Current US Poultry & Egg Association president John Starkey, praised Harold for his work with the organisation and industry: "When Harold returned to our organization in 1967, it was in such dire straits that he actually had to borrow money to make staff payroll.

"But from that point, he built the foundation for our long-term success. He touched, and his legacy continues to touch, so many affiliated with our Association and industry, from $25 million funding our research program over the years, to thousands of industry members attending our seminars and the IPE, to the thousands of bright young students interviewed in our College Student Career Program, just a few of the many Association programs he developed. Harold was passionate about our industry and about our organization, and we will be forever grateful for his leadership and the example he set for service to the poultry industry," Mr Starkey said.

Retired Association president, Don Dalton, also lauded him: "Harold Ford was a great mentor to me and a wonderful personal friend. He had an exceptional ability of looking at an issue and getting right to the matter. He was a wonderful man of integrity who will be greatly missed."

Harold Ford died on 14 December 2012. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday 17 December at Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia.