CATA Hall of Fame - Class of 2011
Richard Nimphius
Riverdale High School, 1968-1970 - Grace M. Davis High School, 1971-1980 - Modesto Junior College,
1980-2006
Teacher of Excellence 1984 - Honorary American Degree 1987
Richard Nimphius had a tremendous impact on agricultural education in California, especially in the
central valley. As a high school instructor for twelve years he coached several successful teams including
three state champion Poultry Judging Teams, one of which all three members would become successful
Ag Teachers. Richards’s philosophy of strong classroom instruction being the foundation for all other
successes allowed him to truly operate programs at both the high school and community college levels
that excelled. He was a true believer in the integration of technology in the classroom and the field,
and used that technology to aid in the instruction of over twenty different courses taught in his tenure
at Modesto Junior College. Richard worked diligently as Dean of Agriculture at MJC to promote the
program being the first California Community College to display an Agriculture Booth at the National
FFA Convention, thus drawing students from across the nation to Modesto Junior College.
Bud West
Tracy High School, 1969-1983 - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 1983-1984 - Reedley College, 1984-2007
Star State FFA Advisor 1978 - Teacher of Excellence 1986 - CATA Outstanding Teacher 2007
Bud West’s positive attitude, innovative ideas, and high standards have defined his teaching
career. Bud began teaching at Tracy High School where he took leadership development to
new levels. Under his tutelage Tracy FFA boasted a string of ten consecutive years with a
first or second place winner in regional extemporaneous or prepared public speaking, two state
champion parliamentary procedure teams, ten central region officers and five state FFA officers.
He did this while teaching meat processing and welding. Bud transitioned into an agribusiness
instructor and department head at Reedley College where he led the AGNR programs with
emphasis on high technology, industry-related skill training. Again his passion for student
leadership drove the creation of the first community college Agricultural Ambassador program.