Whipp, Roscoe

29 Apr Whipp, Roscoe

Fair Pioneer & Fair President from 1982-1983.  

Roscoe N. Whipp, 90, of Gaithersburg, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, after a long illness.

Born at Church Hill in Frederick County, on March 1, 1918, he was the son of the late Walter Newton Whipp and Mary Geneva Reeder Whipp.

He loved baseball, traveling, gardening, and supporting the Terps.

A 1942 graduate of the University of Maryland, Mr. Whipp took part in many sports, activities, and clubs on campus. He played for the university’s baseball and soccer teams, lettering in both. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho social fraternity and involved in all aspects of the college of agriculture until his death.

Listed among his most memorable college accomplishments were: induction into Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Zeta honoraries, first place individual in the National Poultry and Egg judging competition, and membership in the “M” Club.

After graduation, Mr. Whipp remained active becoming a lifetime member of the Terrapin Club, member of the Collonade Society, and life member of the University of Maryland Alumni Association International. An avid booster of the university, especially the sports programs, he delighted in following the Terps sporting events.

In 2008, Mr. Whipp was presented with the University of Maryland Dean’s Medallion of Excellence by Dean Cheng I-Wie as well as the Friend of Extension Award by Epsilon Sigma Phi.

Once called the “Pied Piper of 4-H,” Mr. Whipp dedicated his life to the promotion of agriculture. As Montgomery County Cooperative Extension agent for 4-H and Youth for 30 years, he loved his work and was devoted to helping others learn how to make their best better.

Mr. Whipp coached many winning state, national, and international judging teams. He was the first American ever to be invited to serve as a master judge for the Holstein-Friesian placings at the International Dairy Judging contest in Wales. In 1968, Mr. Whipp was tapped as the first Marylander to be president of the National Agricultural County Agents Association.

One of his biggest accomplishments was co-founding Montgomery County Agricultural Center and Montgomery County Fair. Through this project, his dream for 4-Hers to have a place to hold their activities came true. After serving as secretary and later president of the Agricultural Center, he became its historian. In 2007, Mr. Whipp’s The Montgomery County Agricultural Center, Inc. — The First 50 Years, documenting the conception and growth of this great project, was published.

A born leader, Mr. Whipp was called upon by many organizations to lend them his expertise. As past president of Maryland Farm Bureau, he was often found talking with legislators on Capital Hill and in Annapolis. He held offices in the Rockville United Methodist Church Men’s Bible Class and often served as teacher.

At other times, Mr. Whipp lead international tours to Australia, England, Scotland, and Wales. He was actively involved with Upper Montgomery County Farmer’s Club and Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Foundation.

Married for 65 years, Mr. Whipp was the beloved husband of Constance Virginia White Whipp. He is also survived by his three children, Sherry DeLauder of Montgomery Village, Barbara Covey of Federalsburg, and Arlene Plegge of Gering. He was the grandfather of eight grandchildren, Tom and Steven Covey of Denton, Rob DeLauder of Damascus, Sherry Wight of Pleasanton, Calif., Charles DeLauder of Los Angeles, Melissa Turman of Lincoln, Neb., Kristen and Derek Plegge of Gering, Neb.; and eight great-grandchildren, Elena, Mckenzie, and Gage Covey of Federalsburg, Brendan and Brianna DeLauder of Damascus, and Abigail, p, and Isaac Wight of Pleasanton, Calif.