AWARDS | Blazing Star

Biological Scientist, Project Manager for Tenoroc

Danon Moxley was awarded the Blazing Star award for his "tireless and tenacious commitment to the realization of Tenoroc as an urban haven for wildlife and recreation". Danon Moxley is responsible for the evolution of Tenoroc from phosphate mine to ecologically healthy public use area.

Danon Moxley has worked for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission for 45 years. In 1992 he was selected as Project Leader for the Tenoroc Fish Management Area. In 2015, the 8,300-acre Tenoroc area became a Public Use Area under the Division of Habitat Species Conservation. For the last 31 years, Mr. Moxley’s efforts at the Roc have centered on habitat and hydrological restoration and creation of a quality public outdoor recreational area. Read more about the Danon Moxley and his work.

Nature Photographer, Illustrator and Educator

Reinier provides rescue and transport services for various wildlife rehabilitation centers in the Polk County area, including the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey.

Reinier Munguia is a nature photographer and illustrator with a strong education and conservation vision. His work has appeared in several publications including textbooks and magazines. His passion for nature has led him to become an advocate for causes related to the protection of species. He reaches thousands of people every year through his nature presentations in schools and nature events, and through his workshops. Read more about the Reinier Munguia and his work.

Founders of Woodland Wonders

Joan and Roger Waters receive their award from GHLT President Marian Ryan. See the video of the presentation.

Joan and Roger Waters were presented the Blazing Star Award for over thirty years of devotion to the rehabilitation of injured wildlife and instilling the love of nature and its creatures in our children. Read more about the Waters and their work.

The Caretaker of Tiger Creek

Steve Morrison holds his Blazing Star Award,
which he recieved from GHLT President Marian Ryan
at the GHLT Annual Meeting and Dinner.

Steve Morrison received the 2020 Blazing Star Award at the Trust’s Annual Meeting and Dinner. A naturalist, conservationist, teacher, musician, and artist, Steve has restored wildlands with prescribed fire throughout Florida. As a mentor and teacher his wisdom, patience, and enthusiasm have inspired many. Tiger Creek Preserve stands as a testament to his skills as well as his deep abiding love of the land and its creatures. Steve recently retired as the Central Florida Preserves Manager for The Nature Conservancy after 30 years of service.

A Precedent-Setting Environmentalist

The 2019 Blazing Star Award was presented to Jeffrey Spence for his numerous accomplishments in his long career working to preserve Polk County's natural resources. During his 35 years with Polk County Board of County Commissioners, Mr. Spence held numerous positions and retired in 2018 as the Parks & Natural Resources Director. His major accomplishments include the creation of the county’s Water Quality, Environmental Lands and Drainage Programs; overseeing the purchase of 26,000 acres of environmental lands (including the Circle B Bar Reserve); and managing the construction of over $50,000,000 of parks during the past eight years.

Jeffrey earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Biology from the University of Central Florida, and completed the Certified Public Manager Program at Florida State University. He began his career as an Environmental Planner with the Central Florida Regional Planning Council before joining Polk County.

Since retirement, he has enjoyed pursuing his passions of travel and nature photography with his wife, Lynette – RN and birder extraordinaire. They have two grown sons.

A Passion for Sharing Knowledge

Green Horizon President Marian Ryan presents the 2018 Blazing Star Award to Dr. Paul Fellers for his lifelong passion of sharing his knowledge of the natural world and for teaching conservation. Photo by Carla Savage.

The 2018 Blazing Star Award recipient is Dr. Paul Fellers for his lifelong passion of sharing with others his knowledge of the natural world and for teaching them conservation.

Dr. Fellers has a life goal to teach conservation to others and share his passion for the natural world and observations with interested students. He has led field trips for Mosaic mines for close to 25 years, hosted bus field trips, birding field trips, 100s of naturalist programs on trips, travel, and birds, and taught Ornithology 101 at Audubon Center and Circle B Bar Reserve for 15 years. Paul continues to offer programs, trips and talks imparting unto others his knowledge of the natural world! Conservation is the name of the game for Paul.

One of eight children, Dr. Fellers was born in North Hampton, Massachusetts and raised in Amherst. He earned a Bachelors degree at the University of Massachusetts in Food Science and Technology, his Masters at Virginia Tech in Food Processing, spent 2 years in the Army as a Meteorological Observer, and then earned his PhD at Michigan State University in Food Science and Technology. Paul worked 31 years at Florida Department of Citrus at the Agricultural Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, Florida as a Research Scientist 3, retired in 1995 and has been President and VP of Lake Region Audubon for 7 years and on the board of Lake Region Audubon for over 40 years. He has been married to his wife Donna for 56 years. Together they have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.

A Great Legacy

2017 Blazing Star Award recipient Tom Palmer with David Price.

The recipient of our 2017 Blazing Star Award is Tom Palmer, whose contributions have been non-stop. At Lake Blue Scrub, he has conducted trash cleanups, monitored rare plants and animals and fence lines. He has helped state and federal officials to locate suitable sites for the introduction of Scrub Lupine as part of an Endangered Species Act recovery project.

In his spare time he has volunteered for bird, butterfly and plant surveys, and land management projects on local conservation lands. Since 2002 he has been a volunteer land steward at Lake Blue Scrub, a 78-acre preserve managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

He also has worked with land managers and attends regular meetings to keep up with evolving issues pertaining to conservation issues in Florida. You'll often find Tom at lake cleanups and other activities to raise awareness about the proper stewardship of conservation lands in Central Florida.

Tom's environmental writing career has been consistently award-winning, including the Florida Press Club's 2015 1st Place Award for Environmental Writing. You have seen his work in the Florida Field Naturalist, Sida, Guide to the Great Florida Birding Trail, Polk County Historical Quarterly, Florida Historical Quarterly, American Forests and The Palmetto.

Read the full story of Tom's incredible contributions here.

A Family Tradition

The 2016 Blazing Star Award was presented to The Lightsey Family for their protection of wetlands, scrub, hammocks, and pine flatwoods, and the wildlife those ecosystems support. For 6 generations, since the 1850s, the Lightsey family has worked the land in Central FLorida, passing down their values and traditions along with their property. They are committed to preserving and protecting the land. The family implements conservation practices such as rotational grazing and controlled pasture burning.

Lightsey Cattle Company had one of the first major conservation easements in Florida over 34 years ago. They have been pioneers in protecting wetlands, scrub, hammocks, and pine flatwoods, and the wildlife those ecosystems support.

Nearly 70% of the Lightsey Cattle Company land is currently in seven different types of conservation easements, preserving Florida's history along with the land, water, and wildlife. The 11,000+ acres make up four separate ranches owned and operated by brothers Layne and Cary. Tiger Lake Ranch and West Lake Wales Ranch are in Polk County. The XL Ranch is in Highlands County, and Brahma Island is in Lake Kissimmee, Osceola County.

The Lightsey Family was awarded the 2016 Blazing Star Award for their protection of wetlands, scrub, hammocks, and pine flatwoods, and the wildlife those ecosystems support.

The 2016 Audubon Florida "Sustainable Rancher of the Year" was presented to the family's Lightsey Cattle Company Ranch. The family was also the 2006 recipient of the Commissioner's Agricultural Environmental Leadership Award.

A Champion for Conservation

David Price congratulates 2015 Blazing Star Award recipient Myra Zilahy.

Myra Zilahy was presented with the 2015 Blazing Star Award. She was one of the founders of Green Horizon Land Trust in 1991 and served as the organization's president until 1995.

Myra received her early education in the Babson Park and Lake Wales public schools. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Tulane University and juris doctorate degree from the University of New Hampshire School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in New Hampshire and Florida. Prior to her involvement with the land trust, she served two terms as president of the Defenders of Crooked Lake. She counts among her conservation mentors some of the previous recipients of the Blazing Star Award.

Myra has been a long-time board member of the Indian River Land Trust. She also has served as the senior staff attorney with the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court specializing in civil litigation.

A Lifetime of Service

Rick Dantzler accepts the 2014 Blazing Star Award from David Price.

The 2014 Blazing Star Award was presented to Rick Dantzler for dedication to protecting Florida through his work in the legislature, his writing, and other professional and personal activities.

Rick has worked with environmental groups to protect the Everglades headwaters and to expand protected areas of Fisheating Creek. He also has written about environmental issues in many newspaper columns, magazine articles, and the highly acclaimed book, Under the Panther Moon. The book uses 22 fictional short stories, each constructed around an environmental issue, illustrating the challenges Florida faces with increasing population.

A third-generation Floridian, he was raised in Winter Haven. Rick served in both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. He also served as the USDA State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency in Florida. Rick has practiced environmental and agricultural law and mediation, and is a Past-President of GHLT.

He has served as an attorney with the Business Trial Group section of Morgan & Morgan. He also has been a Supreme Court certified mediator with Central Florida Mediation Group in Lakeland, and has been licensed to mediate Civil Court Circuit, Family Law and Appellate matters.

In Partnership for Florida

Buck and Linda Cooper recognized for tireless efforts.

Buck and Linda Cooper were awarded the 2013 Blazing Star Award for their lifelong contributions to wildlife preservation, conservation work, and years of environmental education as naturalists at Audubon/Street Nature Center in Winter Haven.

Buck and Linda have long been known for their contributions to every bird and butterfly survey and count in Central Florida, including Disney Wilderness Preserve, Colt Creek State Park, Lake Kissimmee State Park, Lake Louisa State Park, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Circle B Bar Reserve, Van Fleet and Withlacoochee State Trails and Bok Tower Gardens.

Their volunteer activities have given them an opportunity to share their passion for butterflies with others. Over the years they have given programs on birds, wildflowers and butterflies all over Florida – from Niceville in the panhandle to the Florida Keys. They led many field trips for both birds and butterflies.

From 2007-2009 they were regional coordinators for Florida Natural Areas Inventory – surveying large public conservation lands for rare butterfly species. They both serve on the Technical Assessment Group that evaluates lands for possible purchase by Polk County’s Environmental Lands Program.

Buck and Linda were the 1998 recipients of Florida Audubon’s distinguished Allan Cruickshank Memorial Award for their conservation work in Florida. That same year they were recognized by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission (now FFWCC) with an award for their contribution to wildlife preservation.

Read the full story of their incredible contributions here.

A Legacy of Landscapes

Charles Geanangel: dedicated to protecting and preserving Florida’s natural resources.

The 2012 Blazing Star Award was presented to Charles Geanangel for his dedication to protecting Florida’s natural resources and instilling through public education the value of preserving our beautiful outdoors for now and future generations.

Chuck has been a board member of the Polk County Friends of the Parks Foundation since 2007 and a regular Team Leader volunteer at the 1,287-acre Circle B Bar Reserve. He was elected to the board of directors of Green Horizon Land Trust in 2005.

Mr. Geanangel was Chair of the Polk County Coalition for the Environment that successfully lobbied for creation of the Polk County Citizens Land Acquisition Advisory Committee (CLASAC) for environmentally-sensitive lands. He later served on that committee.

A board member and officer of the Lake Region Audubon Society for decades, Chuck served as President and has been elected Conservation Chair for around 20 years. He also served as Board Director of Audubon of Florida.

Chuck has served in many roles for the Ancient Islands Group of the Florida Sierra Club, including Chair and Treasurer. In 2011, he received the Florida Sierra Club’s Dolphin Award.

A Leader in Preservation

Gaye Sharpe: protecting Polk County's surface waters and a leader in the Environmental Lands Program. Photo from The Ledger

The 2011 Blazing Star Award was presented to Gaye Sharpe for her years of efforts to protect Polk County's surface waters and her leadership with the Environmental Lands Program.

Ms. Sharpe became a biologist with the Natural Resources Division of Polk County in 1990, after working eight years in the citrus industry. For five years she evaluated the health of water bodies as part of a Lake and Stream Water Quality Program. Based on the data she collected, she initiated projects to improve the quality of surface waters.

Ms. Sharpe was promoted to Environmental Lands Coordinator of Polk County where her work included the purchase of environmentally-sensitive properties, protecting the natural resources of acquired lands, managing those resources, and developing appropriate nature-based recreation.

She also served as the Natural Areas Manager for Polk County, overseeing the Environmental Lands Program and the Invasive Aquatic Plant Program for Polk County’s lakes and rivers with public boat ramps. Under her leadership over 25,000 acres of environmental land have been acquired and 84 lakes are being managed for removal of invasive exotic plants.

Ms. Sharpe earned Bachelor's degrees in Biology and Health and Physical Education, a double major, from Mercer University. She graduated from Troy University with a Master of Public Administration.

Leader for Preservation, Acquisition and Education

The 2010 Blazing Star Award was presented to Virginia McKinley for her dedicated efforts to Polk County environmental education and land preservation.

Ms. McKinley was instrumental in the creation of the Scrub Plum Preserve in Babson Park. She also convinced Babson Park Community Church to set aside land under a conservation easement to be used for an outdoor classroom for the Babson Park Elementary School (now Dale Fair Elementary School). She then secured grant funding to produce a film featuring the classroom at work at Scrub Plum.

Virginia played a pivotal role in establishing a local land trust to serve Central Florida. She worked relentlessly for the creation of a land purchasing program for Polk County, hosting initial meetings of the Environmental Lands Program in Polk County o her porch. She served at the first Chair of the Citizens Land Acquisition Advisory Committee (CLASAC).

A Precedent-Setting Environmentalist

Marian Ryan helped Richard Coleman and Smiley Hendry clear water hyacinths from approximately 28 miles of Fisheating Creek, making the creek fully navigable.

The 2009 Blazing Star Award was presented to Marian Ryan for her monumental conservation work spanning more than twenty years.

Most notably, Marian (with Richard Coleman and Smiley Hendry), cleared water hyacinths from approximately 28 miles of Fisheating Creek. Their objective was making the creek fully navigable for the judge presiding over the sovereign lands lawsuit "Florida versus Lykes." The case was settled in May of 1999, and Fisheating Creek was declared a public waterway. The case set a major precedent both legally and politically.

Marian has worked for the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services for over 30 years. She was inspired and encouraged by Ken and Helen Morrison, Richard and Frances Coleman and others, and gained the knowledge and confidence to tackle numerous conservation issues.

Marian, again working with Richard Coleman, initiated the Lake Hancock restoration project in 1999. She was instrumental in having the Green Swamp added to the Preservation 2000 acquisition list. She has served as Board Member and Vice President for Green Horizon Land Trust. Marian has held numerous positions in the Sierra Club, Ancient Islands Group for more than 10 years.

Read the full story of Marian's incredible contributions here.

Tireless Advocate for Environmental Education

Martha Sehi dedicated years of effort in advancing environmental education for children and the general public.

Martha Sehi was presented with the 2008 Blazing Star Award for her dedicated years of effort in advancing environmental education for children and the general public of Polk County, Florida. She has worked tirelessly to insure that Florida’s natural beauty would be protected forever.

Martha has been a Ridge Audubon Board Member and spent many years working on the annual Audubon Bird Count. She also served as a board member of the Green Horizon Land Trust, and a member of the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, AAUW and always an advocate for environmental issues. She has also assisted local science teachers to help nurture another environmentally aware generation.

Legislative Leadership for Florida Forever

Paula Dockery was the primary sponsor of the Florida Forever Act and created the Water Sustainability and Protection Act. Tampa Bay Times.

The 2007 Blazing Star Award was presented to Paula Dockery for her years of environmental leadership and advocacy in the Florida legislature

While serving in the Florida House of Representatives, Ms. Dockery was the author and primary sponsor of the Florida Forever Act, the bipartisan land acquisition program for the preservation and conservation of environmentally sensitive lands.

After being elected to the Florida Senate, she was the first Florida legislator to be nationally recognized by Governing Magazine. She was named their Public Official of the Year for the creating the Water Sustainability and Protection Act, a bipartisan effort to preserve the vital water resources of Florida. She also served as Chair of the Environmental Protection Committee.

Paula was born in Queens, New York, grew up in South Florida, and graduated from Coral Springs High School. She graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Political Science, then an M.A. in Mass Communications. After serving for 16 years in the Florida legislature, she is now a popular syndicated columnist. She and her husband, C.C. “Doc” Dockery can be found chilling at their home in the mountains of North Carolina and working on their farm in central Florida.

Read the full story of Paula's incredible contributions here.

Working for Florida from the Ground Up

Horticulturist, restoration ecologist and botanist Nancy Bissett developed techniques for restoring many upland communities.

The 2006 Blazing Star Award was presented to Nancy Bissett for her exceptional work with rare and endangered plants and plant communities.

Nancy Bissett – horticulturist, restoration ecologist and botanist – experimented with the propagation and growth of many native plants. She has developed techniques for restoring many upland communities, from site preparation and planting to direct-seeding native groundcovers and weed control. Nancy has applied her techniques in numerous direct-seeding projects for state agencies, water management districts, mitigation banks, mined lands, developers and corporations.

As a botanist, she has assisted with monitoring research projects for The Nature Conservancy, Florida Fish and Wildlife and others. She has performed various rare plant and vegetation surveys, and also assisted federal, state and local authorities find and evaluate rare plant communities.

In 1982, Nancy and husband Bill established The Natives Inc. The wide range of services offered include consulting, restoration design, restoration implementation, landscape architectural services, and a wholesale nursery growing only Florida native plants.

Partners for Florida's Protection

Richard and Frances Coleman received the award as a couple for their lifetimes of tenacious environmental activism, working to protect Florida's precious and precarious environment.

Richard Coleman was not only an environmental consultant, he was a dynamic advocate for Florida's environment. His decades of service became a model of effective conservation activism. He was instrumental in the restoration of the Kissimmee River and the protection of the Green Swamp, and was appointed to the Green Swamp Resource Committee by Governor Bob Graham. The Florida Lake Management Society and the Ancient Islands Sierra created awards in Richard's memory, and a memorial scholarship has been funded at New College.

Frances Coleman has been an indomitable champion for protecting Florida's water. She has served on many local and state committees. She has been Sierra Club Ancient Islands Chapter Chair, Council Delegate, Takings Issue Chair, and on National Membership Committee. She has also been named Water Conservationist of the Year for Florida Wildlife Federation and received the Whooping Crane Award from Florida Sierra.

“We owe it to our children and grandchildren to protect and restore the Florida we love so it will be the Florida they cherish in years to come.”

Read the full story of Richard's incredible contributions here.

Read the full story of Frances' incredible contributions here.

Partners for Florida's Protection

The 2004 Blazing Star Award was presented to Ken and Helen Morrison for their unparalleled environmental public service and leadership that inspired many people to appreciate and protect natural Florida.

Ken worked as the second Director of Bok Tower Gardens for 25 years. He also was a founder of Ridge Audubon Society, Green Horizon Land Trust, Florida Conservation Foundation, and (with Helen) Defenders of Crooked Lake. He was President Emeritus of Florida Audubon Society and on the Board of Trustees of Defenders of Wildlife and The Nature Conservancy’s Florida Chapter.

Ken’s greatest passion was protecting Tiger Creek for all time. He discovered that protecting Tiger Creek was an unfulfilled dream of Edward Bok’s in the 1920’s. Ken came up with the idea of trying to complete Bok’s dream. In the late 1960s he proposed Tiger Creek to the Nature Conservancy as a protection project. When it was accepted, he led the fundraising drive to bring its preservation to reality. For many years afterward, he created and maintained the first hiking trails, erected preserve signs and deterred inappropriate activities.

Helen Morrison developed one of the first state-funded pilot conservation programs to expose countless school children to the wonders of the outdoors. As adults, many of those students became actively involved in organizations that protect our water and natural resources. Helen also helped develop the Outdoor Classroom within the Scrub Plum Preserve in Babson Park. Helen's long-term dedication to education and conservation causes has inspired many to make a difference.

Helen's environmental causes have ranged from the Cross Florida Barge Canal in North Florida to the Everglades. She has been a champion for water quality and the Floridan Aquifer. She has worked tirelessly to protect the Green Swamp. She also was active in the establishment of Tiger Creek Preserve, Kissimmee State Park, and the Ridge Audubon Nature Center.

Read the full story of Helen's incredible contributions here.

A Lifetime of Conservation Work

John Perry dedicated his life to conservation in Florida and around the world.

The 2003 Blazing Star Award was presented to John Perry for his life-long dedication to conservation in Florida and around the world. Before retiring to Florida, Mr. Perry worked as Assistant Director for Conservation at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. He travelled the world working on wildlife conservation issues and served on numerous national conservation committees.

Mr. Perry has also written more than 25 books on natural history and ecology, many co-authored with his wife, Jane Greverus Perry, including The Nature of Florida, University of Georgia Press, 1998. They also authored a series of travel guides, which became the Sierra Club Guide to the Natural Areas of the United States.

After retiring to Polk county, John advocated for higher standards in planning and development and for better zoning regulations and enforcement. He has been actively involved in Green Swamp issues, and has served as Environmental Co-chair of both the Lakes Region Audubon Society and Sierra Club - Polk Group. He also served as a Trustee with Florida Nature Conservancy.

Monumental Conservation Ethic

M.C. Davis invested much of his personal fortune to create the Nokuse Plantation in Walton County, Florida.

M.C. Davis received the 2008 Blazing Star Award for his shining example of environmental stewardship, conserving numerous and diverse species of wildlife by creating the Nokuse Plantation (pronounced No-GO-see).

After earning great success as a Walton County developer, M. C. Davis started on the road to becoming a world-renowned conservationist in the mid-1990s. He heard a Defenders of Wildlife lecture on black bears in Florida and "went from being a total right-wing capitalist to a tree-hugger in 90 days."

Mr. Davis invested much of his personal fortune into fulfilling his conservation ethic by purchasing 50,000 acres in South Walton County to create the massive environmental restoration project he called Nokuse Plantation. It is the largest block of privately-owned conservation land in the southeastern United States. He also built the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center there in honor of Harvard biology professor Edward O. Wilson.

Read the full story of his incredible contributions here.

Trail-blazing Environmental Educator

Yvonne Babb was honored as the first recipient of the Green Horizon Land Trust's Blazing Star Award in 2001 for her work in environmental education. Working as a teacher at the Babson Park Elementary School, she introduced environmental education into the 5th grade classes. Using the Scrub Plum Preserve adjacent to the school as an outdoor classroom, she introduced students to the marvels of nature. Students used classroom skills in art, math, and science in their growing appreciation and responsibility for caring for our world. She coordinated classroom work with the Babson Park Community Church which owns and protects the Preserve through a conservation easement held by Green Horizon Land Trust.