Wilderness Heroes: Annual Award Winners

All Montana Wilderness Association volunteers deserve an award. Thank you all! Each year, as part of our convention activities, we recognize the work of a few people who have given exceptional service to Wilderness.

The Founder's Award is given each year to the member who best exemplifies outstanding and enduring dedication to the cause of Wilderness and the mission of the Montana Wilderness Association. In 2008 MWA chose a group of people for this honor. Here is an excerpt from the awards ceremony taken from the introductory remarks of MWA's Brad Borst. "Much has been written about the physical landscape that makes up the Rocky Mountain Front—described with words such as remarkable, unique, extraordinary—and anyone who has spent any amount of time there would readily agree. But it isn't just the landscape these words apply to. These words also apply to a special group of people that live and work along the Front—who are a part of the Rocky Mountain Front—that have worked tirelessly, day in and day out, for years to protect this majestic landscape so future generations can experience it in all its glory just as we do today. They are a diverse group—ranchers, outfitters, educators, a former fighter pilot, carpenter, and taxidermist and they accomplished their conservation work with dignity, courage, grace and humor. They are without a doubt some of the most remarkable people I have ever met in my life and I'm absolutely delighted that they are being honored here today." MWA 2008 Founder's Award recipients are: Karl and Teri Rappold; Roy Jacobs; Dusty Crary; Bill Cunningham and Polly Burke; Stoney Burke; Gene Sentz; Chuck and Sharon Blixrud; and Tony and Deb Porcarelli.

The Monumental Awards are special awards given to people who have worked tirelessly on National Monument issues in Montana. Dennis Tighe was the first award winner in 2002. Dennis led the efforts to preserve the Missouri Breaks National Monument. In 2004, Cathy Lewis was presented with an award for her efforts related to the oil and gas leasing litigation, in particular her donation of her time and legal skills.

The Brass Lantern Awards are bestowed upon volunteers for their leadership, and for taking action that promotes Wilderness, quiet trails and responsible management of our public lands by managing agencies.

Past Brass Lantern Award winners
2010 Bill Martin, Charlie O'Leary, Jeff Hunnes, Jack Rich, Kim Dale, Bob and Shirley Bayley
2009 Tom McDonald, Mike Brown, Phil Hough, Smoke Elser, Keith Gebo, Betsy Forbes
2008 Janis Lee Taylor, Terry Meyers, Ryan Sparhawk, Wendy Ninteman, Anne Banks, George Engler, Beverly Dupree and Dick Walton
2006 Cathy Lewis, Paul Olson, Maggie Pitman, Steve Thompson, Margaret Webster, and Dick Young
2005 Roger Sherman, Joseph Scalia III, Steven Seninger, Debbie Lyman, Noreen Breeding, Edwin Fields, and John Frederick
2004 Howard Strause, Gene Sentz, Katie Sako, Dave Hadden, Gloria Flora, and Stoney Burk
2003 Cathy Weeden, Mike McGrath, Dick Kendall, Brad Johnson, Cesar Hernandez, Dale Harris, and Pattie and Neal Brown
2002 Susie Waldron, Jeff Van Tine, Teddy Roe, Robyn King, Dan Bennett, and Randy Beacham
2001 Wendy Whitehorn, Dyrck van Hyning, S. 393 Team, Kathy Lloyd, Cesar Hernandez, Mike Grayson, and Mark Good

Past Montana Wilderness Association Founder's Award Winners
2010 Lex Blood
2009 Dale Harris
2008 Karl and Teri Rappold, Roy Jacobs, Dusty Crary, Bill Cunningham and Polly Burke, Stoney Burke, Gene Sentz, Chuck and Sharon Blixrud, and Tony and Deb Porcarelli for their work to protect the Rocky Mountain Front.
2006 Gerry Jennings, Four years as president of MWA and amazing leadership
2005 George and Elna Darrow, For their tireless efforts on behalf of the Wild Swan Range and in bridging Montana's business and wilderness preservation interests
2004 David Steinmuller, Instrumental in enhancing fundraising capability of organization and passion for Wilderness
2003 Rick and Susie Graetz, Continuing and unending support of Wilderness in Montana
2002 Rick Bass, For his dedication to wild places and communities of northwest Montana
2001 Jim Posewitz, For the Front, for the heritage of wilderness in Montana
2000 Margaret Adams, Great Falls educator and long-time MWA leader
1999 Frank Culver, Bozeman, for decades of dedication to quiet trails and legal recourse
1998 Ken and Florence Baldwin, For being the true founders!
1997 Gene Sentz and Family, The champions of the Rocky Mountain Front!
1996 Louise Bruce, For his role as MWA president and spokesperson
1995 Susan Bryan, For more than a decade of work with MWA
1994 Ross Titus, Flathead Chapter leader and local activist
1993 Donna Metcalf, Long supporter of wilderness and leadership with the Forever Wild Endowment
1992 Lou Bruno, A tribute to his leadership of MWA and dedication to protecting the Badger Two Medicine

Before 1992, the award that is now called the Founders Award was the Sutton Award
1991 Dave and Deb Erickson, Kootenai Accords
1990 Loren Kreck,Wilderness mentor and warrior
1989 Arnie Bolle, Wilderness mentor and warrior
1988 Doris Milner, Wilderness mentor and warrior
1987 Elaine Snyder, MWA leadership and northwest Montana wildlands defender
1986 Joan Montagne, MWA leadership and champion for the wild Madison and Gallatin country
1985 Ed Madej, Leadership of MWA
1984 Sharlon Willows, Defending Glacier National Park
1983 Al Luebeck, Southwest Montana wilderness defender
1982 John Gatchell, Focus on protecting Flathead wildlands
1981 Cass Chinske, Focus on the Rattlesnake Wilderness
1980 Bob Bishop, For his years of outstanding conservation work as president of MWA; Bob Marshall Alliance; Great Bear Wilderness
1979 Bill Cunningham
1976 Ed Dobson
1975 Rick Applegate, Center for the Public Interest