VSO Award Recipients

Jackson M. Abbott Conservation Award Winners

1973: The U. S. Coast Guard for its preservation of Osprey nests on navigational aids.
1974: Persons responsible for recent legislation strengthening the protection of birds of prey in Virginia.
1975: Philip Shelton for his efforts to persuade the Commonwealth of Virginia to institute effective strip-mining controls.
1976: North Carolina Governor and Legislature for its efforts to protect the New River against a pump-storage hydroelectric project.
1977: Dennis Holland for his efforts to maintain the integrity of the National Wildlife Refuge system.
1978: The Virginia Chapter of the Nature Conservancy for its work in preserving the barrier islands of the Virginia Eastern Shore.
1979: Mitchell A. Byrd for his work on endangered species in Virginia.
1980: Jackson M. Abbott for his work on conservation of the Bald Eagle.
1981: Citizens for Southwest Virginia for their effort to insure that development of the Mount Rogers Recreation area would not impact the natural beauty of the area.
1982: Walter E. Feurer for his work at the Cheatham Annex and his efforts in environmental protection.
1983: Margaret O’Bryan for her efforts on behalf of the non-game tax bill.
1984: John Fulton for his work at Kerr Reservoir to improve wildlife habitat.
1985: Sylvia Ann Brugh for her opposition to the Burke’s Dam Project and efforts leading to Scenic River designation for that section of the river.
1986: Susan B. Haines for her work to protect the Bald Eagle population at Mason Neck.
1987: Henry Bashore for his enthusiasm, leadership, and efforts to establish conservation awareness on the Northern Neck.
1988: Ed Risley for his active participation on committees to preserve Assateague, Dyke Marsh, Mason Neck, and Huntley Meadows.
1989: Norma Hoffman and Citizens Alliance to save Huntley Meadows for significant contributions to preserve habitat and promote public awaremess.
1990: Gary Fraser and Karen Mayne of the USFWS for their efforts to protect Bald Eagle habitat along the James River.
1991: Ken Howard for his many efforts to preserve Huntley Meadows Park.
1992: no award given.
1993: Porter Kier for his work in habitat protection on the Northern Neck.
1994: AMOCO Corporation Yorktown Refinery for their local conservation efforts.
1995: Barry Kinzie for his work with habitat preservation at Woodpecker Ridge.
1996:Craney Island Dredge Materials Management Facility for its work in promoting shorebird habitat and protecting sensitive nesting areas.
1997: Virginia Department of Transportation Pine Chapel Unitwhich manages the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel for cooperating to protect nesting habitat for Black Skimmers and Common Terns.
1998: Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Commission for their cooperation in facilitating access for bird study.
1999: James W. Waggener for his work in helping to establish the Occoquan Refuge.
2000: Robert Bloxom, delegate from the Eastern Shore, for his work in promoting conservation.
2001: no award given.
2002: Non-Game Division of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for work in promoting conservation and public awareness of birds.
2003: Kiptopeke State Park for their work in preservation of habitat and cooperation in bird studies.
2004: Virginia Coastal Reserve for coordinating with Wallops Island in the use of radar equipment set up on the Eastern Shore to monitor bird migration.
2005: no award given
2006: no award given
2007: Center for Conservation Biology
2008: Radford Army Ammunition Plant
2009: Virginia Field Office of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service
2010: Larry & Thrye Valade
2011: no award given
2012: Stephen Eccles
2013: Larry Cartwright
2014: no award given
2015: Larry Wright
2017: Rick Webb for his work in the preservation of ecosystems in the mountains of western Virginia
2018: no award given
2019: Lance and Jill Morrow for their work on raptors including Barn Owls and American Kestrels in the Shenandoah Valley
2020: Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory
2021: no award given
2022: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources - Becky Gwynn
2023: no award given

Mitchell A. Byrd Award Winners

2012: Dan Cristol - William & Mary
2013: Bryan Watts - William & Mary
2014: James (Jim) Fraser - Virginia Tech
2015: Dana Hawley - Virginia Tech
2016: No Recipient
2017: Dr. Sarah Karpanty - Virginia Tech
2018: Lesley Bullock - Virginia Commonwealth University
2019: no award presented
2020: no award presented
2021: no award presented
2022: no award presented
2023: Charles Ziegenfus

James Eike Service Award Winners

Jackson Abbott
Robert Ake
J. William Akers
John Bazuin
Ruth Beck
Edward ‘Ned’ Brinkley
Wesley Brown
Mitchell Byrd
Thelma Dalmas*
John Dalmas
Anton Decker
John Dillard
Andrew Dolby
James (& Claire) W. Eike* for whom award is named
Linda Fields
Charlotte Friend
Charles Hacker
David Hughes
Enoch Johnson
Teta Kain
YuLee Larner
Larry Lynch
John Mehner
Clair Mellinger
Dorothy Mitchell*
Myriam Moore*
Bill Opengari
Jackie Parton
Richard Peake
Sue Ridd
Stephen Rottenborn
Alan Schreck
Frederic Scott*
Dot Silsby
Walter Smith
Peggy Spiegel
Sue Thrasher
Jerry Via
Robert J. Watson*
Bill Williams
Grace Wiltshire
Jo Wood
2017: Wendy Ealding and Meredith Bell
2018: Arun Bose
2019: Patti Reum
2020: Shirley Devan and David Youker
2024: Lee Adams

* indicates the names of those initial recipients who received the awards at the 1984 meeting.

Myriam P. Moore Service Award Winners

1983: Myriam Moore
2006: Thelma Dalmas
2007: Teta Kain
2019: Robert Ake
2024: Jerry Via and Bill Akers