennett joined the poultry division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was promoted to director of USDA’s poultry division in 1973 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1988.
He received many awards for “Meritorious Service” during his career, including being inducted in the U.S. and North Carolina Poultry Hall of Fame.
He attended North Caroline State University earning a BS in Poultry Science in 1954. He served two years in the U.S. Army, part of that time in Korea. In 2011, he was presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University.
He served as board and finance chairman for many years at Lanham United Methodist Church in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he lived for 30 years and was an active member of St. Luke United Methodist Church.
