A scientist, a botanist, an educator and an inventor — a history of one of Missouri’s most well-respected and admired men, Dr. George Washington Carver, will be featured at a movie presentation scheduled at 6 p.m. Friday at The Centre in Rolla.

The event is free and open to the public.

The short film, presented by composer and musician Cecil Williams, encompasses a brief history of Carver’s life, which began, some historians believe, in Diamond Grove, Mo., in 1864.

Carver became famous when he discovered more than 300 uses of peanuts. However, he is most beloved for his sage wisdom, his vision and his philosophy of life.

“It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success,” Carver said.

A multitude of products he invented from peanuts include everything from cosmetics, medicines, dyes and paints to industrial products.

“One reason I never patent my products is that if I did, it would take so much time, I would get nothing else done. But mainly, I don’t want my discoveries to benefit specific favored persons,” Carver once said.

Carver also was a painter, an renown educator and an activist who dedicated himself to promoting better racial relations.

Williams, an ardent fan of Carver, said Carver was his hero in many ways.

“He said the Lord gave him his talents and that he wouldn’t sell them, he would give them to the people,” Williams said. “He’s a great man who did great things.”

Williams also composed two songs in celebration of Carver: “Dr. Carver, the Peanut Man,” and “Aunt Mariah and the White Picket Fence.” He will present the ballads at Friday’s event.