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Thomas L. Washington
Thomas “Tom” L.
Washington was born in Detroit, MI (1937) and the family moved to
Dearborn, MI when he was five years old. At that time Tom indicated
Dearborn was a rural area where he roamed in open fields, explored woods
and caught frogs and crayfish in a creek down the street. These
beginning contacts with nature instilled in Tom as interest and respect
for the natural environment that followed throughout his lifetime. As a
young person he was thoroughly involved with the sports of hunting and
fishing which became his favorite recreation activities as an adult. In
addition he was a Boy Scout and a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard
further developing an appreciation and understanding of the
relationships between natural resources and the human experience. Tom
Washington was a pioneer in protecting Michigan’s natural resources; he
well served the recreation and park profession and people of Michigan as
an environmental advocate for over 32 years.
Tom was employed in
the newspaper field in Detroit prior to joining Michigan United
Conservation Clubs (MUCC) in 1963. The organization was mandated to
protect and make wise use of Michigan’s natural resources. His job was
to sell advertising for the monthly publication, Michigan Out-of Doors.
He moved rapidly from an independent contractor to become the magazine
director; then the MUCC, Executive director, 1974. The Michigan
Out-of-Door grew from 12 pages, 55,000 circulation to 124 pages,
circulation over 100,000 and a dramatically increased budget with an
annual budget o 565,000 into our country’s largest conservation group,
135,000 members, a staff of 40 and a budget of over $5 million.
Fortunately Tom was
able to integrate his strong personal interests in hunting, fishing and
the environment with his professional responsibilities as Executive
Director of MUCC. His position gave him numerous opportunities to
travel throughout the western United States and Alaska; and make
excursions and safaris to places such as Canada, China and Africa.
Regardless of his world travels, his visiting exotic places, the place
he most appreciated was his return to his beloved Michigan, driving his
family to his cottage (home) in the Upper Peninsula, surrounded by acres
of land and woods being alone, together with his wife and six children.
In addition, he was also recognized as a gourmet cook and wine
connoisseur.
Tom was widely
regarded as the premier outdoor and environmental advocate in Michigan.
(His position was very clear to his friends and adversaries.) He was
involved in countless environmental causes and issues. Heidi, Tom’s
youngest daughter indicated he was most proud of his involvement in the
passage of the “bottle bill”(making deposits on non-refundable bottles
and cans mandatory to keep them from ending up in roadsides, creating
jobs and saving hundreds of thousands of dollars for clean-up by
recreation and park departments), the creation of the Michigan Natural
Resource Trust Fund (over the past two decades thousands of acres of
recreation land have been purchased and hundreds of recreation projects
launched with money from the state’s National Resource Trust Fund) and
his presidency at the National Rifle Association (An able and effective
spokesman in support of the Second Amendment, Tom played a central role
in NRA’s acquisition of a new state of the art headquarters in Fairfax,
Virginia. He also was founder of NRA’s Youth Hunting Education
Challenge that flourished under his tenure.). He also was instrumental
in passage of the Sand Dunes Protection Act, the Wetlands Protection Act
and initiation of the State Parks Endowment Fund, a constant advocate
for public access to waterways and land resulted in our state having
more public access than all other states combined. And he helped obtain
a bill restricting billboards.
Tom relied as much on
his physical presence as on quick wit, political astuteness and
articulation of the language related to the natural environment and
natural resources in Michigan. Because of these recognized personal
attributes he was asked to accept broad based responsibilities
including: the appointment by Governor Milliken as charter Board Member
of the Michigan Natural Trust Fund; NRA President (2 years), Board of
Directors, first and second Vice President; Board of Director-Safari
Club International; Board of Directors Natural Wildlife Federation,
Member- Governor’s Interim Committee on Environmental Education; Vice
Chairperson Governor’s Michigan Land Inventory Committees; member-
Michigan Farmland and Open Space Presentation Act; and appointed by
Secretary of the Interior, James Watts to serve on the National
Resources advisory group.
Tom was the recipient
of numerous awards for his outstanding professional and volunteer
services; including the American Motors Conservation Award, the Safari
Club International Chairman Award, the Miles D. Pirnie Award- for
leadership in preserving wetlands and wetlands wildlife, MRPA- Special
Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Profession; State of Michigan-
State Resolution No. 209- A Resolution Memorializing the Life of Tom
Washington; State of Michigan Natural Resources Commission- In Memory
of Tom Washington, U.S. Senate, Vol. 141, No. 195- The Passing of Tom
Washington.
THOMAS “TOM”
WASHINGTON IS REMEMBERED AS A PERSON WHO WAS NOT INTIMIDATED BY THE
SUPPOSEDLY POWERFUL AND WILLING TO SPEAK THE TRUTH TO POWER AND A
COMMITTED SPOKESPERSON WHEN THE SUBJECT CONCERNED THE ENVIRONMENT,
NATURAL RESOURCES AND GUN RIGHTS.
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