Lowell Thomas, Jr. Award for Outstanding Civil Service
This award recognizes a current or retired, elected or appointed public official who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to conservation. Candidates for this award have achieved significant accomplishments to protect and preserve Alaska's wildlife, wilderness areas, ecosystems, and sustainable communities for present and future generations. This award is named for Lowell Thomas, Jr. a former distinguished Lt. Governor and state senator. The award winner has the opportunity to recommend a grant to the organization of their choice.2008 Award Recipient
Judith E. Alderson of Anchorage, Alaska
Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Judy attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in wildlife ecology in 1974. As an active Girl Scout from grade school through college, she acquired her lifelong passion for wilderness during trips to Isle Royale and Sylvania Wilderness areas. After a winter of teaching skiing in Aspen and two summer seasons working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, she began a career with the US government in 1975 as a wildlife biologist in Ohio. She worked at the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota, and then transferred to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Alaska became her home, and she has lived and worked here from 1980 until the present. In 1983 she became the first Chief of Resources at the newly established Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, then moved into Anchorage to work at the regional level on natural resources policy and management, and wilderness issues. She currently serves as the regional wilderness coordinator for the National Park Service in Alaska. As a private pilot and wilderness enthusiast she has explored all corners of Alaska from the air, on the ground, and on the water, and will need the rest of her life to explore the remaining places on her list.
2007 Award Recipient
Victor Fischer of Anchorage, Alaska
Victor has been active in Alaska’s government for over 50 years, and was Anchorage’s first planning director. He was a delegate to the Alaska Constitution Convention (1955-56), and he served in the territorial House of Representatives (1957-59), as well as the Alaska State Senate (1981-87). Vic was a member of the University of Alaska faculty, serving as the first director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) from 1966 to 1976. He is currently professor of public affairs with ISER.
2006 Award Recipient
Representative Paul Seaton, Homer, Alaska
Representative Paul Seaton exemplifies the kind of thoughtful, statesman that most Alaskans wish for in an elected official. Rep. Seaton understands that economic development and conserving Alaska’s most precious resources can go hand in hand. He says it well in the following statement, “I am dedicated to pursuing sustainable development for the growth of our economy.” As a commercial fisherman, he helped to found Alaska Marine Conservation Council, a community-based organization of people who work to protect and restore our marine environment through sustainable fishing practices and local stewardship.
In his legislative work Rep. Seaton has demonstrated his conservation values numerous times, including leading the fight against Coal Bed Methane development in the Kachemak Bay area in 2004 and co-sponsored the Pesticides Right to Know Bill in 2005. In 2006, he took a stand against allowing mixing of mining waste in salmon spawning areas by sponsoring House Bill 328. Seaton proves that conservation is not a partisan issue but an Alaskan one.
2005 -- no award presented
2004 Award Recipient
Senator Johnny Ellis
Alaska State Senate Minority Leader Johnny Ellis from District L in Anchorage has a strong record of supporting quality-of-life issues important to Alaskans. Johnny has served in the Senate since 1993, and served in the House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993. Johnny has sponsored or co-sponsored positive legislation such as Senate Bill 343, to change the name from the Board of Game to the Board of Wildlife and expand membership on the board from seven to nine members, as well as Senate Bill 27 to track pesticide use and Senate Bill 233 to ban aerial pesticide applications. Johnny is a terrific advocate for conservation and quality of life issues; Alaska Conservation Voters’ legislative ranking for 2003 listed Johnny at 100 percent (11/11) for his votes on conservation-related legislation—the only Senator to achieve that record.
