If you volunteer to perform a task everyday for 47 years, you have performed this task 17,155 times.
Joseph (Joe) Jefferson Acree of Moorhead has been, and continues to be, a cooperative weather observer which requires that daily he measures, records and reports rainfall.
He is the only cooperative weather observer in Sunflower County.
For his dedication and service, Latrice Maxie from the National Weather Service presented Acree with the Thomas Jefferson award on this past Sunday during the 11 o’clock service at Moorhead United Methodist Church.
This award is to honor cooperative weather observers for unusual and outstanding achievements in the field of meteorological observations.
It is the highest award the National Weather Service presents to volunteer observers.
The award is named for Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States.
Jefferson made an almost unbroken series of weather observations from 1776 to 1816.
No more than five Jefferson awards are given annually.
It is ironic that Acree is receiving the award in that his middle name is Jefferson. To be eligible for the Jefferson award, a candidate must have received the John Campanius Holm award, which honors cooperative observers for outstanding accomplishments in the field of meteorogical observations.
This is awarded to no more than 25 weather observers annually.
Acree received this award in 2011.
Climatological records get more valuable with time. The climatological base generated through the efforts of the volunteer cooperative weather observer provides not only the cornerstone of our nation’s weather history but also serves as the primary data for research into global climatic change.
During these 47 years, Acree has asked others to do the reading less than 30 times when it was necessary for him to be out of town.
As a volunteer, there is no monetary compensation for this service. Acree has actually performed this service much longer than 47 years.
His father, William Duncan Donald, Sr., was a cooperative weather observer from 1954 until his death in 1972.
Mr. Donald turned this into a family tradition for 18 years or 6,570 days of rainfall measurements. If Mr. Donald couldn’t record the measurement on a certain day, Acree or his brother William (Billy) Duncan Donald, Jr. would accomplish this task since it is absolutely essential that records are done daily.
So, Acree has actually been a part of this service for 65 years.
Upon the death of his dad, he agreed to accept this responsibility temporarily.
When he considered the effort involved moving the complex equipment and training another person, he finally decided to continue the family tradition.
So, 47 years later he’s still dedicated to this service.
John Campanius Holm in 1644 and 1655 was the first observer to take systematic observations in the American Colonies.
Today there are about 12,000 cooperative observers in the United States.
In addition to receiving the Thomas Jefferson Award, Rev. Veronica Pritchard presented Acree with a document stating that the Moorhead United Methodist Church had declared January 13, 2019, as Joe Acree Day.
Brenda Grubb, representing the church, presented in his honor a rare 1978 edition NIV Lectern Bible. There are less than 100 of these Bibles in existence.
Much of Acree’s life has been centered in this church.
William Duncan Donald, Sr. held in one arm William Duncan Donald, Jr. and in the other arm Joseph Jefferson Acree as the infants were baptized in this church.
As the old saying goes “ when the church doors were opened”, Billy and Joe were there along with their parents. Acree was very active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship group.
When the Moorhead United Methodist Church burned in 1950, Acree remembers vividly spending Saturdays cleaning many bricks for a patio and entrance adjoining the church.
Acree has served in many capacities in the church. He has served as treasurer and is presently serving as Sunday School teacher and Chairman of the Administrative Board. For many years he was the lay representative to the annual statewide Methodist conference.
He designs and prints the bulletin for every Sunday.
Acree was also very active in Boy Scouts of America starting by being a member of the Cub Scouts. He received the God and Country Award in Scouting and obtained status of Eagle Scout.
He attended Camp Philmont in New Mexico.
Acree graduated from Moorhead High School upon which he enrolled at Sunflower Junior College (Mississippi Delta Community College) in Moorhead for one year. He then transferred to the University of Mississippi.
In 1964 he received a BA in Biology and a BS in Pharmacy in 1967.
Upon graduation he worked part time with his dad at Donald Drug Store in Moorhead and also worked part time at a pharmacy in Leland as a registered pharmacist.
From 1967-1997 he owned and worked as a registered pharmacist at Donald Drug.
Through the years he hired teenagers to give them retail experience. As long as Acree owned Donald Drug Store, he never refused to return to the store after hours or at night to fill a prescription.
Sometimes these late night visits resulted in no pay, but it was important to him to provide the medicine needed for his customers.
Upon closing Donald Drug Store, he worked until 2014 for other pharmacies. From 1977-2004 he was Secretary/Treasurer of District 3-B State Pharmacy Association.
He was Vice President of District 3-B in 1976. For many years he was a member of the Lions Club in Moorhead.
After the Church service honoring Acree, friends in attendance enjoyed a time of fellowship and luncheon which was catered by Lauren Barner Smith.
Many things can be said about Joe Acree.
First of all, he loves the Lord and is a humble servant to God.
He loves his church.
He’s extremely knowledgeable about the Bible. He’s unassuming, humble and a true Southern gentleman.
He is a friend to many.
