April 13 – Prairie View A&M University, notably the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, has suffered a tremendous loss. On Wednesday, April 8, 2020, PVAMU alumnus, Mr. Benny Lockett, passed away. Lockett most recently served the university as a Board of Trustee member after serving for years as the former Associate Administrator for the CAHS Cooperative Extension Program. Following active duty in the United States Army and brief employment with an Information Technology Company in Dallas, Benny Lockett joined the Cooperative Extension Program administration in 1977.

Many were saddened by the sudden loss of their former colleague. Mr. Lockett retired from the university, but the relationships he established and the careers he helped guide left a lasting impact.

Former Dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences and Extension Administrator, Linda Williams-Willis, Ph.D., shared a unique work history with Lockett. “Our roles shifted from me being responsible to Benny to Benny being responsible to me. There was never an issue between Benny and me; he was loyal, someone whom I could depend on. I was a strategic planner, looking at the big picture, Benny was very detailed oriented, so we worked well together in terms of moving the organization forward.” Willis recalled.

She added, “in any organization, there are going to be times when tempers flare, everyone under a lot of pressure, but Benny never lost his composure. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard Benny raise his voice at anyone. He was diligent, and he was so loyal to Mr. Carden, he was a great person to work with and have as a supervisor back in my early days.”

Her comments are echoed by PVAMU’s USDA Liaison, Horace Hodge. He, too, holds fond memories of Lockett. “I watched him in the position he held at Prairie View, as the Associate Administrator and his poise and his ability to get along with people is something that should be an emulation to all of us. He was such a great person,” said Hodge. The two were from the same hometown, Linden, Texas. “Benny would always reference the history of our upbringing, rural America, small-town America,” Hodge added.

While the death of a colleague, considered more family than a friend is never easy, the timing of Lockett’s death compounds the grief his former colleagues are feeling. Paul Johnson, Ph.D., said, the timing couldn’t be worse, noting the current shelter-in-place order, due to the possible spread of the COVID-19 virus. “The sad thing about it is, he would have such a massive funeral, because he touched so many lives, but now, he can’t even have a funeral service.”

While saddened by his passing, his colleagues remember a life of service beautifully lived. Although in different levels and degrees of Lockett’s life, all now share the grief that can be described as painful, profound, and incredibly overwhelming. Willis said, “I’ve heard from some of the younger agents who reflected on the experiences they had with Benny. He encouraged people; he always wanted to do the best for people. He will certainly be missed, and the legacy he left with extension is right up there with other legends like Mr. Hoover-Carden, who has contributed so much to the organization.”

Mr. Lockett was a graduate of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences and a staunch supporter of Prairie View A&M University, where he received his B. S. Degree.