Craig Thompson – 2015 Volunteer of the Year
Anne Kilgore, SAHC Trustee and Director of Sustainability at Eastman, presented this year’s Stanley A. Murray Volunteer of the Year award to Craig Thompson, for outstanding service in the Highlands of Roan. In 1989 the Stanley A. Murray Award for Volunteer Service was created to honor persons who have made outstanding volunteer contributions to the work of SAHC, emulating the lifelong dedication of our founder, Stanley A. Murray.
Craig lives in Jonesborough, TN. Recently retired, he is an avid hiker and photographer and has traveled extensively throughout the US. He has served SAHC as a model volunteer in key capacities. Craig cares passionately about the Roan Highlands and participates in almost every habitat management workday we hold there — assisting in coordination of the NC BRIDGE crew, Grassy Ridge mow-off, Roany Boyz, and other workdays.
Craig has been an enthusiastic participant in our recent “triple mowing” experiment, in which we are partnering with the US Forest Service and volunteers to look at new ways to control blackberry. Craig recognizes the importance of engaging new generations of conservationists in SAHC’s mission. He is actively pursuing outreach on our behalf in the Tri-cities region, in order to recruit new members and build our constituency. Thank you and congratulations to Craig!
As the raffle ended, the night concluded, and guests trickled out to return home, we were grateful and pleased to have been able to gather under the shadow of the mountains to celebrate and carry forward our conservation – now 41 years strong and growing.
