Friends of South Cumberland and TN State Parks Honorees
|
The Jim Prince Award The Jim Prince Award is presented annually in honor and in memory of Jim Prince, a founder of the Friends and an early leader and role model for the organization. It is the Friends’ highest honor and is given to that person or persons who most exemplify leadership in outdoor conservation for the Friends organization or the region encompassed by the South Cumberland State Parks. 2000 - Ronald B. Castle 2001 - Scott F. May and Mack Prichard 2002 - Jim Ann Howard and William T. Patten 2003 - Henry E. (Woody) McLaughlin and Robert L. Ripley 2004 - Theron Gross and Marvin Runyon 2005 - Bud Werner 2006 - Phillip Johnson 2007 - Glenn Himebaugh 2008 - Christine Stockwell 2009 - Phil Bredesen 2010 - Rex Boner 2011 - Robert D. McCaleb 2012 - Mary Patten Priestley 2013 - Eric Dempsey 2014 - Carey Coker 2015 - Dr. Wallace Bigbee and Ty Burnette 2016 - Jim and Marietta Poteet 2017 - Howell & Madeline Adams 2018 - [no award] 2019 - Latham Davis 2020 - John Greeter 2021 - Rick Dreves 2022 - Nate Wilson The Harry Yeatman Environmental Education Award Named for noted environmental educator Dr. Harry Yeatman, Professor Emeritus from the University of the South, Dr. Yeatman was the first recipient of this award, established in 2007 by the St. Andrew's-Sewanee School, then sponsor of the Trails & Trilliums festival, to honor a person who has made an impact on the South Cumberland Plateau through dedication to this place, and by educating others to appreciate it. 2007 - Harry Yeatman 2008 - George Ramseur 2009 - Mack Prichard 2010 - Mary Patten Priestley 2011 - Bran Potter 2012 - Randy Hedgepath 2013 - David Haskell 2014 - Wanda W. Bell and Cindy Potter 2015 - Robin & Yolande Gottfried 2016 - John & Renie Christof 2017 - [no award] 2018 - [no award] 2019 - Margaret Hawkins Matens 2020 - Deb Dreves 2021 - [no award] 2022 - Richard Clements The Trails & Trilliums Tribute Award Established in 2009, this award goes to an organization or person who has contributed to the South Cumberland Plateau or the Friends of South Cumberland in a significant way. 2009 Land Trust for Tennessee Exec. Director Jeannie Nelson 2010 Park Rangers of the South Cumberland State Park 2011 William's Wildflowers book contributors: William Crutchfield, Jr , Eunice Colmore, Margaret Matens, Latham Davis, Grant Law Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga: Pete Cooper Lyndhurst Foundation: Bruz Clark Creative Discovery Museum: Henry Schulson, Linda LeVan Chattanooga Nature Center: Jean Lomino, Kyle Waggener Hamilton County Dept. of Education: Karla Riddle 2012 University of the South, Landscape Analysis Lab, Jon Evans 2013 Tennessee Naturalist Program Board 2014 University of the South 2015 Discover Together Program Sherry Guyear, Bonnie McCardell, Emily Partin 2016 South Cumberland Community Fund 2017 Southeastern Climbers Coalition 2018 Nickajack Naturalist & Nooga.com columnist, Bob Butters 2019 The Monteagle Sunday School Assembly 2020 REI Nashville and REI Chattanooga 2021 [no award] 2022 Lodge Cast Iron and Tower Bank The Golden Shell Award Established by SCSP Manager George Shinn, the Golden Shell Award is presented annually by the Park Manager to a volunteer who exemplifies outstanding service in support of park management's goals and objectives. 2016 Florence (Flo) Wilson 2017 Deb Dreves 2018 Rob Moreland 2019 Lee Davenport 2020 [no award] 2021 Bruce Blohm, Rick Dreves 2022 Betsy Miller |
Friends leaders recognized with Tennessee’s highest honors for environmental stewardshipTwo long-time Friends of South Cumberland State Park leaders have received the state's highest honor, the Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award, given annually by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). The award is given to an individual who has devoted at least 20 years of effective and valuable service to Tennessee's environmental protection or conservation stewardship. Past winners have demonstrated notable personal achievements in various areas, such as natural resource management, conservation, education, public service, and political support toward Tennessee's conservation and/or environmental protection.
At the 2018 awards presentation are, from left, Deputy Governor Jim Henry, TDEC Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill, Priestley and TDEC Commissioner Shari Meghreblian.
Mary Priestley, associate curator of the Sewanee Herbarium, was the 2018 recipient of the award. She was honored for her work as an avid volunteer and leader with the Friends group for more than 20 years, and particularly for her efforts to obtain funding to expand the park's resources for outdoor youth education, including the transformation of the exhibit hall at the park's Visitor Center into a hands-on, interactive experience, and creation of outdoor play and learning activities, such as the Storybook Trail and Nature Play areas behind the Visitor Center. Mary served as the Friends' president, and on its board of directors, for many years, and more recently chaired its Education and Outreach committee.
Flanking McLaughlin at the 2016 awards presentation are Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, left, and TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau.
Woody McLaughlin, a founder and leader of the Friends of South Cumberland State Park, was the 2016 recipient of the award. “Woody’s tireless, good-natured approach to fostering positive working relationships while achieving real conservation results has been essential to preserving priority lands and protecting some of the most special places we enjoy today at South Cumberland State Park,” TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau said. “We are grateful for his personal commitment and quiet leadership, and we salute the dedicated teamwork demonstrated by the Friends of South Cumberland that have made a real and lasting difference for that state park and those who love it.” McLaughlin received the award for his decades of devotion to the land and people of South Cumberland State Park, dating back to his days as a student at the nearby University of the South. He helped establish the Friends organization in 1993, and served on its board for 18 years.
Under the leadership of both Priestley and McLaughlin, the Friends Group decided to launch the Saving Great Spaces Campaign in 2002. During this multi-year campaign, both Mary and Woody served as president of the Friends group, and they worked tirelessly to encourage others to join the effort. This concerted, multi-year conservation campaign leveraged over $8.5 million in total resources, making it possible to add 5,495 acres of priority land at Savage Gulf and the Fiery Gizzard. |
IN MEMORIAM:
WOODY McLAUGHLIN
WOODY McLAUGHLIN
Woody McLaughlin, a founder and leader of the Friends of South Cumberland State Park, passed away unexpectedly in late July, 2019, while on a camping trip with his family in Montana.
With Woody's help, the Friends leadership decided to launch the Saving Great Spaces Campaign in 2002. During part of this multi-year campaign, he served as president of the Friends, and worked tirelessly to encourage others to join the effort.
This concerted, multi-year conservation campaign leveraged over $8.5 million in total resources, making it possible to add 5,495 acres of priority land at Savage Gulf and the Fiery Gizzard.
To make a memorial gift in Woody's honor, visit our Make A Gift to the Park page.
With Woody's help, the Friends leadership decided to launch the Saving Great Spaces Campaign in 2002. During part of this multi-year campaign, he served as president of the Friends, and worked tirelessly to encourage others to join the effort.
This concerted, multi-year conservation campaign leveraged over $8.5 million in total resources, making it possible to add 5,495 acres of priority land at Savage Gulf and the Fiery Gizzard.
To make a memorial gift in Woody's honor, visit our Make A Gift to the Park page.
John Greeter, 1936-2021
John Greeter, a member of the Friends of South Cumberland Board of Directors, passed away on March 13. He was 85. John has been active in the Friends' Land Conservation Committee, and had been involved with the Friends organization since its early days in the 1990s. Prior to that, he was a strong advocate for the creation of South Cumberland State Park, arranging for the sale of his family's land, which included Greeter Falls, Boardtree Falls and the Greeter Homestead, to State of Tennessee in the 1970s. John received the 2020 Jim Prince Award, the Friends’ highest honor, for his years of dedicated service to our organization.
To make a memorial gift in John's honor, visit our Make A Gift to the Park page.
John Greeter, a member of the Friends of South Cumberland Board of Directors, passed away on March 13. He was 85. John has been active in the Friends' Land Conservation Committee, and had been involved with the Friends organization since its early days in the 1990s. Prior to that, he was a strong advocate for the creation of South Cumberland State Park, arranging for the sale of his family's land, which included Greeter Falls, Boardtree Falls and the Greeter Homestead, to State of Tennessee in the 1970s. John received the 2020 Jim Prince Award, the Friends’ highest honor, for his years of dedicated service to our organization.
To make a memorial gift in John's honor, visit our Make A Gift to the Park page.
