The Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award

A tradition of excellence in honor of Walt Pomeroy, a dear friend and steadfast supporter of Audubon in Pennsylvania

The “Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award” is built on the tradition inaugurated by the Audubon Council of Pennsylvania (ACP) to honor individuals who made important contributions to conservation in Pennsylvania. Past recipients of the Conservation Award included Governor Robert P. Casey, Sr.; Congressmen Peter Kostmayer and Jim Greenwood; Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Dr. Maurice K. Goddard; and others. All of these past awards were earmarked by a simple ceremony. It was not associated with any major event, fundraiser or other purpose. It was, and remains, intended as an honor to a deserving recipient. The award was in the form of a framed piece of bird art with a simple engraved plaque.

In 2022, the Pennsylvania Audubon Council reestablished the “Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award” in the tradition of ACP. It is a fitting tribute to honor the memory and legacy of Walt Pomeroy. Walt was a great friend of Audubon here in Pennsylvania as well as throughout the former six-state Audubon MidAtlantic Region. Walt served Audubon for seventeen years in the 1980s and 1990s. Walt was responsible for the establishment of many of our chapters here in Pennsylvania as well as Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Walt Pomeroy provided immeasurable support to chapters and chapter leaders. Walt established Audubon Councils in each of these states. Regular Council meetings were used to help coordinate the chapter network. Walt was integral to the formal incorporation of the Audubon Council of Pennsylvania and the reestablishment of the Pennsylvania Audubon Council. The Pennsylvania Environmental Digest created a wonderful “In Memorium” profile of Walt Pomeroy that can be found on their blog HERE.

Walt led the successful effort to establish the Pennsylvania Audubon state office with the appointment of Cindy Dunn as the first Executive Director of Audubon Pennsylvania. After his departure from Audubon, Walt continued to serve on the Audubon Pennsylvania Advisory Board. He also served for many years with the various Boards that led to the establishment of the John James Audubon Center in Audubon, Pennsylvania. Walt also served on the Board of the Seabird Institute and the Friends of Hog Island, an invaluable Audubon asset.

Walt understood the importance of recognizing the efforts and leadership of individuals who sustained the conservation work critical to us all. It is fitting that Pennsylvania Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Cindy Dunn, is the first recipient of the Pennsylvania Audubon Council Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award. Her long association with Appalachian Audubon, our chapters, the Council, Walt Pomeroy and her conservation record make her the outstanding inaugural honoree!