Dr. Fred Thornberry retired from the Department and Texas Cooperative Extension on August 31, 2004 after 36 years of service. He had been involved in a variety of areas of commercial poultry production, worked to develop the commercial quail industry, and was a dedicated advocate of youth programs throughout the State. Upon his retirement, Dr. Thornberry was named Professor and Extension Specialist Emeritus by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents in recognition of his dedicated service to the State. The Department honored him at a retirement dinner at the Kyle House in Bryan on September 25th with family friends and colleagues. The menu centered around a main course of quail from the specific genetic line he worked to perfect for the restaurant and commercial food industries. The quail were generously donated by the Tom Harrington family of Diamond H Ranch in Bandera, Texas. Diamond H also donated two of the quail for mounting as a memento of Dr. Thornberry's career. Taxidermy services were donated by the Lide family of Mexia, Texas. At the dinner, his daughters (Molly Thornberry Whisenant and Michelle Thornberry Bunch) surprised him with the announcement that they were establishing an endowed scholarship in his name along with contributions from several of Dr. Thornberry's family, friends and colleagues. We congratulate Dr. Thornberry on the accomplishments of his career and wish him the best of a long and enjoyable retirement. He is currently spending much of his time split between his grandchildren and fishing.