2005 News Magazine - Auburn University

Transcription

Forestry
&Wildlife Sciences
AUBURN
Winter 2006
JimHisMartin
Comeback to Forestry
A Brand New Start
The Dream Becomes a Reality
Looking Back
The Past is Never Forgotten
A uburn U n i v e r s i t y
Forestry & Wildlife Sciences
Alumni Association Magazine
Dean
Richard W. Brinker
Associate Dean of Research
B. Graeme Lockaby
Associate Dean of Teaching
Greg L. Somers
Alumni Association President
W. Gordon Armistead
Director of Development
Angie B. Stephens
Office of Communications
and Marketing
Managing Editor
Kevin Loden
Graphic Design
Mary Ferguson
Photography
Jeff Etheridge and Trice Megginson
Cover Photograph: Jeff Etheridge
The Auburn University Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
Alumni Association Magazine is published by the
Auburn University Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
Alumni Association. Issues appear annually and are
distributed to alumni and friends of the school. Inquiries
concerning the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
and its programs should be directed to the School of
Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building, 602 Duncan
Drive, Auburn, AL 36849. Inquiries and suggestions
concerning Auburn Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
Alumni Association Magazine should be directed
to the dean at the above address or by email to
brinkrw@auburn.edu.
Questions concerning the school’s development
program including annual and corporate giving, planned
gifts and estate planning should be directed to Angie
Stephens, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
Building, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL 36849.
Inquiries may also be made by email to angie_stephens@
auburn.edu or by phone at (334) 844-2791.
Auburn University is an equal opportunity
educational institution/employer.
AdvisoryCouncil
The Advisory Council for the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences is an important
and essential support organization for the school as it strives to achieve excellence in teaching, research, and extension/outreach in forestry and wildlife.
This council is comprised of leaders in the forestry, wildlife and conservation fields.
These members donate their time to meet once a year in Auburn to receive updates on our
programs and provide the external input that we need to insure that what we do is relevant
and necessary to accomplish our mission. We appreciate their dedication and support to
help our program be a premier program in the nation.
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
2005 Advisory Council Members
Gordon Armistead
Kenneth Bailey
Billy Bond
Lindsay Boring
John Bowers
Timothy Boyce
Alan Bruce
Jimmy Bullock
Pat Byington
William Byrd
David Carroll
Ralph Colberg
Steve Coleman
Kristina Conner
Frank Corley
Richard Cumbie
Stan Curry
Tom Darden
Ken Day
Wilbur DeVall
Jim Doescher
Dan Dumont
Mark Elliott
Jim Fitzgerald
Edward Givhan
Timothy Gothard
Stephen Guy
D. Patrick Haney
Dwight Harrigan
Donald Heath
David Helm
Harold Hill
Frank Jones
Richard Jones
John Kelly
Michael Kelly
Earl Ketchum
Richard Koger
L. Keville Larson
Allen Layson
Jim Leist
Glenn Leuenberger
Kim Lloyd
Dwain Luce
James Martin
Tommy McDonald
Billy McIntyre
Don McKenzie
Monty McKinley
Charles McMahon
John McMillan
C.W. Moody
Gary Moody
Harry Murphy
Kenwood Nichols
Danny Norman
Rick Oates
Corky Pugh
Steve Rickerson
Bob Rummer
Thomas Savage
Kevin Savoy
Terry Sellers
Gray Skipper
James Smith
Jim Spears
Frank Stewart
Vaughn Stough
Emmett Thompson
Erm Venuto
Danny White
Ronnie Williams
Phillip Woods
C O N T E N T S
Departments
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President’s Message
Dean’s Message
Dean’s Brunch
Development Update
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President’s Message
In Memory
Golden Eagles
In Memory of Bill Carey
Outstanding Alumnus
Martha Dixon Honored
1856 Society
Alumni
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Donor Profile
20 Harry Murphy
21 Planned Giving
Student Activities
12
Features
6 On the Cover: Jim Martin
Jim Martin remembers the day he gave up on forestry.
However, it would take more than hot weather and snakes
to extinguish his passion for forestry.
12 Looking Back
While we look ahead to the future of forestry and wildlife
sciences education at Auburn, it is worthwhile to look back
at the road we have traveled to get here.
23 Homecoming 2005
24 Wildlife Society
Forestry Conclave
25 Summer Practicum 2005
26 Student Ambassador Program
Wildlife Youth Day
27 The Family Tree
28 Spring Scholarship Banquet
29 Awards
30 Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt
31 Seems Like Only Yesterday
Faculty and Staff Update
Martin & Meldahl Retire
32 Faculty Research
34 Forest Ecology Preserve Update
Advisory Council (inside back cover)
14 A Brand New Start
It began with an idea for the students of the School
of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences to have better facilities in
which to learn about our natural environment.
22Art Collection Brings Wildlife Indoors
The influence of wildlife sciences can now be seen as well
thanks to a gift of 11 original oil paintings by two Alabama
artists donated by William R. and Fay Ireland.
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A Message from the Interim President
The beginning of a new academic year is always a busy time, and this fall has been particularly so for the faculty and staff of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences as they
have moved into their beautiful new building. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Dean Richard Brinker and his entire faculty and staff and I am excited about the stateof-the-art learning opportunities Forestry and Wildlife Sciences’ new home offers Auburn
students.
From a campus-wide perspective, the new academic year brought us a record enrollment
of 23,333, including 4,197 new freshmen — also a record. These numbers make it clear
there is still strong demand for an Auburn education and we are appreciative of everyone
within the Auburn family who helps keep that demand strong.
The importance of the work being done by researchers, faculty, and students in the
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences cannot be overstated. Seventy percent of
Alabama’s land is forestland. In fact, Alabama foresters are currently growing more trees
than ever and forest-based companies employ some 70,000 Alabamians directly and another 100,000 indirectly. Many of the leaders in this important state industry are Auburntrained and Auburn research has helped develop crucial forest-management techniques.
Because of the importance of forestry and other natural resource-based industries to
Alabama, Auburn’s agriculture and natural resources initiative is vital to the future of this
state, and it has been the subject of a great deal of work by many people. Those involved
in planning have received input not just from across the campus, but also from across
Ed Richardson
Alabama. Auburn’s role in providing for the future of food production, managing our water
Interim President,
Auburn University
and timber resources, and exploring alternative fuels and eco-tourism demands that we
plan for the future and build for success.
Finally, I want to remind you that 2006 is Auburn’s 150th --- or Sesquicentennial -- year.
We are already planning several events and I encourage all of you to stay informed of those
plans and join us in this year-long celebration of Auburn’s rich history as well as its promising future.
Sincerely,
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Auburn University
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The Year in Review and a Look Ahead
A milestone has been reached in the history of our school; a long journey is complete. The
journey began in earnest more than 13 years ago. Many hours and days were invested to
establish the need; architects and professional campus planning consultants concurred with
our need for more, and better, space – classrooms, laboratories, offices, and work areas that
would allow our faculty and students to work and learn in a first-class facility.
Developing the funding to pay for the building was a major challenge, but support from the
federal government, the voters of Alabama in passing the Alabama Agricultural Bond Issue,
and the 43 major donors and 150 other donors who stepped forward with their financial gifts
have helped us meet the challenge and build a facility that will serve us well for many years.
The many days that Glenn Glover, chairman of the Building Committee, and the faculty
of this committee spent with the design architects from the Infinity Group (formerly Butner
Architects) of Montgomery and Cooper-Carry of Atlanta paid off in a very big way. Including
each faculty member in the development of specific needs in laboratory capabilities, evaluating what the needs would be in the 21st-century classroom, and determining what type of
space was needed to support student and alumni activities as well as professional continuing
education has resulted in a facility that has everyone beaming in their new surroundings.
In August, we moved into the building. More than 50 years of history, students, and
research were chronicled in our former facilities. More than 2,500 forestry and 600 wildlife
science graduates came through M. White Smith and Funchess halls to make their mark
as professional foresters and biologists all over the world. It has been sad to leave this era
behind us, but exhilarating to see the enthusiasm and excitement of our faculty and students
as we moved into the new building. Moving your workplace after 50 years is somewhat like
moving from a home that your family has occupied for that length of time. There was a lot
of “stuff ” that had been hidden away in the attic or a storage area that had to be evaluated for
need, utility, and future importance.
Moving with only a week before classes began, and three weeks before the formal dedication made the process even more hectic. But a deadline gave us greater motivation to get
in our new surroundings as quickly as possible and return to our real mission of teaching,
research, and extension. All of the finishing construction details are not complete, and the
completion of the “punch list” and landscaping are on-going, but we are almost finished.
Dick Brinker
Dean, Auburn University School
of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
There are only a few deans who get this opportunity, and I am thankful to be a part of this
time in the history of our school. I hope that you get a chance to tour our new facility. There
will be several formal tour opportunities over the next year, or you can stop by whenever you
are going through Auburn.
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Football season often ushers in times
of good food and fellowship with close
friends. In that spirit, Dean Dick Brinker
and his wife, Suzanne, open their home
to a small group of donors and friends
of the School of Forestry and Wildlife
Sciences for an annual brunch each
year. In 2004, approximately 50 people
attended the Fifth Annual Dean’s Brunch,
held prior to the Auburn- Kentucky game
Oct. 23. The event provided guests
an opportunity to discuss the school’s
accomplishments, the construction
progress of the new building, and, of
course, those Auburn Tigers.
Suzanne & Dick Brinker
The George Peake Family
Fraternity Brothers, Marc Walley & Scott Moody reconnect in Auburn
Adrienne & Penny Walley
Pat Swift and Vi Thompson enjoy the food
and fellowship
Gordon & Nina Armistead
Claude Swift
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Auburn University
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A Message from the Development Team
The new building for the
School of Forestry and
Wildlife Sciences at Auburn
University was dedicated
on Aug. 26, 2005, and it is
finally a reality after at least
a generation of dreaming,
hoping, planning, working,
and all those years of actual
construction. The result is
magnificent, arguably the
finest, most technologically advanced home of any
forestry/wildlife school in
the United States. This is
a home of which we can all
Ken Nichols with his wife, Joanna
be extremely proud, and
one that will serve the forestry and wildlife community well for generations to come.
Perhaps one of the best features of the new building is that it is
99 percent paid for! The building’s actual cost was $24.7 million.
The budget for the building was $24.3 million – so the cost overrun was approximately 1 percent.
Ninety-eight percent of the budgeted amount was raised from
non-university sources. The school’s faculty, students, staff,
administration, and the university’s Board of Trustees join in
thanking, once again, all of you who donated money, or otherwise
helped to raise the money to make this building possible.
Although the school’s development team was instrumental in
spearheading the fund raising for the new building, we cannot yet
rest on our laurels. The development team now has two remaining
important objectives to achieve.
First, we must raise the $300,000 or so to pay for the building’s
cost overrun, and we seek your assistance in doing so. Several
naming opportunities remain in the building. We also have room for
more donors’ names on the Wall of Honor in the building atrium.
And, of course, we are always grateful for any smaller donations that
collectively have already amounted to a significant portion of the
$5.1 million raised to date from private donors.
Second, the development team must now focus even more
intensely on leading the effort to complete raising the school’s
portion of the expected university’s capital campaign. While no
public announcement has been made, we estimate that the school
will be expected to raise at least $11.1 million of the university’s
total campaign goal. As of Oct. 1, 2005, monies raised by the
school that count toward our $11.1 capital campaign goal totaled
$9.2 million or 83 percent of the goal. Some of the $9.2 million
raised to date was spent on the building construction, so it, in effect,
“counted” toward both the building fund goal and toward the capital
campaign goal.
Now that the building is finished the development effort shifts to
providing funds for student and faculty support so that Auburn’s
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences can continue to compete
for, attract, and retain the brightest students and most talented
faculty in an increasingly competitive environment.
Scholarships for undergraduate students and fellowships for
graduate students are key to recruiting the best students. While our
school already offers a large number of endowed scholarships, we
are in great need of better funding for graduate fellowships.
Now that we have the new building and a plan to continue
competing for the best students, we must increase the financial
resources available for faculty support – to ensure that the school
has, and always will have, the best faculty possible for teaching,
research, and outreach. To do so, we need funding for additional
endowed professorships and that will be our focus.
All of us on the school’s development team thank you profusely
for your past support. We ask that you continue to help achieve
the school’s fund raising goals through the following ways: make a
financial commitment if you have not already done so, increase your
financial commitment if you have already made a gift or pledge, or
help the development team identify individuals and organizations
that might have the capacity and inclination to support the school
financially. Best of all, you could do all three of the above.
Regardless of how you decide to help, I extend my personal
thanks and deep appreciation to each one of you for all that you do
to help make Auburn such a very special place, a great university
and an exceptional School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences.
Kenwood C. Nichols (’61)
Chairman
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Development Team
5
J
im Martin remembers the day he gave up on
forestry. It was a sweltering day in July, and
he was hard at work under the Alabama sun, chopping away and deadening the hardwoods and brush
that he would replace with 6,000 pine trees.
Jim Martin
6
Auburn University
By Kristen Jackson
However, Martin soon discovered it was more than the blistering
heat that would make the day unpleasant and unforgettable. While
chopping wood, he looked down to see a long, slender rattlesnake
coiled at his feet, ready to strike.
He not only walked away from the woods that day in 1959,
but he also walked away from forestry altogether. His passion for
forestry eventually returned, and Martin almost immediately came
back to confront the snake and finish the job of planting trees. He
never reconsidered being a forester again.
Those pine trees have been growing for the past 45 years, as has
Martin’s career. He went on to obtain two degrees in forestry from
AU – a bachelor’s in 1964 and a master’s in 1966. Scholarships
from Gulf States Paper Corporation and E.A. Hauss enabled him
to study the field he loves.
Coming from a modest-income family, Martin said he valued the
opportunity to have his education paid by scholarships.
“The scholarships I received made the difference in my ability
to attend college at all. Combined with working, these scholarships
helped me learn to manage my finances and obtain my degree
simultaneously,” he said.
Martin learned to live off the land and appreciate things that
did not cost him a cent: the taste of freshly made jelly from his
mother’s kitchen, the feel of wind against his skin on a brisk winter
day, hunting wild turkey, and, of course, the sight of pine trees
growing year by year.
Growing up as an avid member of the 4-H Club, Martin spent
his free time working on reforestation projects in his community
and was rewarded. “I decided in my high-school years that I
wanted forestry as my profession, and I wanted to get prepared for
that early on.”
Retired from the forest products industry, Martin spends a lot
of his time enjoying nature at the home built by his grandfather in
1902—the Martin family refers to the place as “Forest Home.”
Forest Home provided the backdrop for many of Martin’s
adventures, including his early encounter with the rattlesnake.
Once home to a variety of crops and animals, the farm is now
solely used for forestry and hunting and is a place to relax and
enjoy the
outdoors. Those 6,000
trees Martin planted in
1959 still provide the
landscape surrounding the
home.
When he was young,
Martin spent countless
hours learning about the
land at this cherished place
in the Alabama woods. His
mother taught him how to
make jelly while his father
educated him on the art of
hunting wild turkey.
“The jellies were just part
of growing up,” Martin
said. Jellying still consumes
Martin’s summer months.
Serving as gifts for friends
and relatives, each jar is
adorned with a personalized
label, created by Martin’s
daughter, with “Jim’s Jams
and Jellies”
written underneath a picture
of a wild turkey.
In addition to the forest,
one of Martin’s other loves
is AU. “I still feel very
connected to Auburn University. I feel warmth for the school and
what it did for my life,” he said. “Auburn University gave me the
background to pursue a very interesting career. I came out with the
technical background to do various things.”
Martin’s long career in forestry spans decades and states.
Following a two year stint as an Army Chemical Corps Officer
where he served as a plant physiologist doing tree defoliation
research, Martin joined American Can Company as the technical
and research forester in Alabama.
At American Can Company Martin moved up to corporate
coordinator of Woodlands and Sawmill Operations in Greenwich,
Conn., manager of Western Woodlands and Sawmills in Oregon,
and then director of Southern Forest Products Operations.
American Can Company eventually divested its forest products
business, which ended Martin’s career with that company. At that
point Martin joined Canal Wood Corporation as president of
Canal Wood Corporation of Mississippi. From that position he
moved to the parent company, Canal Industries, as vice
president of market relations.
Martin continues to be a consultant for the forestry industry and
of course spends time making jelly, hunting, managing the forest at
Forest Home, and spending time with his four grandchildren.
Martin also manages to stay connected to and give back to the
university that gave him so much. Until recently, he was the chair
of the Advisory Council for the School of Forestry and Wildlife
Sciences and helped advise the school in regards to its programs.
One of the key advocates of the new forestry building, Martin is
glad to see that the building is now a reality—a goal that seemed
impossible at first. “It took a lot of years, but the business, forestry,
and wildlife sciences communities really rolled up their sleeves
and worked hard to make this building happen,” he said.
Thanks to Jim Martin, AU will have a home to provide education for future foresters and wildlife scientists, and the state and
country will have thousands of trees that have been planted by his
hands to provide enjoyment and health for years to come.
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A Message From Your Alumni President
I would like
to report that I
was pleased to
represent you,
the alumni, at
the dedication of
the new building. Because of
your support, we
raised $260,518 Gordon Armistead
for the Wall of Honor to name the School
of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Alumni
Association Student Study and Activity
Suite in the new building. With the support of the alumni, we have provided the
students an activity suite in the new building where they can relax and study. It has
been approximately 20 years since the
forestry students have had a lounge area.
The previous student area was converted
to a classroom to meet the growing space
demands of the school.
One of the great aspects of the new
building with all of the classrooms and
study areas is that we will see more commingling of the forestry and wildlife stu-
dents during their undergraduate days at
Auburn. I know that this will lead to continued understanding and relationships in
their professional careers.
It has been a pleasure to represent you
as president of the Alumni Association for
the past two years. The duties of this position are not extensive but very important
as the president represents our alumni at
functions of the school such as the building groundbreaking and dedication and
the Student Awards Banquet. I also served
on the school’s Advisory Council during
my tenure of service as president to the
school. Whoever replaces me in this role
will provide an important service to our
alma mater.
If you have not had a chance to visit the
new building, please do so. You will be
pleased with the progress that the school
has made and impressed with the visual
impact and overall quality of the facility.
In Memory
The School of Forestry and Wildlife
Sciences mourns the loss of the
following alumni who passed away
during the past year.
David B. Austin ’76
Charles W. Brown ’48
Burt Carlson ’49
Eddie Lynn Dryden ’61
Van Odom Gillem ’91
Curtis Neal Hammond ’60
Nathan Swayze Hogue ’75
Roy Franklin Price ’60
Golden Eagles
From left: John Crocker, Donald Smith, Ennis Washburn, Earle Darby Jr., and Dick Brinker
8
Auburn University
Each year a special group of alums is
bestowed the honor of Golden Eagle in
commemoration of their 50-year class
reunion. Alums of the school’s class of
1955 gathered to reminisce at the Golden
Eagles reunion held on Sept. 16, 2005.
The annual event began with a tour of
the new School of Forestry and Wildlife
Sciences building, where the graduates met
with faculty and staff. The group attended
a luncheon in the Solon and Martha Dixon
Foundation Executive Conference Room
hosted in their honor by SFWS Dean Dick
Brinker. Congratulations to the Golden
Eagle class of 1955! We look forward to
sharing many more milestones with you.
Al
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In Memory of Dr. William “Bill” Carey
This is the last photo taken of Bill (on right) in the field, a few hours before the accident. He is
pictured discussing with the U.N. Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee (MeBTOC) the
virtues of forestry in the southern United States.
Sciences lost a brilliant and talented scientist when William “Bill” Allen Carey
was killed on April 22, 2005, from injuries
received in an automobile accident in
Columbus, Ga., involving a drunk driver.
A faculty member at Auburn since 1990,
Bill worked as the pathologist and entomologist for the Southern Forest Nursery
Management Cooperative where he examined many aspects of seedling quality. His
research included not only the development
of nursery practices to control Lygus bugs
and fusiform rust, but also concentrated on
seedling survival after outplanting.
In addition to numerous scientific
awards, Bill authored more than 100
research articles and presented many lectures at regional, national, and international
conferences. Bill’s position within the
Nursery Cooperative included a regional
methyl bromide alternatives program.
Through this process, Bill was on the EPA’s
panel for Critical Use Exemptions through
the Montreal Protocol and had provided
testimony to the House Subcommittee on
Agriculture.
Steve Oak of the U.S. Forest Service in
Asheville, N.C., had known Bill for more
than 25 years. “Bill was a good friend and
valued colleague over that span of time.
He knew the needs of his clients because
he was constantly asking them about their
seedling production challenges. As a consequence, Bill’s work never failed to address
practical problems and he could be trusted
to fulfill his part of cooperative work on
time or ahead of the agreed schedule. His
insights and productivity are irreplaceable
losses to the forest community in the southern United States,” Oak said.
Bill is survived by his wife, Debra Carey,
three children, five grandchildren, and
countless friends and colleagues who will
miss him and his wonderful insights and
wit.
An award has been established in
memory of Bill Carey to honor the brightest
student in forest pathology. The award will
be given each spring at the Student Awards
Banquet. If you wish to contribute a gift to
the Bill Carey Memorial Award, please contact Angie Stephens, 602 Duncan Drive,
Auburn, AL 36849.
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Outstanding Alumnus – Bob Sharp of
Mobile Forest Products
The Auburn Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Alumni Association proudly
honored Bob Sharp with the 2004 Outstanding Alumnus Award.
Sharp, who has built a successful career in forestry during the past 20 years,
received the award on March 8 at a meeting of the school’s Advisory Council.
Along with John
Zukley, Sharp is
co-owner and
partner of Mobile
Forest Products,
a timber brokerage
company. Operating
within a 250-mile
radius of its headquarters in Mobile,
Mobile Forest Products
brokers timber in
Bob & Carol Sharp with Dick Brinker
Alabama, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. The company offers a full line of
services to foresters including help in planning harvests and giving advice.
Another big component of the business involves collecting wood waste from
various sources – from scrap pallets to planer shavings – and grinding it to supply
boiler fuel for the Kimberly-Clark Paper Company mill in Mobile, which is part
of Kimberly-Clark Corp. in Dallas, Texas.
The company collects wood waste from businesses within a 40-mile radius of
Mobile, generally serving businesses that are too small to make it economically
feasible to own and operate their own grinders.
Sharp said he and Zukley are proud of how far they’ve come in 20 years.
“We’ve lived the American dream. We started out just as wood dealers, basically.
Jerry Brock at the old IP mill in Mobile gave us a wood dealership and said ‘Bring
it on boys, as long as it’s cheap, we’ll buy it.’ I took Mississippi and John took
Alabama. John had a wood yard over here and we bought a few trucks,” Sharp said.
“After a couple of years John became increasingly disinterested in the wood
procurement business and wanted to get into trucking in a big way, so he went into
100 percent trucking, and I took all the timber procurement, and that was the best
thing we ever did.”
Sharp said the current arrangement capitalizes on the strengths he and his
partner possess and allows each to do what he likes to do best.
In addition to the hard work that Sharp and Zukley put into Mobile Forest
Products, they have also found time to play a leadership role in the Log-a-Load
for Kids program, helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars from the Delta
District for the two Children’s Hospitals in Alabama.
Sharp is a past president of the Alabama Forestry Association and a member
of the Louisiana Forestry Association. A native of Panama City, Fla., he received
his bachelor’s degree in forestry from Auburn in 1972.
10
Auburn University
Martha Dixon & Dick Brinker
Council Recognizes
Martha Dixon
Martha Dixon has been a dedicated
benefactor and friend of the School of
Forestry and Wildlife Sciences for many
years.
Mrs. Dixon and the Solon and Martha
Dixon Foundation have supported
forestry education at AU through multiple
gifts of land, structures, forests, and other
natural resources totaling more than $3.5
million to create the best and most unique
teaching experiences in the southeastern
United States at the Solon Dixon Forestry
Education Center.
The foundation has expanded the educational facilities at the Solon Dixon Forestry
Education Center through an additional
$450,000 commitment for new dormitory facilities to accommodate a summer
practicum experience for wildlife science
majors and other adult continuing education courses.
She has also fostered public education
through contributions to Discovering
Alabama, Florala Wetlands Park, the
Alabama Wildlife Federation, and other
public and private agencies.
In honor of her commitment to the
school, the SFWS Advisory Council chose
to bestow upon her a special resolution
commemorating her steadfast relationship with the school. The resolution was
presented to Dixon at the Student Awards
Banquet on April 14, 2005.
Individuals
1856 Society
Sciences is proud to claim a significant
group of supporters whose love for
Auburn will be forever instilled in future
generations through their loyal gifts. To
honor their devotion to Auburn and our
school, these donors are recognized as
members of the 1856 Society. Named for
the year in which the East Alabama Male
College (now Auburn University) was
established, the 1856 Society recognizes
donors whose lifetime outright and
irrevocable planned gifts to Auburn are at
the $100,000 level and above. Created in
1994, this exclusive society of generous and
devoted Auburn University benefactors
provides scholarships and fellowships
to support bright and worthy students,
professorship funds to recruit and retain
distinguished faculty, capital donations to
upgrade facilities, funds for excellence to
undertake new and innovative initiatives,
and unrestricted support that offers
numerous opportunities for AU people and
programs.
The Society’s Tower Circle celebrates those whose cumulative giving is
at the $5 million level or higher. Through
its Founders’ Circle (outright gifts) and
Heritage Circle (planned gifts), the society
also offers special recognition to contributors whose gifts range from $1 million to $5
million. Although membership induction
is reserved solely for individuals, the 1856
Society also honors organizational donors
whose contributions reach this gift level.
All society members were acknowledged at
a biennial black-tie dinner and recognition
ceremony. This year’s event was held Sept.
30, 2005, at the Dixon Conference Center.
We are pleased to recognize the school’s
distinguished 1856 Society members and
welcome our newest honorees.
Mrs. John Coleman Banks
Mrs. John C. Bradley Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Richard W. Brinker
Mr. and Mrs. Bivin C. Broughton
Mrs. Wallace Buchanan
Mr. and Mrs. John Caldwell
Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Carroll
Mrs. Martha Belvin Dixon
Mr. and Mrs. William A. Fickling
Mrs. Hunter Flack
Mr. John R. Goodloe III
Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Harrigan
Mr. and Mrs. William R. Ireland
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Keith Lee
Mr. and Mrs. Dwain G. Luce
Mr. Harry E. Murphy
Mrs. Sam Ross Murphy
Mr. and Mrs. Kenwood C. Nichols
Mrs. William F. Sahlie
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Swift
Mrs. Lyle C. Tom
Dr. Louise Kreher Turner
Mrs. Noll A. Van Cleave
Mr. and Mrs. John Vick
Dr. and Mrs. Earl H. Weaver
Companies
Alabama Conservation and Natural
Resources Foundation
Alabama Forestry Foundation
AmSouth Bank
Becker Trading Company
Georgia-Pacific Corporation
Gulf States Paper Corporation
Harbert Corporation
International Paper
The J.L. Bedsole Foundation
Mary Elizabeth Stallworth Foundation
MeadWestvaco Foundation
R.K. Mellon Family Foundation
Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation
T.R. Miller Mill Company
Thelma Dixon Foundation
Thompson Foundation
Wade Plantation
Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation
Carol Bramlett with Louise Turner
John and Faye Vick
Dwain and Margaret Luce with Suzanne Brinker
Dick and Suzanne Brinker with Susan Tom and her granddaughter, Kelsey.
11
Dedicated in May 1949 and originally called the Auburn Forestry Building,
M. White Smith Hall was home to AU’s forestry and wildlife sciences
program until August 2005. The facility was the first campus building
erected after World War II. Forest Farmer (below) recounted that special
milestone.
LOOKING BACK
While we look ahead to the future of forestry and wildlife
sciences education at Auburn, it is worthwhile to look back
at the road we have traveled to get here. We are leaving an old
home
full
of
memories
behind
in
the
promise
of
new
opportunity,
but what is now old was once new, and it is always fun to reminisce.
By Angie Stephens
12
Auburn University
In the photos at right (clockwise from top left):
Early members of the Forestry faculty at AU were,
front row from left: Knox Livingston, Terrill Stevens,
Fred Vogel, Williard Leach, Henry Dorr; second row,
George Garlin, Wilbur DeVall, Harold Christen, Wayne
Gaskins • Donald Wedell, first professional forester
employed at Auburn, presents the charter for Sigma
chapter, Xi Sigma Pi national forestry honorary, to
Ted Dillon, (right) in 1952. • James A Moak, AU’s
first forester to receive a master of science degree
in 1953, receives congratulations from Professor
Wilbur DeVall. • Wilbur DeVall examines exhibit
displaying activities of the forestry department.
Perhaps it is ironic that one of the items
uncovered in the move from M. White
Smith Hall to the new building was an old
copy of Forest Farmer, published by the
Department of Forestry’s Forestry Club.
The feature article just happened to recount
a special milestone in the school’s history
– the dedication of a new forestry building
on May 12, 1949.
On that day some 56 years ago, dignitaries, faculty, staff, and students gathered
to celebrate the dedication of Alabama
Polytechnic Institute’s Forestry Building.
According to an article in the Forest
Farmer, the day marked “an important
milestone in the advancement of forestry
in Alabama.” Those in attendance for that
dedication, just like those who attended the
recent dedication, realized that their new
facility could propel their discipline
to greatness.
“Our new, modern, well-equipped
building was dedicated today. To us here
at the school, this may appear mainly as a
formality, but we must not forget that this
dedication is of statewide and nationwide
significance – people now realize that we
have the proper facilities for preparing men
for the profession in forestry. It’s up to us
to go out and prove our worth,” the article
reads.
Opting for a morning ceremony, the
dedication was held at 10 a.m. on the front
steps of the Forestry Building with Terrill
Stevens, department head of Forestry in
1949 presiding. “The invocation was rendered by the Rev. James Stirling, rector of
the Church of the Holy Innocents here in
Auburn. Stevens then welcomed all of the
guests and invited everyone to remain after
the ceremony to inspect the building and to
be served refreshments in the front lounge.”
Dean M. J. Funchess provided the
dedication speech during the ceremony,
“which dealt with two components of
all land-grant colleges – teaching and
research.”
We have not swayed far from our roots.
“All those who toured the building were
visibly impressed with the classroom facilities, the various pieces of equipment, and
the overall neatness of the building,” the
article reads. “The display counters in the
front lounge attracted considerable attention; a fair conception of the various phases
and fields of forestry could be gleaned by an
observant person. Surveying instruments,
logging tools, new uses of wood and various
reproductive cutting systems were some of
the displays shown.”
Like our dedication in August, the
building dedication more than half a
century ago had the benefit of a beautiful day. “All in all it was a very successful
day – the weather was perfect, the crowd
was large and appreciative, and everyone
seemed to realize that although forestry at
Auburn was new and unheralded, the
facilities were at-hand to produce good,
well-trained foresters,” the Forest Farmer
article stated.
Perhaps the exact same sentiment could
be said about the new building today. We’ve
learned a lot from our past experiences,
and we gleaned much from our time in
M. White Smith Hall. Just as for those in
attendance on May 12, 1949, an undeniable
sense of pride and accomplishment follows
the dedication of such a magnificent,
state-of-the-art facility. Hopefully, when
future foresters and wildlife scientists look
back 100 years from now, they’ll realize that
our goals and dreams may be big but our
history is even bigger.
13
The impressive atrium of the new
building is a tribute to the forestry
and wildlife community.
By Kristen Jackson
14
Auburn University
A Brand New Start
It began with an idea for the
students of the School of Forestry
and Wildlife Sciences to have
better facilities in which to learn
about our natural environment.
Since 1992, plans have been underway to
make this dream a reality. After years of
hard work from hundreds of people and
almost $25 million from anxious donors,
the day came on Aug. 26, 2005, to celebrate the achievement of this milestone.
On this day, the doors of the brand new
home of the School of Forestry and Wildlife
Sciences at Auburn University opened for
tours of the facility and a dedication ceremony. Dean Richard W. Brinker described
it best as a, “red-letter day in the history of
our school.”
As the crowd watched in awe as another
palatial building opened on Auburn’s
campus, many people spoke about the decisions, long days, and brilliant ideas that
led the school to its current success. Dean
Brinker initiated the dedication by thanking
VIPs in attendance such as Auburn Mayor
This sign commemorates
the completion of the
building, a two-year
building project.
The school's past and present leadership looks toward the future (L-R) Emmett F. Thompson, Dean
1984-1998 and Department Head from 1977-1984, Wilbur DeVall, Department Head from
1950-1977, Richard Brinker, Dean since 1998.
Displayed throughout the building, the
biographies pay tribute to the honorees
for which the spaces within the building
are named.
15
Bill Ham and State Sen. Ted Little. State
Staff Forester Tim Albritton, an Auburn
alumnus, provided the invocation, “Thank
you for your marvelous creation of trees and
grass and wildlife,” he said.
Brinker returned to the podium to discuss every aspect of the project. Getting
the new building underway and completed
was not an easy task. In 1945, the Alabama
Legislature passed an act creating a fouryear professional forestry program. Two
years later, the program was given departmental status at Auburn University. Not
until 1984 was the Department of Forestry
declared a separate school, and soon after,
the name was changed to the School of
Forestry and Wildlife Sciences to reflect the
16
16
AA uu bb uu rr nn UU nn ii vv ee rr ss ii tt yy
inclusion of a wildlife sciences program.
The expansion gave the School of Forestry
the ability to provide additional outreach
activities and opportunities for its students.
Ideas for planning a new building began
more than 10 years ago. However, because
appropriate funding was not available at
that time, those ideas did not come to fruition. It only took one donation to get the
momentum rolling again. In 1998, U.S.
Sen. Richard Shelby provided a $10 million grant to build and design what would
soon be the new building for Forestry
and Wildlife Sciences. Soon after that, the
Alabama Agricultural Bond Initiative provided $7 million toward the construction
of the facility. And another $5 million came
from 44 major, private donors.
Not only was it important to get the ideas
flowing for the new building, but also the
school needed great minds to lead the project. Glenn Glover has chaired the building
committee since 1992, and he did not stop
until this task was completed.
The big moment came on Nov. 8, 2002,
when ground was officially broken at the
new facility’s building site. Under construction management from Brasfield & Gorrie,
the building took almost three years to
complete. The building is not filled with
common classrooms and chalkboards. Its
laboratories, walk-in coolers, and technology-enhanced rooms are practically three
times the size of similar spaces in the
Above: Surrounded by forest, the rear terrace and
A. Kent Van Cleave Pavilion provide a welcome
retreat for students and visitors. Below: The main
entrance of the building as seen from Duncan Drive.
Schoolofof Forestry
Forestryand
andWildlife
WildlifeSciences
Sciences 17
15
School
John McMillan visits with
Kim Roland at the reception
Martha Dixon receives
a gift from chairman of the
Development Team,
Ken Nichols
The family and friends of W.T. Neal, Jr. enjoy fellowship at the Dedication Dinner.
The 30-foot table made of Southern yellow pine
located in the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation
Conference Room was constructed from the
trees removed from the building site. A local
craftsman built and carved the impressive table.
The Sam Ross Murphy family at the Dedication.
For more photos of the new School of
Ed Richardson visits with Dean Brinker and
Emmett Thompson at the reception.
Forestry and Wildlife Sciences building
dedication, please visit our Web site at
www.sfws.auburn.edu.
18
Auburn University
previous building. Backed by natural forest,
the building has four wings with a 1,600square-foot foyer connecting them. For
the approximately 400 students that use
this facility, 602 Duncan Drive starts a new
chapter for forestry and wildlife majors.
The building began with 150 supported
piers drilled at depths of 30 feet; this structure has the makings to last a century. The
two-story atrium features southern yellow
pine, a forestry mainstay, and opens into the
back terrace surrounded by natural forest.
Visitors are immediately reminded of the
grandeur of the southern forest once they
step inside the building’s front door.
Just because the building is new does not
mean the program’s 50-year history was
forgotten. Counting all the graduates put
together from forestry and wildlife sciences,
more than 3,000 students have dedicated
their time to the study of forestry and wildlife sciences before the existence of this
facility. “It’s been sad in a way to leave this
era behind us, but we have been exhilarated
to see the enthusiasm and excitement of our
faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students over the past couple of weeks,”
said Brinker.
James Martin, a past chairman of the
Advisory Council, spoke about what a
defining moment the dedication day had
become. Describing it as a credit to the
forestry and wildlife community, this new
building inspired Martin to not only put
forth his best efforts, but also to thank those
who have done the same. Citing Winston
Churchill, Martin applauded everyone on
their ability to “never give up,” while working on this creation. “To make this building
a reality, the forestry community had to
come together,” said Martin.
Interim Auburn University President
Ed Richardson spoke about the doors the
new building opens. “Not only will current
students enjoy the new technologies at their
fingertips, but future Auburn students are
likely to be drawn to study forestry or wildlife sciences simply for the opportunity to
gain their education from such a beautiful
and technologically advanced facility.”
Pointing out that forest resources are
one of the true treasures of Alabama, AU
Trustee Virginia Thompson spoke about
the financial impact of our forests and wildlife. “Forests make up 71 percent of our
state,” Thompson said. She talked about
the many aspects of forestry that might go
unnoticed to the everyday consumer and
the important role forestry plays in the state
and added that 94 percent of forests are
privately owned, while only 6 percent are
government owned.
“I vow to you that we will do everything
in our power to strengthen and build your
business further. We will take in unknown
knowledge, and our students and faculty
will do everything they can to improve the
quality of life for every Alabamian,” said
Thompson.
As Dean Brinker brought the dedication
to a close, he pointed out one of the most
important things to this school – the backing it has from the AU Board of Trustees
and everyone else involved. “I applaud all of
you in the audience,” said Brinker. “I hope
we continue to strive to be the premiere
forestry and wildlife sciences school in the
country.”
It is clear this facility is the first step to a
new world of forestry and wildlife sciences.
The students, teachers, alumni, and all
the inspired men and women involved are
proud to see their dream finally come to life.
The Wall of Honor, located in the atrium of the
building, displays the names of the individuals,
foundations, and companies that partnered with
the school to make the building a reality.
19
DONOR
Harry Murphy
A
w
Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
opens doors for eager students. The experience these students
have will greatly impact their futures. One person that has been
happily watching our students graduate and become productive
members of society is Harry Murphy. And now, with his planned
gift, those doors may open wider for this school and its students.
When Murphy was deciding on a college to attend after
returning from military service in World War II, Auburn
University was not an option. At the time, Auburn did not have
a forestry and wildlife sciences school, and that is what Murphy
wanted to study, having grown up in a small suburb.
“I found the ecology of forests fascinating. It’s more than just
making lumber,” he said.
After Murphy graduated from college at Pennsylvania State
University, he moved to Alabama to help create what is now one
of the most prominent forestry consulting firms in the South—
Resource Management Service (RMS).
Some of the top staff at RMS graduated from Auburn.
“Auburn is significant in the graduates the School of Forestry
produces,” said Murphy, who adds that, Auburn’s SFWS is the
finest in the field of forestry education.
Auburn’s reputation is what convinced this non-alumnus to
donate to the school. “The new school will bring in and maintain good faculty, which will attract good students,” he said.
Murphy has gained respect for Auburn. He sees Auburn as a
good place to train and educate students, as well as a place with
exceptional faculty. “Auburn University is the faculty,” Murphy
said. “The professors are tough, and the students have to work
hard to make it; as a result, the students are strong workers.”
Although the money will go toward what is most needed, he
has his own ideas of what he wishes it be used for. “My hope for
the plan I’m leaving is to fund more activity for professors,” says
Murphy, who wants forestry professors to have more opportunities to engage in research. “Without good research,” he says,
“we have no future.”
Murphy, now retired, still loves to travel around the world.
He occasionally travels to Guatemala and Honduras with Central
American Medical Outreach, a group that helps establish hospitals and provides community service for impoverished towns.
“We had people from all over come to work for us, but all of
our Auburn folks were amazing in their fields,” Murphy said.
“Auburn has been a good source of quality men and women, and
I value that.” Murphy recalls all the years he spent dedicated to
the forest, to nature, and to the outdoors and sees his donation
as just one way the SFWS can expand.
18
20
Auburn University
P
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Generating a Future for Future Generations
Planned giving refers to the process of making a charitable gift of
estate assets to Auburn University for the benefit of the School of
Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. Because the gift process requires
consideration and planning in light of your overall estate plans,
the Office of Planned Giving is available to help you.
Planned gifts are usually deferred, meaning they are arranged
now and fulfilled later. For example, you could include a provision in your will to make a bequest to the School of Forestry and
Wildlife Sciences. It is generally better to identify a percentage of
your estate rather than a specific dollar amount. We can provide
you and/or your attorney the wording needed to fulfill your intent.
Or, you might consider establishing a charitable remainder trust
that could provide income to you, your spouse, your children, or
grandchildren for a period of time or for the life of the beneficiary.
After this gift-deferral period, the trust would “mature” and the
remaining assets (corpus) would go to the Auburn University
Foundation for the benefit of the SFWS.
Another kind of planning device allows you to place incomeproducing assets such as stock, real estate, or a business, in a trust
that pays out income to the school for a period of years. A
predetermined number of years for this payout to the school can
allow you to pass this asset to your children or grandchildren
and avoid estate tax, income tax, gift tax, and generation-skipping
transfer tax. Or, if you are looking to keep the asset but you do not
need the income right now, you can use this trust to provide the
income to the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and have
the asset returned to you at a later date when you will want the
income. This is called a charitable lead trust.
Another deferred gift instrument is the charitable gift annuity.
This is popular with many donors because it represents a life-time
contract between you and the Auburn University Foundation and
because it is relatively simple to understand and establish. For
example, a donor gives as little as $5,000 to the Auburn University
Foundation (for the benefit of the School of Forestry and Wildlife
Sciences) and receives, in return, a set amount of money every year
for the rest of his or her life and/or the life of his or her spouse.
Even though a planned gift may not actually benefit the school
for many years, the gift arrangement can generate an immediate
income tax charitable deduction because the future gift has been
established and cannot be recalled.
There are numerous planned giving vehicles and combinations
that allow a gift planner to tailor a gift plan. Indeed, one of the
truly fulfilling aspects of charitable gift planning is the adventure
of helping our alums find and, in cooperation with the appropriate
advisors, construct the best plan for everyone concerned.
Planned Giving Tips
The following are tips for donors considering
a planned gift.
Securities
• Appreciated Securities – If held for more
than one year, donate the stock; pay no capital
gains; get full fair market value of stock as
contribution deduction.
• Depreciated Securities – Sell the stock;
realize the loss for tax purposes; contribute
the cash for contribution deduction.
Life Insurance
• Existing policy – Name the Auburn
University Foundation as owner and beneficiary; receive income tax deduction for lower
of face value of the policy or cost basis; if still
premium paying, make payments to Auburn
University Foundation and receive contribution
deduction for payments.
• New Policy – Name Auburn University
Foundation as owner and beneficiary; make
payments to AUF to receive contribution
deduction for payments.
Trusts and Real Estate
It is possible to avoid all capital gains tax on
transfer and to remove from estate. Due to
complexities involved, we encourage you to
contact us to discuss how and what can be used.
Gift Annuities
It is possible to generate a higher than
market return from your investments through
a Charitable Gift Annuity. The rates are based
on the age(s) of the donor(s), so the older
the age, the higher the rate to a maximum
of 11.3 percent.
Tax Reform
On Jan. 1, 2006, the Unified Credit increases
to $2,000,000.
21
D
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Donated Painting Collection
Brings Wildlife Indoors
Walking through the home of the School of Forestry and
Wildlife Sciences, the influence of the forest industry is easily visible from the pine floors to the wooden ceiling beams to the natural forest that surrounds the back terrace. The influence of wildlife sciences can now be seen as well thanks to a gift of 11 original oil paintings by two Alabama artists donated by William R.
and Fay Ireland. The artwork arrived just prior to the building’s
dedication in August and was hung in time for the ceremony so
that the paintings could be admired by all the building’s guests.
Ten of the paintings are by Decatur, Ala., native Michael
Schreck, who specializes in North American and African big
game art and whose work has appeared in many national magazines. With the knowledge he has gained as an avid hunter and
fisherman, he brings to life his work through a realistic and personal touch. His paintings have been among best sellers in prestigious wildlife shows by Game Conservation International and
the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep. He is a veteran
of 12 African hunting safaris and many North American hunts.
The Schreck paintings donated by the Irelands, located in
the foyer of the conference hall, showcase North American
wild game. The impressive collection of paintings, ranging in size from 24”x36” to 36”x48”, includes: “Monarch”
(moose), “September Song” (elk), “On the Prowl” (grizzly bear),
“Summertime on the Plains” (American Bison), “Summer Storm”
(Pronghorn antelope), “Moving On” (Black Bear and cub),
“Rocky Mountain High” (Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep),
“October Moon” (Mule Deer), “Mountain Trail” (Mountain
Goat), and “Top of the World” (Dall sheep).
The total value of the Schreck collection at the School of
Forestry and Wildlife Sciences is $132,000.
A painting of a red-tailed hawk by Larry Chandler was also
donated and placed in the William R. and Fay Ireland Alabama
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. The painting is
valued at $16,500. Chandler is an Alabama native who is nationally known as one of the leading artists in wildlife, portrait, and
sporting dog art. He has been National Artist of the Year for
Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, Waterfowl USA, and his art
hangs in the Smithsonian Institution. He has won several state
duck stamp competitions and has been commissioned to design
the prestigious Arkansas duck stamp print three times.
When you visit the building and marvel at the construction
and wonderful use of natural materials, take note of the art collection illustrating our commitment and love for wildlife.
22
Auburn University
Fay and Bill Ireland
w
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H
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2005
Sciences’ 2005 Homecoming was
an event to remember. Held Sept.
24, prior to Auburn’s game against
Western Kentucky, the Homecoming
barbecue marked the first year the
event was held at the school’s new
building. A record crowd of more
than 350 came to share memories
of the past and catch a glimpse
of the future of forestry and wildlife education at the new facility.
Graduate students and members
of the newly formed SFWS Student
Ambassador group provided tours of
the building to Homecoming guests.
The new building is ideally suited for
such a celebration as visitors utilized
the back terrace area and the A.
Kent Van Cleave Pavilion. “People
stayed and savored the day,” said
Dean Richard Brinker. “It was a
great event and a fun day!” Keeping
with tradition, Barbecue House provided the day’s meal, and those in
attendance enjoyed visiting with
forestry students, graduates,
faculty, and friends.
Everyone lines up for some great food and fun.
The new building is conducive for
entertaining all ages.
Students, faculty, alumni, and their family enjoy the
landscape of the new building.
The "Tailgating Headquarters" located at
the Van Cleave Pavilion.
The biosystems engineering students built a
¼ scale skidder for a competition and displayed the project at the barbecue.
Nancy Van Cleave and her
daughter-in-law, Kelly, enjoy
lunch in the pavilion named
for her late husband.
23
Wildlife Society
The Wildlife Society is staying busy. We have already hosted two successful Youth
Dove Hunts at the Piedmont Substation in Camp Hill.
We had more than 150 people at both hunts and they harvested more than 300
mourning doves. But the best part was seeing the kids enjoy the outdoors with their
parents. We had 15 Wildlife Society volunteers at both hunts, and without their support and hard work, the dove hunts would not have been a success.
We will be sending several undergraduates to different meetings around the
Southeast. We sent four students to the National Wildlife Meeting in Madison, Wis.
Money earned from the Toomer’s Oak Tree fundraiser made the trip possible. We
also helped send students to the SEAFWA Conference in St. Louis, Mo., in October.
We are working with Tuskegee National Forest to develop a white-tailed deer
management plan which will be a multiple year project. We are also working on
starting a northern bobwhite quail management plan for a private landowner. Both
of these projects offer opportunities to work with private landowners and develop
game management plans.
Lauren Havens, our oak-tree coordinator, and Matt Palmer the Forestry Club’s oak
tree officer, has been hard at work this summer watering the trees and selling them at
the Homecoming barbecue and other places around Auburn. This project allows us
to send several students to meetings and send students to our annual conclave.
The spring semester is now underway and things are a little calmer for us. We
will still be selling oak trees, and we will have our Wildlife Youth Day at the Forest
Ecology Preserve, which is an opportunity for 100 third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders to
come and learn about wildlife and the outdoors.
To finish the year, we will have Wildlife Conclave at Tennessee Tech. Last year we
finished eighth overall, and several students stood out in the competitions. We hope
to improve on that finish and show that Auburn Wildlife Sciences is one of the best
in the Southeast.
As you can see, the Wildlife Society is staying busy during the entire year—it’s a
wonder how we find time to study.
Todd Threadgill
Auburn University Wildlife Society President
Forestry Conclave
The Auburn Forestry Club attended the
48th annual Southern Forestry Conclave in
March 2005. Hosted by Stephen F. Austin
State University, teams from 14 forestry
schools across the Southeast participated
in the event in Nacogdoches, Texas. This
year’s participants from Auburn included
Jay Ransom, Trista Ham, Scott Partain, Ben
Pinkleton, Clint Belden, Ryan Musick, Will
Colvin, Adam Ziegenbein, Erin Holmes,
James McKinnon, Josh Angel, Patrick Turner,
and Joseph McBrayer. Mathew Smidt and
Tom Gallagher attended as co-advisers.
Although it was the first conclave for the
Auburn students, the Forestry Club managed
a fifth place finish overall.
First place honors for the club went to
Colvin in the technical event of Compass and
Pacing. Ham finished second in the Women’s
Bow Saw and the Jill and Jill Crosscut with
Erin Holmes. The log rolling team of Musick
and Ziegenbein also finished second. Angel
captured third place in Timber Estimation.
The AU team made a strong showing for a
group of first-timers and is looking forward to
a better showing next year as five members of
this year’s team will be returning to the event.
Tom Gallagher
Right Top: The team cheers on Adam Ziegenbein
as he competes in the Men’s Bow Saw event.
Middle: Adam Ziegenbein and Ryan Musick work
toward their second place finish in the Log Rolling
event. Bottom: The Auburn Forestry Club Conclave team.
24
Auburn University
Summer Practicum 2005
Summer Practicum 2005 was an opportunity for Auburn forestry students to gain
skills and knowledge of what they will need in their future careers in forestry. Our time
at the Dixon Center provided a good opportunity to gain valuable experience while
getting to know other people that we will be working with in the forestry community
throughout our careers.
We gained a variety of skills this summer including cruising timber, mapping, using
GPS systems, surveying, and learning about different logging operations. We also
learned about different mills – the variety of timber they will take and the specifications
on how they want it delivered at their mills – and also about different approaches to
land management.
Make no mistake – summer camp was no cake walk! We worked hard during the day
at tasks such as chopping out boundary lines and cruising timber in some of the thickest places you can imagine. During many nights, we would stay up studying for tests,
or writing papers for class the next day, or even both. At the time, the studying was
the part we enjoyed the least. However, it gave us the opportunity to get to know each
other and see how everyone got along and helped one another. After it was over, we
knew it was worth the studying and hard work.
We did not have a lot of free time this summer, but when we did, we tried to make
the best of it. We would either swim in the springs or go fishing. We even thought
about climbing a fire tower or two. I am sure I speak for the whole camp when I say
it was our pleasure to have Rhett Johnson and Glenn Glover for their last summer at
camp. They will surely be missed at the summer practicum.
I almost feel sorry for the other schools that do not have a summer camp for their
students, but that is just another reason why Auburn forestry is a cut above the rest.
WAR EAGLE from the summer camp of 2005!
Donald Brown
President, Summer Practicum 2005
Summer Practicum officers, from left, are David Heflin, Donald Brown, and Frederick Thompson
25
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Student Ambassador Wildlife Youth Day
Each year, the Auburn University student chapter of the Wildlife Society sponsors an
Program
annual Wildlife Youth Day at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve in Auburn to
Sciences has recently begun a student
ambassador program. Student ambassadors
serve as representatives of the school at
various functions on and off campus.
This past year they have represented
the school at the building dedication,
Homecoming barbecue, and the Alabama
Treasure Forest Landowners Conference.
In addition, ambassadors will participate
in recruiting events such as War Eagle Days
and TALONS, both targeted at incoming
freshmen.
The ambassadors were selected from
the student body to represent diversity in
degree programs, class levels, and backgrounds. They also had to meet certain
qualifications including excellence in
academics and student involvement. The
school believes this year’s ambassadors are
excellent representatives of the AU campus
and the forestry and wildlife community.
The school is proud of the initiative
displayed by the ambassadors and hopes
they will pave the way for future ambassadors in the years to come.
If you are interested in having the ambassadors at a forestry/wildlife function in the
future, please contact crimsar@auburn.edu.
War Eagle!
Sarah Crim
Adviser, SFWS Student Ambassadors
2006 SFWS
Student Ambassadors
Craig Bansbach
Dawn Eason
Marla Hamilton
Ben Jackson
Elizabeth Peacock
Wes Pruet
Morgan Wainwright
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educate youth about the importance of wildlife conservation and natural resources. Thirdthrough fifth-grade students in Auburn city schools are invited to spend an interactive day
in the woods learning about animals, plants, and how human interaction affects our environment.
Throughout the day, students go to six stations, learning about a different environmental
topic at each. Stations from last year’s event included shelter building, mammals, insects,
trees, nature story time, and “Oh Deer,” a game that teaches the necessities for a healthy life
and habitat management. Special presentations from the Raptor Center open and close the
day, with a bird of prey being released at the end of the event.
Erin Holmes, President (2003-2004)
Tiffanie Baker, President (2004-2005)
The team gives moral and vocal support to Kim Freeland, left, and Randy Jarzyniecki as they
saw through the cant in the Jack and Jill crosscut event to a first place finish.
The Family Tree
Approximately two years ago, students from
the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
gathered acorns from the two iconic oak
trees at Toomer’s Corner where the Auburn
University campus meets downtown Auburn.
From those seeds, students and SFWS faculty
have grown more than 800 oak tree seedlings
that they made available for purchase to donors
for gifts of $50. Titled the Baby Toomer’s
Project, the seedlings give family and friends of
Auburn University an opportunity to own their
own piece of the famous Auburn tradition.
William T. Brown, a 1949 AU graduate,
received a Baby Toomer’s Oak and wrote to
Dean Brinker this past summer to share his
story.
Dear Mr. Brinker,
It was June, 1946. World War II was over, and I wondered, “what will I do
now?” Veterans were eligible for the G.I. Bill, so I decided to enroll at Alabama
Polytechnic Institute. On the first day of school, I walked between the oak trees at
the crossroads of Toomer’s Corner.
I saw students going in all directions with bundles of books under their arms.
I became doubtful about the choice I had made. I asked myself, “What are you
doing here?” I was about ready to go over the hill and re-enlist in the Navy. I
thought I can never survive the challenge. But I did. Three years later, I walked
between those oaks with a degree in Ag Science. I had to struggle for three years,
but I am happy I didn’t go back over that hill!
Time moved on and on Dec. 9, 2004, I received a beautifully wrapped package
from the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. Enclosed was a Toomer’s Corner
Oak seedling. A certificate of authenticity bearing the certificate tree number
352/756 was attached.
After reading the directions and suggestions, I asked for advice from my Texas
If you are interested in purchasing a
Toomer’s Oak or for more information
on the Baby Toomer’s project, please
call (334) 844-1001 or visit
http://www.sfws.auburn.edu/oaks/
default.htm
Toomer’s Oaks may also be purchased
through Tiger Rags at Tigerrags.com.
A&M neighbor that has a backyard full of oak seedlings in containers. It wasn’t
easy to decide on the best location in my backyard. Finally, the decision was made
and that little Toomer’s Corner Oak was placed carefully in a hole 15 inches wide
and 15 inches deep. A mixture of Texas clay and homemade compost filled the hole
supporting the baby oak. The spot was mulched with a good coat of pecan hulls.
Watering has been regular. The 90-plus degree temperatures are a challenge.
From where I’m writing, I can see a slow trickle of water refreshing the roots of
this new backyard resident.
Emily Sexton, my sister’s granddaughter, must have entered my name for the
plant. She is a student at Auburn and due to graduate in December. I’m glad she
thought about me.
My wife, Anne, and my son and daughter, plus one tomcat, migrated from
Mobile to Fort Worth, Texas, in 1967. We staked our claim on a corner lot at the
intersection of Trail Lake Drive and Walton Avenue. Now we’re stranded out
here where the West begins. Our only son stayed in Auburn until graduation and
received a degree in civil engineering. Now he is stranded in Texas, too.
We sit on our patio in view of our oriental pear tree and a red bud tree. Now our
Toomer’s Oak is in view as we watch “Old Glory” on the flag pole flapping in the
Texas breeze. Thanks for considering us to be a part of Auburn history.
War Eagle,
William T. Brown ’49
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Spring Scholarship Banquet
Rewarding hard work and great contributions to forestry and wildlife sciences was the
theme of this year’s Spring Scholarship Banquet. The event was held April 14 and, for
the third year, it took place at The Lodge and Conference Center, part of the Robert Trent
Jones Golf Trail. Members of the Wildlife Society, the Forestry Club and the SGA planned
a wonderful banquet. More than $107,867 was awarded in scholarships, and the following
people were recognized for their outstanding achievements and accomplishments.
Terry Love (R) presents the
Association of Consulting Foresters
Senior Leadership Award to Ben
Pinkleton.
Forestry Club, Wildlife Society and SGA
Appreciation Award presented to Lane
Messer. (L-R) Tiffanie Baker, Adam
Ziegenbein, Lane Messer, Ben Pinkleton,
Jamie McKinnon, and Todd Threadgill.
Robert Tufts (L) and Neil Waer (R) present the Robert Tufts Annual
Forestry Scholarship to Brian Williams.
Tiffanie Baker presents Jim Armstrong the
Wildlife Teacher of the Year Award.
Mrs. Frances Lowery Garner
presents Steven Meadows with
the Garden Club of Alabama
Forestry Conservation Scholarship.
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Teacher Awards
David LaBand won the Teaching Award from
the Forestry Club.
Jim Armstong won the Wildlife Society
teaching award.
Undergraduate
Student Awards
Casey Neary received Phi Kappa Phi honors,
the President’s Award, and the Alumni
Association’s Outstanding Senior award in
wildlife.
Lauren Havens received the SGA Outstanding
Student Award for the School of Forestry and
Wildlife Sciences.
Jamie McKinnon won the Alumni Association
Outstanding Senior Award in Forestry.
Ben Pinkleton was awarded the Association of
Consulting Foresters Senior Leadership Award.
Josh Angel won the Forest Science Award.
Tyler Baxter received the Weyerhaeuser Forest
Economics Award.
Will Colvin won the Society of American
Forester Junior Leadership Award.
Hugh Glidewell won the F&W Forestry Services
Rising Senior Award.
Jordan Smith won the Alabama Wildlife
Federation Game/Chip Williams Management
Award.
Andrew Hein won the Alabama Wildlife
Federation/Robert G. Wehle Non-Game
Management Award.
Tiffanie Baker won the Wildlife Society Senior
Award.
The Edward A. Hauss Forestry Scholarship recipients : (L-R) Charlie Morgan, Adam Barbee, David
Heflin, Harold Kowalsky, Kraig Jones, Wes Pruet, Steven Meadows, and Issac McNeely.
Graduate Student Awards
Rachel Jolley received the Honorable Mention
Award for best presentation at the national
meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists in
Charleston, S.C.
Tim Gothard (center) presents the Alabama
Wildlife Federation/Chip Williams Game
Management Award to Jordan Smith and the
Alabama Wildlife Federation/Robert G. Wehle
Non-Game Management Award to Andrew Hein.
The Harry Merriwether Fellowship, presented to
Jon Schoonover, is based on academic achievements.
The Top Ten Students Award, determined by
the Graduate Council, was presented this year
to John Hogland, master’s, and Melissa
Reynolds, Ph.D.
Ronnie Ware (R) presents the L.M. & Mary
Ware Endowed Forestry Scholarship to
Harold Kowalsky.
The James Floyd Goggans Graduate Fellowship
is awarded to a graduate research assistant
who is pursuing studies and research in some
aspect of forest biology. Rachel Jolley and John
Lhotka are exceptional students and the GPPC
elected to nominate them both this year.
Laura Hanson was this year’s recipient of the
George Crenshaw Moore Endowed Fellowship
awarded annually to a student pursuing a
master’s degree in the area of wildlife game
management.
The International Scholars Program Award for
2005 was given to Laura Robinson.
The Auburn University Book Scholarship
Memorial Award honoring Ms. Bobbie Roberts
was presented to Frito Dolisca.
Emmett Thompson presents the Emmett F.
Thompson Endowed Scholarship to Hugh
Glidewell.
Sue Pearson presents the Rose Eugene
Atchison Scholarship to David Heflin.
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Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt
One of the fastest growing traditions in the School of Forestry and
Wildlife Sciences is the Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt. Begun
in 2002, the event has quickly become known as the premier event of
its kind in the nation. And it all started with one woman’s vision and
simple request.
Lynn Dent Boykin asked Don Siegelman, while he was campaigning for governor, to hold a hunt to promote the outdoors. Boykin,
a Mobile native and a pioneer in turkey-hunting circles, was the
first female ever elected as president of the National Wild Turkey
Federation. She dedicated her life to promoting conservation and
providing people everywhere with a better understanding of God’s
gift of nature. In March 2002, Siegelman fulfilled his promise and the
Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt, dedicated in memory of Boykin,
was established.
Gov. Bob Riley has continued the tradition. The fourth annual
hunt was held in Montgomery in March. While the actual hunting activities occurred throughout central Alabama, the Embassy
Suites Hotel served as hunt headquarters. The Governor’s Hunt, as
it is fondly called, is sponsored by the Alabama Conservation and
Natural Resources Foundation in cooperation with the Alabama
Development Office and host community leaders.
The event, which celebrates the state’s hunting heritage, brings
major industry leaders to the state.
“We are successfully showcasing Alabama as the ultimate destination for business, industry, and nature-based tourism,” Riley said.
In addition to the hunt, the event includes a banquet and silent
auction, the proceeds of which go toward the Lynn Dent Boykin
Youth Wildlife Scholarship to benefit students pursuing undergraduate degrees in wildlife science. It is Auburn University’s largest
undergraduate wildlife scholarship endowment. Recipients of the
scholarship must demonstrate academic strength with a minimum
3.0 grade point average and seek practical experience or skills related
to wildlife management.
To date, more than $226,000 has been raised to benefit the Lynn
Dent Boykin Youth Wildlife Scholarship Endowment.
Invitees to the hunt include corporate leaders, industry prospects,
governors of other states, country music artists, NASCAR drivers,
and national outdoors media celebrities. Each guest hunter is paired
with a landowner and hunting guide. The guest hunter who bags
the largest turkey is awarded a large crystal trophy from the governor.
Turkeys are scored using a combination of weight, beard length, and
spur length. Bob Hart, vice-president of Wal-Mart, won the 2004
event by half a point over Wal-Mart President Tom Coughlin.
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Attending the banquet at the Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt were
(L-R) Angie Stephens, Director of Development, Carrie Johnson and
Brandon Jones, Boykin Scholarship recipients, Governor Bob Riley,
Kyle Marable and Elizabeth Peacock, Boykin Scholarship recipients
and Dean Dick Brinker.
Wildlife students served as ambassadors at the Governor’s
One-Shot Turkey Hunt. Shown with the wildlife students is Coach
Tommy Tuberville.
Tiffanie Baker with her newest boyfriend.
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Seems Like Only Yesterday
By Richard Brinker
April marks another milestone for the School of Forestry and
Wildlife Sciences. Rhett Johnson, the first and only director of the
Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, will retire from AU. Rhett
came to the center when it was in its infancy. There were no academic buildings, there was no management plan directing the use
of the 5,300 acres that would be given to Auburn to support a resident forestry summer camp, there were no employees, and there
was no infrastructure to support the students; it was forestland
that would become a marvelous asset to our program.
Faculty and
Staff Update
SFWS Welcomes the following:
Pam Beasley, Assistant to the Dean - 02/05
Michelle Cole, Extension Specialist - 07/05
Hua Chen, Research Fellow - 09/04
Mingzhen Chen, Research Associate - 03/05
Heigi Finegan, Forestry Technician - 04/05
Darlene Jarrell, Office Administrative Assistant - 12/04
Lori Eckhardt, Assistant to Research Professor - 07/05
Maksym Polyakov, Research Fellow - 04/05
Paul Schrantz, Weaver Professor - 01/06
Sherwin Smith, Wildlife Program Technician - 11/04
SFWS Says Goodbye to the following:
Lenore Martin, Assistant to the Dean — retired Dec. 31, 2004
Ralph Meldahl, Associate Professor — retired Aug. 31, 2005
Rhett Johnson is pictured with Ben Williams, his last summer practicum
graduate, and Martha Dixon.
A lot of work was done before the arrival of the first group of
summer camp students in 1980. Emmett Thompson hired Rhett
for his academic training as a forester and wildlife biologist, and
he was a “self-starter” who would get things done. Rhett took the
challenge, and oversaw the construction of all of the facilities that
presently compose the center. He shared a vision to make it a firstclass, unparalleled field experience for our students. Mr. Dixon
and Rhett spent hours and days discussing, planning, and doing
what was necessary to not only make the center a reality, but also
an exceptional field education facility for AU forestry students.
As Rhett looks to retirement, he can look back at his handiwork
over the past 25 years and feel a genuine sense of accomplishment.
He has put the center “on the map.” It is an essential part of the
education of more than 1,000 forestry graduates from Auburn,
and has hosted tens of thousands of professionals, landowners,
and school children for education events. Rhett was there 24/7.
Rhett and his wife, Kathy, will be missed at the Solon Dixon
Forestry Education Center, but his legacy will live on for many
years through his work. He has invested a good portion of his life
at the center, and I know that he will miss it almost as much as we
will miss him being there. Rhett, our best wishes go out to you and
Kathy in your retirement years. Enjoy—you’ve earned it.
Martin & Meldahl Retire
After a 25-year career with the school, Lenore Martin, assistant
to the dean, retired. Her contributions have impacted us all, and
her “southern drawl” will be missed. Ralph Meldahl retired on
Sept. 1, 2005, and was named associate professor emeritus. He
came to AU in 1979 and has authored or co-authored an impressive amount of material, while securing more than $4.5 million
in extramural grants during his career to support his research.
Meldahl made a significant impact on the profession through his
25 years of teaching and research and will be missed.
School
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Wildlife
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School
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Wildlife
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The Alabama Gap Analysis Project by Barry Grand and Mark MacKenzie
Grand
MacKenzie
Gap analysis is directed toward identifying
areas important to native species of wildlife
and in need of conservation on a large scale.
Initially, the project's scope was statewide.
However, the Alabama Gap Analysis Lab at
AU has joined forces with similar research
teams at North Carolina State University
and the University of Georgia to develop
the Southeast Regional Gap Project, which
encompasses an 11-state region. To accomplish this, faculty, research staff, and graduate
students are working to map the existing
land cover, which will be used to predict
the distributions of most species of wildlife
native to the region. Once completed, they
will be combined with maps of public and
private conservation lands that have been
categorized according to management status. The results will be used to produce a
database of the total surface area and relative
representation for each land cover type and
animal species relative to land management
practices. This information will be used to
promote cooperative approaches toward
developing large-scale conservation plans
and maintenance of the database.
The land cover mapping effort has
required researchers from the school to
develop new methods for the analysis and
classification of satellite imagery and other
ancillary data. In its first phase, the land
cover mapping team produced an updated
version of the National Land Cover Dataset
for the region. The U.S. Geological Survey
maintains this vital dataset, which has not
been updated in more than 10 years. The
second phase of land cover mapping, now
underway, is producing a more detailed classification based on NatureServe’s ecological
systems. A recent product of that effort is
a map of the distribution of longleaf pine
systems across the East Gulf Coastal Plain,
which has not been done on such a large
scale using satellite imagery. This data has
already been used in developing a statewide
conservation strategy for Alabama.
Data produced from the land cover mapping will be used to predict the distribution
of native wildlife across the region based on
wildlife habitat association models. Maps of
species distributions will be used to identify
areas that are unique due to rarity, the richness of wildlife communities, or the importance to species of high concern. Once the
database and geographic information system
are complete, they will be distributed via the
Web with a series of reports that identify the
important areas for consideration in conservation and management of wildlife and other
natural resources at state and regional scales.
Longleaf Alliance by Dean Gjerstad
Longleaf pine was
once ubiquitous in
Alabama and the
South, but years of
cutting and conversion
to other land uses has
severely reduced longGjerstad
leaf pine ecosystems to
less than five percent of its historical range.
Longleaf has myriad attributes desirable
to many landowners including superior
wood products that provide greater economic returns and risk aversion due to its
resistance to fire, disease, insects, and other
damaging agents common to other southern
pines. In addition, its open stands are conducive to a diverse ground-cover plant community providing habitat to a multitude of
insects, birds, and animals. Longleaf forests
are ideal for landowners because they provide excellent economic returns from timber,
pine straw, and wildlife amenities while benefiting the environment through enhanced
water quality and ecological restoration.
In 1995, Dean Gjerstad, a professor of
forestry, and Rhett Johnson, director of the
Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center.
established the Longleaf Alliance (LLA)
with a mission to promote the economic,
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ecological, and social values of longleaf pine
ecosystems and restore functioning ecosystems as a significant component of the
southeastern United States forest landscape
across its natural range. The strategy has
been to develop social, economic, and ecological arguments for longleaf pine to appeal
to a variety of private landowners and public
agencies. This work has been accomplished
through myriad research and outreach
endeavors involving a host of university and
affiliated scientists.
Research subjects have included natural
and artificial regeneration, understory restoration, impacts of silvicultural practices,
longleaf growth and yield, old growth stand
dynamics, anthropogenic studies on social
issues, prescribed fire, nursery seedling
production, and carbon sequestration.
Information gained from this research has
been disseminated through scientific publications and an ambitious outreach effort.
Over its 10-year existence, the alliance has
organized, conducted, or made presentations at nearly 450 workshops and conferences in 15 states. This output has been
achieved primarily through the efforts of
Gjerstad, Johnson, and LLA staffers Mark
Hainds and John McGuire. By providing
the necessary information for the various
landowners, the LLA has helped to halt the
decline in acreage by retaining and restoring
longleaf pine and re-establishing the tree
and accompanying suite of plants and animals in areas where longleaf pine previously
occurred.
Today, there are more than 700 active
LLA members. The alliance has become
the clearinghouse for information on “all
things longleaf ” and the catalyst for longleaf activities among its partners. These
partners include state and federal natural
resource agencies, forest industry, environmental groups, natural resource consultants,
nurserymen, and private forest landowners.
Partnerships with AU scientists have been
particularly valuable, crossing disciplines to
include botanists, plant ecologists, foresters,
wildlife biologists, herpetologists, economists, anthropologists, and others.
A measure of the impact of the Longleaf
Alliance is that 600 million longleaf pine
seedlings have been planted on one million acres in the past 10 years – a two-fold
increase over the previous decade. In addition, the LLA has received 40 research and
outreach grants and eight major awards.
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Forest Policy Center Projects by Larry Teeter
Faculty in the Forest
Policy Center are
engaged in a number
of research projects
including work on
determining urbanization effects on land use
Teeter
change, valuing the
environmental services provided by forests,
determining urban forestry benefits to communities, and providing support for development of extension forestry programs in the
transitional economies of eastern Europe.
Two other projects are the West Alabama
Community Development project and a
study on the factors influencing forest owners to manage for timber and/or non-timber
forest products.
The west Alabama project is funded by
the USDA and at $460,000, represents the
largest single award received by FPC members to date. FPC investigators Mark Dubois
(SFWS) and Conner Bailey (CoAg) have
teamed with Bruce Lindsey (CADC) to focus
on establishing a link between the abundant
timber resources of west Alabama and local
needs for improved housing. As is common
in much of the non-metropolitan Black Belt
South, the focus area suffers from problems
associated with persistent poverty and high
unemployment rates. Although many of
the residents of the region own timberland,
much of it is in tract sizes too small to be efficiently harvested using conventional means.
As a result, owners of these small tracts have
been effectively cut out of the timber market.
Lindsey, co-director of AU’s Rural Studio,
is helping the team promote harvesting and
wood processing technologies that will be
suitable for small, local landholdings and
produce valuable construction materials for
projects of the Rural Studio. The investigators have found that many residents living
in substandard housing in the region own
land with sufficient timber resources such
that, were a means available to harvest and
process their timber, home renovations
could be affected at little or no cost for
materials. Over the past year, project investigators have partnered with the Federation
of Southern Cooperatives (FSC) and the
Hale Empowerment and Revitalization
Organization (HERO) to identify obstacles
and opportunities that relate to introducing
scale-appropriate wood harvesting and processing technologies to the region.
In another project, FPC doctoral student
Indrajit Majumdar and Larry Teeter will
combine U.S. Forest Service FIA data on
timber resources with data from the National
Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS) to
explore factors that influence timberland
owners to produce timber and non-timber
outputs. Timber supply forecasters often
assume that people owning pine plantations are planning to offer timber for sale
at some point. But that may not always be
the case, and determining what owners
will do with forests that are not pine or not
intensively managed is even more difficult.
Collaboration with Brett Butler, coordinator
for the NWOS in Newtown Square, Pa., will
provide information on landowner intentions.
The intent is to learn about what people
will do with their timberland if we understand the context of their decision environment. If we know what kind of forest they
own and where it is located in relation to
markets and urban pressures, we can do
a better job of understanding responses
to questions about their intentions in the
NWOS. Knowledge of forestland owners’
intentions will have significant implications
for projections of future supplies of timber
and non-timber forest products.
From Wood Products to Environmental Services by Yaoqi Zhang
Changes in
forestry are reflected
in the changing market
related to wood products, forestland, and
other products and
services associated with
Y. Zhang
forests. Environmental
services – credits for carbon sequestration
and eco-tourism – have markets. Other
services provided by trees and green space
to our communities include energy
savings, improved air quality, aesthetics,
health benefits, wildlife habitats, and recreation opportunities. These values are
shown in higher real estate value, reductions
in water bills, increasing number of tourists, and the ability to attract more talented
people and businesses. Evidence increasingly
shows that amenities drive urban growth
and dynamics. There is a rise of leisure
pursuits compared to work. Quality of life
is not a mere byproduct of production. Like
the shifts from the Frost Belt into the more
friendly climates of the southern and western
United States, America’s growing population is spreading into the countryside and
the rural-urban interface in search of spatial
green areas and amenities. Trees and green
space play a special role in the livability of
American’s old communities and new
suburbs. As the demands and markets for
trees and forests change, so do our research
arenas of forestry.
Yaoqi Zhang, a SFWS assistant professor,
together with Professor David LaBand of
SFWS and Alumni Associate Professor Jeff
Sibley from the Department of Horticulture
are launching a study project to assess
public preferences for, and attitudes towards,
urban forests in suburban communities, with
financial support from the USDA Forest
Service, the SFWS and the Department of
Horticulture. The assessment will be
conducted based upon content analysis,
surveys on existing communities as well as
using choice experiments of hypothetical
configurations of green space and tree at
urban-rural interface. The objective is to
provide systematic information to city and
community policy makers and planners,
developers, non-profit organizations, the
general public and academic researchers,
to enhance their ability for appropriate tree
selection and management in the establishment phase of future urban forests. Another
project he is working on involves a more
cost-effective approach to controlling
non-point water pollution, and private
landowners’ attitudes towards and willingness to accept compensation to provide the
environmental services for watershed quality.
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Come forth
into the light of things,
Let Nature be your teacher.
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth’s words ring true
today as he deftly described the important
role that nature provides as teacher. The
Auburn community is blessed to have such
a rich learning environment in the Louise
Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve.
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The preserve features wooded hiking
trails, a vegetable garden, a wildflower
garden and meadow, and an area with
ferns. Educational programs are presented regularly, and field trips and summer
camps are available for children.
Margaret Holler, volunteer director of
the preserve, believes such programs are
important to instill the virtues of nature in
children and adults. She said that without
an outlet in the outdoors, such as the preserve, children especially can suffer from
“nature deficit disorder.”
“Kids are not getting out in nature like
they used to, and if they don’t get out to
connect with it, they’ll lose their appreciation for it,” she said. “It is my mission to
get them digging in the mud and walking
in the creeks again.”
This past year, the preserve offered
many opportunities for youngsters as well
as adults to experience the nature and
beauty provided throughout the 110-acre
preserve.
For the first time ever, the preserve
hosted three summer camps. Holler said
in the past, only two have been held, but
demand this year was high. In addition,
the preserve has collaborated with the
Southeastern Raptor Center for several
educational opportunities. “We had
people come from the Raptor Center and
do (bird) releases during summer camp,”
Holler said. “This is a particularly neat
connection.”
The installation of a dock was also a
major accomplishment this year. “We
had a dock put in, thanks to an AU grant
from funds derived from concessions. It
has been a great addition,” Holler said.
“We are also getting ready to have a board
walk and wet-loving plants put in next to
the pond.”
Another accomplishment was the
completion of the preserve’s 45-page
Plant Species Guide and Trail Highlights
booklet. It was completed in January after
several years in the making. The booklets
are available for $5 each, but members
receive one free. “We also have a few
available at the front kiosk for folks to use
while they visit the preserve,” she said.
This fall, the preserve hosted a wildflower and photography program where
participants learned about the wildflowers in the area and were given the opportunity to take lovely pictures of them. “It
was really great—one of our many great
programs,” Holler said.
While the preserve welcomed many
visitors and celebrated many accomplishments this year, Holler is looking toward
the future. “In the future, I hope to have
an interactive center for kids and organize
an interpretive hike,” she said.
Holler hosted a visit from a group
of nature center consultants in the fall.
Because of the preserve’s popularity,
the consultant’s will provide a written
report with their conclusions on steps to
move the FEP to the next level. “They
are going to look at what direction we’re
headed and make some recommendations.”
The preserve has been Holler’s passion
for nearly five years, and she has worked
purely on a volunteer basis. While she
has enjoyed seeing it grow, she is eager
to see the leadership potentially change
hands to a full-time director. Until that
time, however, she will continue to instill
her love of nature in everyone that visits
the preserve, especially children.
“Teaching children in a fun way about
soils, plants, and animals and their interdependence is a great thrill for them and
for me,” she said. “Never miss an opportunity to share your love of the outdoors
with a child.”
To become a friend of the preserve or to learn of the
upcoming programs, please visit the preserve's Web site
at www.sfws.auburn.edu/eco-site/
35
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Holler Named Wildlife Conservationist of the Year Margaret Holler was named
Conservation Educator of the Year
at the Governor’s Conservation
Achievement Awards ceremony
sponsored by the Alabama Wildlife
Federation. She was honored at
the 2005 Governor’s Conservation
Achievement Awards banquet in
Montgomery.
Holler has operated and managed
the 110-acre Louise Kreher Forest
Ecology Preserve in Auburn since
2001. She was among the many local
Longleaf Alliance Awards
Rhett Johnson & Dean Gjerstad, Co-Directors;
Mark Hainds, Research Coordinator;
John McGuire, Outreach Coordinator
‘Centennial Congress Award’ – in recognition of the Longleaf Alliance’s leadership
and dedication to the restoration of the
South’s longleaf pine forest and the many
plants and animal species dependent on
this majestic southern tree. Chief Dale
Bosworth, USDA Forest Service, presented
the award at Biltmore Estates, N.C., on
Nov. 9, 2004. Biltmore Estates is considered to be the birthplace of professional
forestry in the United States.
‘Multi-State/Regional Project Award’ –
2004 Southern Forest Resource Specialists
Awards Recognition Program, received
February 2005. This award from the
Cooperative Extension Service, Southern
Region, is an indication of the Longleaf
Alliance’s regional outreach impact.
citizens who helped establish the vision for the preserve. Due to her
selfless commitment, organization, leadership, and interpersonal
skills, her role has gradually evolved in scope and significance. She
now serves as the volunteer coordinator of management, education,
and program promotion at the preserve.
Holler has transformed the preserve from a fledgling nature
center to a community treasure and an educational resource
and environmental laboratory that is receiving regional and state
recognition. By investing countless hours of planning, organizing
volunteer “work days” to enhance the facilities, and improving
accessibility to the public, her dedication has made the preserve
not only a learning center but also a place for people of all ages
to enjoy.
Other Faculty Awards & Achievements
Other students, faculty, and alumni received
noteworthy awards and achievements
throughout the past year.
Becky Estes and Scott Enebak were
awarded “Outstanding Research Paper”
by the members of the Southwide Forest
Disease Workshop. In addition, Enebak,
Bill Carey, and Kathryn Flynn were
awarded “Outstanding Extension Paper” by
the same members of the Southwide Forest
Disease Workshop.
The project, “Interaction of ecosystems,
fires, air quality, and climate change in the
Southeast” has been funded/awarded by
EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR)
Program, which is a joint project among
two institutions: Georgia Institute of
Technology and Auburn University. Hanqin
Tian is the Auburn PI. The total award is
$749,047, covering 2005 through 2008.
David South received a Fulbright Award.
Lisa Samuelson won the Harold Christen
Award for teaching.
36
Auburn University
Larry Teeter of the Forest Policy Center
and Cooperative Extension Service received
the Award for Excellence “for exceptional
programming in the area of mass media” for
the Southern Region.
Nancy J. Loewenstein was elected secretary
of the Alabama Invasive Plant Council at the
annual meeting in May.
Robert Tufts earned an LL.M. (Master
of Laws) in tax from the University of
Alabama.
Shirts, Hats, Mugs & More!
Order your SFWS gear online
at www.sfws.auburn.edu/sso
or call 334-844-1001.
School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences
602 Duncan Drive
Auburn University, AL 36849-5418
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 9
Auburn, AL 36849

2005 News Magazine - Auburn University

Transcription

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