Clyde T. Sharp, a Roll, Ariz., cotton producer, will serve as 2009 president of Cotton Council International. CCI is the National Cotton Council's export promotions arm and carries out programs in more than 50 countries globally under the Cotton USA trademark.

Sharp was elected at CCI's board meeting, one of several sessions convening at the NCC's 71st annual meeting in Washington, D.C., Feb. 12-16. He succeeds Robert S. Weil II, an Alabama merchant, who becomes CCI board chairman.

Sharp farms 2,500 acres of cotton, alfalfa, wheat, milo, sudan hay and seed crops in partnership with his brother, David Sharp. He is vice-chairman of the American Cotton Producers' western region and chairman of both the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council and of grower oversight on the NCC's Pink Bollworm Action Committee. He is a director of Growers Mohawk Gin and Calcot. He is a past chairman of the Arizona Cotton Growers Association and a past president of The Cotton Foundation.

Other CCI officers elected for 2009 are: first vice president, Wally L. Darneille, cooperative, Lubbock, Texas; second vice president, John D. Mitchell, merchant, Cordova, Tenn.; and treasurer, Jimmy L. Webb, producer, Leary, Ga. Mark D. Lange of Memphis, Tenn., was re-elected secretary, and Allen A. Terhaar of Washington, D.C., was re-elected assistant secretary.

Elected as CCI directors for 2009 were: Hank Reichle, cooperative official, Greenwood, Miss.; Philip R. Bogel, merchant, Dallas, Texas; Michael Tate, producer, Huntsville, Ala.; and Stewart Weaver, producer, Proctor, Ark.

Re-elected CCI directors include:

Producers — Rickey Bearden, Plains, Texas; Donald J. Cameron, Helm, Calif.; Dahlen K. Hancock, Ropesville, Texas; Richard Kelley, Burlison, Tenn.; and Cliett A. Lowman III, Kingsville, Texas;

Ginners — Thomas S. “Sid” Brough, Edroy, Texas; and Clark Carter, Rolling Fork, Miss.;

Merchants — Jordan Lea, Greenville, S.C.; Manfred Schiefer, Lubbock, Texas; Adolph Weil III, Montgomery, Ala.; and G. William “Bill” Winburne, Phoenix, Ariz.;

Cooperatives — John Burch, Bakersfield, Calif.; and Lonnie D. Winters, Lubbock, Texas;

Cottonseed handler — Gail Kring, Lubbock, Texas;

Warehouser — Vance C. Shoaf, Milan, Tenn.; and

Manufacturers — Werner Bieri, Jefferson, Ga.; and Malloy Evans, Cheraw, S.C.