Dr. Joseph Talmadge Hood, 89, was born on April 14, 1924 in Commerce, Georgia to the late William T. and Christiana Hood. He passed away at East Alabama Medical Center on November 15, 2013. Dr. Hood graduated as valedictorian of his high school in 1941. He was called to active duty in the US Army Reserve Corp. in April 1943. While in the army, he served in the Army Specialist Training Program (ASTP). In this program he studied engineering at North Carolina State University, and pre-med at the University of Kentucky. Upon being discharged from the army in March of 1946, he returned to the University of Georgia. He majored in soil science and finished first honor in the College of Agriculture with a B.S. degree in 1947. He then entered Purdue University where he received a M.S. degree in soil fertility in February of 1949. Thereupon, he accepted a position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Soils at Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now known as Auburn University. In 1951, he began a doctoral program at Cornell University, and received his PhD in 1954. After completing his PhD program, he taught general soils, fertility, soil management, soil classification, soil resources and conservation, and earth sciences. In 1959 he became a full professor at Auburn University, a position he held until 1986. In 1986, he became the Department Head and Professor Emeritus for the Department of Agronomy and Soils at Auburn University. Dr. Hood received numerous awards throughout his career: Algernon Sydney Sullivan Non-Student Award for AU in 2006, Joseph T. Hood Auditorium of Comer Hall at Auburn University in 1998, Fellow American Society of Agronomy in 1984, member of Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor in 1992, Outstanding Teacher of Agronomy and Soils in 1979, 1983, 1985, and 2000, Outstanding Teacher of Agriculture in 1983, 1985, and 2000. Dr. Hood taught over 10,000 students during his time as a professor. Dr. Hood served in his community as a member of the City Council of Auburn and held several leadership positions at Auburn United Methodist Church which included: Administrative Board, Superintendent of the Youth Group, Sunday school teacher and the Mercy Committee where he served as Chairman from 1989 to 1996. Dr. Hood is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Nona Steffy Hood formerly of Clinton, Indiana; daughter Lurana Jo Hood Brechin (Jim) of Destin, FL; granddaughters: Mandi Brechin Gosnell (Andrew) of Ft. Walton Beach, FL, and Leslie Brechin of Lawrenceville, GA. Funeral Service will be held at 1:00PM Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at Auburn United Methodist Church, Auburn, Alabama with Bro. George Mathison officiating. The family will receive friends after the service in Hamil Court. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Joe and Nona Hood Scholarship; checks should be made payable to AU Foundation and mailed to the College of Agriculture Auburn University 107 Comer Hall, Auburn, AL 36849; or donations can be made to The Mercy Committee at Auburn United Methodist Church. Frederick-Dean Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.