GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Ira E. Massie, a member of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and University of Kentucky Alumni Association Hall of Distinguished Alumni, will be honored with a temporary exhibit at the Georgetown and Scott County Museum.

The exhibit, which launches with a special event on Aug. 17, at 1 p.m. ET, will feature Massie’s early years in Stamping Ground, Ky., his military service in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and his education and extension career at UK.

Massie earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from UK in 1951 and a master’s degree in agronomy in 1958. He was UK’s extension tobacco specialist for 30 years, a role that earned him the nickname of “Mr. Tobacco.” He retired in 1983 and died in 1987.

Massie’s oldest son, Ira E. Massie II, was exploring downtown Georgetown earlier this year when an old U.S. Postal Service building caught his eye. Downstairs is home to the Georgetown and Scott County Museum, where he met museum director Ruthie Stevens and told her about his father, who had enlisted in the Marines on the second floor of that same building.

Stevens agreed with Ira Massie II that his father should be the subject of a temporary exhibit, and they worked together on it until he passed away unexpectedly in July 2024. His siblings, retired UK Information Technology Services employee Kevin C. Massie and College of Communication and Information alumna and employee Diane Massie, have continued the work to prepare for the exhibit.

Diane Massie joked that her family members aren’t hoarders but do have a lot of memorabilia – from photos to his Marine Corps cameras and uniform to his distinguished alumni plaque.

“The museum has quite a bit from his birth till his death, and I think it’ll be interesting,” Diane said.

Diane said her father deserves this honor because he’s “a self-made man – literally born on a tobacco farm” to parents without high school diplomas. He used the GI Bill to earn his degrees and completed his master’s with three young children at home. He was innovative as an extension specialist, using mass media to reach more farmers across Kentucky and beyond.

“He really created his own career,” Diane said.

One of Massie’s television shows, Tobacco Talk, aired on Saturday mornings. People still come up to Diane and tell her that her dad interrupted their cartoons. 

“The Georgetown and Scott County Museum has as its mission to preserve local history,” Stevens said.  “We are excited to share the story of Ira E. Massie and his many successes. Growing up in rural Stamping Ground and becoming Mr. Tobacco offered him the opportunity to guide and advise farmers to become more successful in many aspects of farm life.”