ACA
On September 7, 1923 a meeting of the cotton merchandising industry was held in Atlanta, Georgia to explore the formation of a cotton trade association to embrace the states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Florida.
At this meeting, Mr. F. M. Inman was elected President of the new organization and J. R. Ellis as Secretary. The meeting also elected seven Directors. It was decided to name the new organization the “Atlantic Cotton Association”.
Charter of Incorporation was granted by the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia, January 5, 1924. The Association was incorporated as a non-capital, non-profit corporation. The objects and purposes of the Association were described in the Charter, as follows:
“The objects and purposes of said corporation are social and educational, to establish harmony and uniformity of trade customs and practices among its members and just and equitable principles in the cotton trade; to promote the general welfare of its members and others engaged in the cotton business, to decide and determine matters of difference among its members, and between its members and others, when submitted to it for arbitration; to gather, compile and disseminate information and statistics relating to matters of special interest to the cotton industry.”
Through the American Cotton Shippers Association, the Atlantic Cotton Association is affiliated with the:
Southern Cotton Association, Memphis, Tennessee
Texas Cotton Association, Dallas, Texas
Western Cotton Shippers Association, Memphis, Tennessee
The combined memberships of all of the Affiliated Associations form the membership of the American Cotton Shippers Association.
ACA PRESIDENT
Thomas McMeekin
Thomas McMeekin was born May 26, 1969. He owns McMeekin Cotton, LLC, a member of the Atlantic Cotton Association since 2000. McMeekin Cotton, LLC serves the cotton industry by creating a market between gins and warehouses in the U.S. Southeast and members of the American Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA), while also providing risk management strategies to the farming community.
Prior to entering the cotton industry, Thomas held management positions in textile manufacturing in the U.S. and in sourcing for an apparel manufacturer in Central America.
He is a graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and the University of South Carolina with a Master of Business Administration.
Thomas serves as a member of the ACSA Board of Directors and has served on his local school board, boards of numerous community nonprofits, and his church.
He lived in Spartanburg, South Carolina with his wife and children. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, and being involved in his community.

ACA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Thomas McMeekin, President, McMeekin Cotton LLC
- Wesley Rentz, Vice President, Olam Agri Americas, Inc.
- James L. Loeb, Jr., Past President, Loeb and Co., Inc.
- Chris Alphin, Commonwealth Gin
- Robert Buckles, New Hope AgriServices, LLC
- Mark Frasier, Choice Cotton Company, Inc.
- Jordan Lea, DECA Global, LLC
- Leigh Kuhlo, Allenberg Cotton Co.
- Anthony Wills, Cargill Cotton
ACA MERCHANT MEMBERS
- ADM Cotton
- Allenberg Cotton Co.
- America Tongzhou Cotton Trading, Inc.
- Cargill Cotton
- Choice Cotton Company, Inc.
- COFCO Americas Resources Corp.
- Commonwealth Gin
- DECA Global, LLC
- ECOM USA, LLC
- Olam Agri Americas, Inc.
- Toyo Cotton Company
- Viterra USA Agriculture, LLC
ACA PRIMARY BUYERS/MILL SERVICE AGENT MEMBERS
- Loeb & Company, Inc.
- McMeekin Cotton, LLC
- New Hope AgriService, LLC
- Plainsman Cotton Company
- Victoria Cotton Company
ACA ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
- Addtran Logistics, Inc.
- Broad Street Bonded Warehouse
- Crowley Logistics
- Bard Diffly-Trendline Trading & Investments, LLC
- Fullen Transportation Service, Inc.
- Fuller Warehouse & Gin, Inc.
- Georgia Ports Authority
- Lipscomb & Company
- Mallory Alexander Int’l Logistics
- Paxton Bonded Storages
- RL Solutions
- Transales, Inc.
- VLM Commodities
- Wakefield Inspection Services, Inc.