TUCKER, Ga. — Dr. Sacit (Sarge) Bilgili, interim department head of Auburn University’s Department of Poultry Science, was recently recognized with the 2019 Poultry Science Association Distinguished Poultry Industry Career Award, sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. The award was presented during the annual Poultry Science Association meeting in Montréal, Canada, by Larry Brown, retired USPOULTRY vice president of education.
The Distinguished Career Award recognizes distinctive, outstanding contributions by an industry leader. In addition to sponsoring the award, USPOULTRY also makes an annual contribution to the Poultry Science Association Foundation on behalf of the award recipient.
“USPOULTRY is pleased to honor industry leaders exemplified by Dr. Sarge Bilgili. He is widely recognized for his many years of work and contribution to poultry welfare within the industry, with his scholarly work uniquely bridging the live production and processing phases of the broiler industry,” said John Starkey, USPOULTRY president.
“Dr. Bilgili has also been personally involved with USPOULTRY,” Starkey added. “For many years he was advisor to our Poultry Processor Committee and was often a speaker on the Poultry Processor Workshop program. We have also recognized him for his outstanding research work. It is this service and dedication that has helped make the poultry industry one of the most proficient and productive segments of modern animal agriculture.”
Bilgili received his DVM from Ankara University in Turkey, his master of science from Oregon State University and doctorate from Auburn University. He joined the Department of Poultry Science at Auburn University in 1985 as an assistant professor and Extension poultry processing specialist, later attaining the ranks of associate professor in 1991, and professor in 1996. Bilgili retired as professor emeritus in 2015 and recently came out of retirement to serve as interim department head of Auburn University’s Department of Poultry Science.
Bilgili is widely known in the poultry industry for past leadership roles, including serving as vice president of the World’s Poultry Science Association and president of the Poultry Science Association. He was named a fellow of the Poultry Science Association in 2011 and was presented with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association Charles Beard Research Excellence Award in 2015.
