2008 Conservation Achievement Award Winners Print

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF) honored 17 distinguished individuals, companies and other organizations who have contributed to conservation in Tennessee at its annual Conservation Achievement Awards ceremony held March 19. Several hundred guests and legislators attended a reception in their honor at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville.

"One of the most important parts of conserving our wildlife and natural resources are individuals and organizations who step up to the plate and take action," said Mike Butler, Executive Director of TWF. "These awards recognize those individuals and organizations that have made truly meaningful contributions to conservation in Tennessee and to TWF. They are hard working and deserving recipients, and we are proud to honor them."

The Conservation Achievement Awards have been given annually by the TWF since 1965. Nominations for the awards are taken from across the state. A selection committee then reviews all nominations and decides on the winners. The selection committee is comprised of TWF members, members of the board, conservation professionals from across Tennessee and media representatives.

The awards reception was sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, J.M. Huber Corporation, Packaging Corporation of America and GM Springhill Manufacturing.

The 2008 winners were:
Mr. Albert Buckley, Jr., Franklin, TN - Louis John "Lou" Williams Award (for years of service to TWF);
Commissioner James H. Fyke, Nashville, TN - Conservationist of the Year;
Ms. Linda Good, Johnson City, TN - Conservation Communicator of the Year;
Dr. Craig Harper - Knoxville, TN - Wildlife Conservationist of the Year;
Representative Mike McDonald, Portland, TN - Conservation Legislator of the Year;
Ricky Moss, Athens, AL - Hunter Education Instructor of the Year;
Ms. Terri Quillin, Columbia, TN - Conservation Educator of the Year;
Mr. Lance Rider, McKenzie, TN - President's Award;
Mr. Larry Ross, Bolivar, TN - President's Award;
Mrs. Jeanette Rudy, Nashville, TN - Z. Cartter Patten Award (for lifetime achievement in conservation);
Mr. Charles Saylor, Clinton, TN - Water Conservationist of the Year;
Mr. David Sims, Nashville, TN - Gedeon "Ged" Petit Memorial Award (for outstanding accomplishments for a TWRA officer);
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, Nashville, TN - Industrial Conservationists of the Year;
Conservation Forestry, LLC, Exeter, NH - Forest Conservationist of the Year;
Cumberland Region Tomorrow, Nashville, TN - Conservation Organization of the Year;
Lightening 100's "Team Green," Nashville, TN - President's Award;
Wolf River Conservancy, Memphis, TN - Land Conservationist of the Year.