National Trails Awards at the 14th National Trails Symposium
The National Trails Awards Program is one way American Trails recognizes exemplary people who are working to create a national system of trails that meets the recreation, health, and travel needs of ALL Americans and who truly embody the Symposium theme "Trails and the American Spirit."
Lifetime Service Award: Tom Neenan, founder and Executive Director, Iowa Trails Council, has provided leadership in helping save over 40 rail corridors for trails. He served for years on county conservation boards, promoted Iowa's statewide trails plan, and was chief sponsor of the 1990 National Trails Symposium.
Partnership Award: Bell Rock Pathway Partnership is developing a 35-mile multi-use trail system. The partnership includes the U. S. Forest Service, the City of Sedona (AZ), Coconino and Yavapai Counties, Kiwanis, Arizona Boys Ranch, and funding from ISTEA, Arizona Heritage, and Scenic Highways.
Trails Public Service Award: Steve Elkinton, for his years of work on the National Trails System Program for the National Park Service and leadership with planning, support, and publications for long-distance trails and the Federal Interagency Trails Council.
Congressional Leadership Award: U.S. Senator Dick Kempthorne for his dedication to the reauthorization of the National Recreational Trails Program, now providing funding for hundreds of local trails and supporting state programs in aid of trail planning and development.
Outstanding Media Award: Chuck Offenburger, columnist, Des Moines Register, for years of promoting the value of trails and bicycling. For 15 years he served as co-host of RAGBRAI&emdash; the famous annual ride across Iowa. He used his column frequently to advocate trail development and take his readers along as he and his wife Carla rode the trails themselves.
Trails and the Arts Award: Amy Pesqueira, Tucson-Pima Arts Council, worked with students to create the "Lazy Lizard" trailhead sculpture. With support from a wide partnership, students built the picnic table ensemble for the Cañada del Oro Linear Park in Oro Valley.
Planning/Design Award: Maricopa County (AZ) Parks & Recreation Department. The Trails & Tracks Section addressed concerns about conflicts among a wide variety of trail users. Observing that speed, not user type, was behind most conflicts, separate competitive tracks are being developed as an alternative "high-speed" trail system.
Corporate Award: REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) since 1976 has helped fund a wide variety of outdoor recreation and environmental projects and causes. The firm's total contributions to date exceed $4.9 million. REI staff also volunteer on a wide variety of projects to improve local trails and recreation in communities where each of its 48 stores are located.
State-of-the-Art Technology Award: Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew. Sponsored by International Mountain Bicycling Association and outfitted with Outback station wagons by Subaru of America, Inc., plus laptop computers, digital cameras, and trail building tools, this innovative program provides on-the-ground trail help to local clubs and agencies across the nation.
Outstanding Trail Sharing Award: Rocky Mountain Backcountry Horsemen and Quad Dusters. An equestrian group and ATV group worked together to help the BLM construct and maintain 20 miles of trails and to haul out over 16 tons of trash from the backcountry and along 155 miles of roads.
Trails Advocacy Awards from the states for individuals whose efforts influenced public policy on trail planning, protection, development, or maintenance.
Alabama - Teko Wiscman, Baldwin County Trailblazers
Arizona - Pima Trails Association
California - Ruby Jenkins, Kern River Valley Hiking Club
Delaware - Peter Brakhage, Delaware Trail Spinners
Indiana - Pat Moore, Indiana Trail Riders Association
Iowa - Tom Neenan, Iowa Trails Council
Kentucky - Robert K. Strosnider, Kentucky Rails to Trails Council
Missouri - Kevin Karl, Mountain Trail Builders of Missouri
Oregon - Kate Beardsley, Oregon Equestrian Trails, Central Oregon Chapter
South Carolina - Angela Trail, GRITS: Greenwood Rails to Trails System
West Virginia - Lu Schrader, West Virginia Trails Council
Trail Worker Awards from the states for individuals who made outstanding contributions in support for trail planning, development, or maintenance:
Alabama - Glenn Myers, Cheaha Trail Riders Association
Arizona - Jim Mahoney, Bureau of Land Management
California - John Hervey, Bureau of Land Management
Colorado - Adam Mehlberg, Colorado Association of 4WD Clubs
Delaware - Delaware Trail Spinners
Illinois - Frank Metes and Doug Sherrill, No Name Saddle Club
Indiana - Betty Duffy, Indiana Trail Riders Association
Iowa - Diane Handler, Linn County Trails AssociationMassachusetts - Becky Kalagher, Bay State Trail Riders Association Inc.
Michigan - Charles E. "Bud" Pell, Michigan Mountain Biking Association
Nevada - Chuck Austin, Volunteer, Bureau of Land Management
New Mexico - Tim Pohiman, Gila National Forest
Ohio - James Sprague, Buckeye Trail Association
Oregon - Charles F. Engel, Oregon Equestrian Trails
South Carolina - Linda Ketron, Bike the Neck
Texas - Earl Hammond, Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association
Utah - William and Kathleen Stevens, Moab Mountain Bike Association
Wyoming - Carole Genaro, Bureau of Land Management
Congressman Jim Kolbe
The Honorable Jim Kolbe has served Arizona in Congress since 1984. Mr. Kolbe, currently vice chairman of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, is a longtime friend of trails, open space, and the National Parks system. He played a principal role in the effort to secure passage of two important bills that have expanded Saguaro National Park.
John Horsley, Associate Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Transportation
Both American Trails and Rails to Trails Conservancy recognized John Horsley as the one person most responsible for establishing the Millennium Trails program and making trails part of the national Millennium programs. His commitment to ensuring that trails are a key part of our nation's transportation system will create lasting benefits for future generations.
Several Board Members of American Trails are moving from one responsibility to another, or leaving due to expiring terms, and to them we extend our sincere thanks:
Kay Lloyd (WA), Past American Trails Chair
Kay developed the Agenda for the 13th National Trails Symposium and is Past President of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations and Chair Emeritus of the International Snowmobile Council. In November of 1998, she was inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame.
Jim Coffman (AZ), Past American Trails Secretary
Jim served as the Co-chair of the National Trails Symposium and has served as Secretary for two years. He will continue to serve on the Advisory Board. Jim has been the Parks/Trails Planner for the City of Scottsdale for the past two years.
Stuart Macdonald (CO), Advisory Board Member
After serving six years on the American Trails Board, Stuart edits our newsletter, Trail Tracks, and has built up and maintains the American Trails web site. He is State Trails Coordinator for Colorado and Chair of the National Association of State Trail Administrators.
Bob Walker (MT), Past Board Member and Chair
Bob served as Chair of American Trails from 1992-96; and as Trails Symposium Agenda Chair for 1990, 1992, and 1994. Active with the International Association of Snowmobile Admin-istrators since 1987, Bob is State Trails Coordinator for Montana.
Marianne Fowler (VA), Past Board Member
Marianne is Vice-President of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. She served on the Executive Board of American Trails for six years and will continue to serve on the Advisory Board.
Hulet Hornbeck (CA), Past Board Member
Hulet served as a Board member for four years. He has been involved in trails since the 1950's from New York to the East Bay Regional Park District in California.
Deb Rawhouser, BLM, Past Advisory Board Member
Deb has been a great federal partner as BLM's Acting Trails Coordinator and Project Manager for BLM's recreation database.
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