The A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award
The A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award, given annually by the Western Virginia Land Trust, recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the preservation of the natural heritage of western Virginia. The award’s namesake, the late conservationist Vic Thomas, was a Roanoke native and a 30-year member of the House of Delegates. Among his achievements during his tenure in the General Assembly were the passage of a bill enabling the state to purchase the 8,500 acre Big Survey tract in Wythe County (championed by WVLT), as well as successfully spearheading the effort to include a hunting and fishing rights amendment in the state constitution.
The Vic Thomas Award is presented annually at WVLT’s fall Conservation Celebration benefit. A special committee of Land Trust board members and volunteers selects the recipient. For more information on the award or to submit a nomination, call the Land Trust at (540) 985-0000 or e-mail rholnback@westernvirginialandtrust.org.
2011 Recipients: George and Louise Kegley, Roanoke, VA
WVLT Trustee George Kegley and his wife Louise are two of the Roanoke Valley’s most beloved citizens. In 2007, they donated a landmark conservation easement on their 116-acre Roanoke City farm to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the Virginia Board of Historic Resources. The easement on the farm, which is situated between the Ole Monterey and Blue Hills golf courses in northeast Roanoke, was the first conservation easement within Roanoke City limits. The land is part of a 2,000-acre tract owned by Col. William Fleming, the surgeon, military officer, and community leader who was acting governor for a short period in June of 1781. The historic Monterey home is located on the property. Built around 1845 by Yelverton Oliver, postmaster of Big Lick, the home is a unique example of southern Greek Revival architecture.
2010 Recipient: Dr. M. Rupert Cutler, Roanoke, VA
Dr. Cutler was the first executive director of the Western Virginia Land Trust, holding the job from 1997-1999. He was also recently a member of the board of trustees of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the board of the Western Virginia Water Authority, and the Roanoke City Council. He also served as executive director of Explore Park from 1991-1997. A Detroit native, he previously served in the Carter administration and also worked for such organizations as the Wilderness Society, the National Audubon Society, and Defenders of Wildlife. Rupert has left his mark on conservation in the region most notably at the City of Roanoke’s two marquee parks: Mill Mountain and Carvins Cove. A tireless advocate of permanent protection of both parks, his dreams came to fruition over the past two years as the Roanoke City Council placed conservation easements on both parks.
2009 Recipient: Governor Tim Kaine
As Virginia’s 70th governor, Tim Kaine made open space preservation a centerpiece of his term in office. In 2006, Gov. Kaine announced an initiative to protect an additional 400,000 acres of land by the year 2010: With every passing day, land is becoming more expensive and scarce. I will set up and meet this preservation goal during my term, not just because it’s the right thing to do. I will do it because, if I don’t, the opportunity to do it will not be there for future governors and future Virginians. Since 1968, Virginia has preserved 330,000 acres of land. Most of that has been preserved in the past five years. The goal of my administration is for the state to preserve an additional 400,000 acres by the end of the decade. Thanks to local land trusts like WVLT and our state partners like the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, Gov. Kaine is on target to meet this goal.
2008 Recipient: City of Roanoke, VA
The City of Roanoke placed 6,185 acres of the Carvins Cove Natural Reserve under a protective conservation easement in April of 2008, making it the largest single tract of land ever placed under easement in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The easement was the culmination of more than 10 years of work by Land Trust board members, staff, and the community to conserve what is America’s second-largest city park and the major source of drinking water for the Roanoke Valley. Roanoke also has a long history of conservation leadership, including its recent “Clean and Green” program to beautify the city, use of biodiesel in city vehicles, an outstanding parks and greenway system, curbside recycling, and a commemorative tree program.
2007 Recipients: Lanier and Thecla Frantz, New Castle, VA
Lanier Frantz is a Craig County outdoorsman and the first landowner to donate a conservation easement in Southwest Virginia. Lanier and Thecla’s 1,162-acre property is also one of the largest pieces of land under easement in Southwest Virginia. The Frantz’s farm was the first west of the Blue Ridge to embrace the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and property owners’ cooperative program designed to manage deer for quality wildlife. In addition to making wildlife habitat improvements, Lanier and Thecla have opened their farm to training sessions on deer management. In 2006, Lanier received a Forestry Award from the Mountain Castles Soil and Water Conservation District for managing his farm for forestry, wildlife and agriculture for more than 45 years. In 1986, he was selected for the Soaring Hall of Fame.
2006 Recipient: Madison E. Marye, Elliston, VA
Former State Senator Madison E. Marye and his wife Charlotte protected their 562-acre family farm on the Elliston Straightaway with a conservation easement in 2004 with assistance from WVLT. “You should put your deed where your mouth is,” said Marye of his conservation easement, which allows construction of a few homes on the property but otherwise permanently prohibits development of the rolling pastures and woodlands. “I hope I’ve set an example.” Marye served 21 years as an Army officer and 29 years in the Virginia General Assembly. While in the General Assembly, Marye was a strong supporter of property rights, and helped to revamp Virginia’s eminent domain laws.
