<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wilson, NC-</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">12.14.12</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>We would like to bid farewell to an industry veteran. Dale Bone, founder of Nashville, North Carolina, based Nash Produce LLC, passed December 11, 2012, at the age of 69.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mr. Bone received a Bachelor's of Science in Agronomy and Agricultural Economics from North Carolina State University in 1964 with a degree and began farming in Nash County in the mid 1960's where he established his business acumen as the nation's largest cucumber producer by the mid 1980's.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The industry veteran served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer for the National Council of Agricultural Employers. He was involved in organizations that included The Pickle Packers International, NC Rural Center Agribusiness Consortium, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, Produce Marketing Association, and NC Sweet Potato Commission. Mr. Bone was also appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly as a Board Member of prestigious Golden L.E.A.F. Foundation.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mr. Bone also served on the Barton College Board of Trustees, and was a Board Member of The Salvation Army and The Arts Council of Wilson. He was honored as Entrepreneur of the Year by the North East Entrepreneurial Round Table in 1998, and NC Agribusiness of the year in 2005.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">He has also been honored with the National Agricultural Alumni and Development Association's Ruby C. McSwain's Outstanding Philanthropist Award.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The generous philanthropist provided university scholarships for numerous students in the local area along with educational endowments.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mr. Nash was born in Nash county July 21, 1943, to Lucille J. Bone and Hubert C. Bone. He was preceded in death by his father, Hubert and his brother, William R. (Billy) Bone.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mr. Bone is survived by his wife, Genia Tyson Bone of Wilson; his mother, Lucille J. Bone of Nashville; his son, Michael Keith Bone and wife, Jill Thomas Bone; his granddaughters, Harper E. Bone and Mia F. Bone all of Chapel Hill; his sister-in-law, Marjorie Bone of Nashville.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
