Champions lost.Tree champions are not always trees, and AMERICAN FORESTS American Forests is a nonprofit conservation organization that promotes healthy forests and urban tree planting. The organization was established in 1875 as the American Forestry Association, by physician/horticulturist John Aston Warder and a group of like-minded citizens is mourning the loss of several. One of our favorite friends, Colby Rucker, 67, of Arnold, Maryland, an environmentalist environmentalist a person with an interest and knowledge about the interaction of humans and animals with the environment. , Big Tree hunter, and AMERICAN FORESTS life member, died in November. Tree lovers near Maryland's capital city of Annapolis had long relied on Rucker to hunt down, speak out for, and generously share his knowledge of big trees. AMERICAN FORESTS relied on him too; he was generous with his time, and we valued his service on AMERICAN FORESTS' Advisory Board for the National Register of Big Trees The National Register of Big Trees is a list of the largest living specimens of each tree variety found in the continental United States. A tree on this list is often called a National Champion Tree. . "Colby taught me much of what I know today about big trees," said Karen Fedor, AMERICAN FORESTS' VP for Global ReLeaf and Big Tree coordinator. "His enthusiasm for big trees, the environment, and Maryland's natural history was contagious. I feel so fortunate to have been able to work with him. "Colby was always a voice of reason and moderation and so was an incredible asset for the National Register of Big Trees," she added. "We will miss him so." Rucker's hometown had recently honored him with the Jan Hollmann 2004 Environmental Education Award. The award recognizes people and organizations for notable achievements in environmental education. Rucker operated Rucker Tree Experts from 1956 until 1981, when he began working for the state department of general services. He nominated two trees on the 2004 National Register of Big Trees, a co-champion shrub althea hibiscus and co-champion poison-sumac. AMERICAN FORESTS is also mourning the death of Elbert L. Little Jr., a retired U.S. Forest Service dendrologist den·drol·o·gy n. The botanical study of trees and other woody plants. den  dro·log who authored the Checklist of United States Trees (Native and Naturalized nat·u·ral·ize v. nat·u·ral·ized, nat·u·ral·iz·ing, nat·u·ral·iz·es v.tr. 1. To grant full citizenship to (one of foreign birth). 2. To adopt (something foreign) into general use. ), which AMERICAN FORESTS uses as a guide for its National Register of Big Trees. Little, was also author of the popular Audubon Field Guides to North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. Trees. Little was 96. We were also saddened to learn of the death of Kirby Beam, 65, a forester and logger from Savannah Savannah, city, United States Savannah, city (1990 pop. 137,560), seat of Chatham co., SE Ga., a port of entry on the Savannah River near its mouth; inc. 1789. , who died in August. Beam was past president and chair of Guerry Lumber Company and, with his wife Lynda, was named National Outstanding Tree Farmer in 1994. Beam attended the Seventh American Forest Conference, which was co-sponsored by AMERICAN FORESTS. |
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