The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation expanded its communication efforts this month to complement the organization's growth on the national and global stage.

The Noble Foundation selected J. Adam Calaway to be the first Director of Public Relations in its 61-year history. Calaway assumes the role as the Noble Foundation's communication officer and media liaison.

With the arrival of Calaway, the Noble Foundation's Communications Department will be able to focus on providing the organization's graphic arts, photography and publications needs. Scott McNeill, a centerpiece in the Communications Department for 11 years, was appointed as director of the newly named Publications and Visual Media Department.

"News of the Noble Foundation's pioneering research, activities to enhance regional agriculture and philanthropic program has reached audiences never imagined by Lloyd Noble when he established the foundation in 1945," said Mike Cawley, President of the Noble Foundation. "Today, we have the potential to impact not only the people in our surrounding counties and states, but people around the globe. These important additions will provide the Noble Foundation with new opportunities to effectively communicate with its growing audience base."

McNeill graduated from Healdton High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Abilene Christian University. After graduation, he returned to Ardmore and founded his own successful photography business. McNeill came to the Noble Foundation in 1995 as a communications specialist. He was named the Noble Foundation's Web designer in 1997 and then later was promoted to Coordinator of Publication and Web Design.

Under McNeill's leadership, the redesign of the Noble Foundation's Web site was honored with the Bronze Quill Award of Merit from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) in 2005. McNeill also served as the project coordinator for the 2005 Annual Report, which won the Silver Award from the League of American Communications Professionals (LACP). McNeill has been Interim Director of Communications since December 2005.

"Of my 11 years at the Noble Foundation, this is the most exciting time," McNeill said. "The enthusiasm about the Noble Foundation's growth is evident in every person here. We are energized as the Noble Foundation moves into a new era of communications and outreach activities."

Calaway is a lifelong Oklahoman and comes to the Noble Foundation from Cameron University in Lawton, where he served as Director of Media and Public Relations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Cameron and a Master of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Oklahoma.

Calaway began his career as a reporter for The Lawton Constitution and then transitioned into public relations. He has received numerous state awards for his feature and news release writing both as a reporter and a public relations officer. He has also served on the Communicator's Council of Oklahoma and the board of directors for the Oklahoma College Public Relations Association.

"The Noble Foundation is a world-class agricultural, research and philanthropic organization," said Calaway, who assumed his post in September. "I'm proud to help champion such a respected institution as it continues to better our state, our country and our world. Even as I see the rich heritage and overwhelming accomplishments of the Noble Foundation, I believe the greatest achievements lie ahead."

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Photos:

J. Adam Calaway

Scott McNeill

News Release Issued: October 6, 2006

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.