NOAA Recognizes 2005 Environmental Heroes

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration presented its Environmental Hero Award to 34 individuals and three organizations this year from across the United States. Given in conjunction with Earth Day celebrations, the award honors NOAA volunteers for their “tireless efforts to preserve and protect our nation's environment.”

“NOAA and the nation are fortunate to have such dedicated people volunteer so much of their time,” said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “They set a perfect example for others to follow in their communities. America needs more environmental heroes like them.”

Established in 1996, the Environmental Hero award is presented to individuals and organizations that volunteer their time and energy to help NOAA carry out its mission.

“On behalf of the 12,500 men and women working for NOAA, I am pleased to present you with this 2005 Environmental Hero Award,” Lautenbacher wrote in a letter to the recipients. “Your dedicated efforts and outstanding accomplishments greatly benefit the environment and make our nation a better place for all Americans.”

There are a total of 37 winners—34 individuals (three posthumous) and three organizations. Visit the NOAA Earth Day Web site at http://www.noaa.gov/earthday to read more about this year’s award winners. Recipients of the 2005 NOAA Environmental Heroes Award are:

Recipient	Location
Gus Martinez (posthumous)	Brooklyn Park, Minn
Robert "Stubby" Knowles (posthumous)	Gloucester, Mass.
Ronnie M. Pierce (posthumous)	Hoopa, Calif.
Darin Zarbnisky	Boise, Idaho
Mike Jani	Calpella, Calif.
Dean Martinelli	Windsor, Calif.
Cam Parry	Windsor, Calif.
Michael McHenry	Port Angeles, Wash.
Michael O'Reilly	Dartmouth, Mass.
James Kirkley	Gloucester Point, Va.
Patrick M. Burchfield	Brownsville, Texas
William D. Ruckelshaus	Seattle, Wash.
Grant W. Goodge	Asheville, N.C.
Capt. Scott Fowler	Key Largo, Fla.
Carol Keiper	Benicia, Calif.
Linda Feix	Huron, Ohio
Howard Eugene Wright	Huron, Ohio
Janet Lamont	Port Angeles, Wash.
Judith Stillion	Alpena, Mich.
Paul "Pete" McLain	Toms River, N.J.
Peter de Jung	San Rafael, Calif.
Richard Littleton	Seattle, Wash.
William Reay	Gloucester Point, Va.
Leslie Chapman-Henderson	Tallahassee, Fla.
Charles T. Byars	Wichita Falls, Texas
Bethany Lovette	Slidell, La.
Chad Pregracke	East Moline, Ill.
Paul Toth	Seminole, Fla.
Bob Stanhope	Valrico, Fla.
Sean Fleeman	New Port Richey, Fla.
Maria Falcon	Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Billy Frank Jr.	Olympia, Wash.
Mary Cook	Batesville, Ark.
Diane Stanitski	Shippensburg, Pa.
National Aquarium in Baltimore, Aquarium Conservation Team	Baltimore, Md.
Tennessee Valley Authority	Knoxville, Tenn.
Wichita County Amateur Radio Emergency Services	Wichita Falls, Texas

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.