MFA 2002 AWARD RECIPIENTS Legislator of the Year
Forestry Activist of the Year
Master Logger of the Year
2002 Legislator of the Year ~ George W. Owings III
Maryland State DelegateDelegate Owings serves on the House Environmental Matters Committee and chairs the agri-culture, environment & natural resources subcommittee. We applaud Delegate Owings' role in the defeat of legislation that would be harmful to forest health and restrictive to active forest management. By this award MFA and the forestry community publically thank Delegate Owings for his support of sound forestry and the role of the forest industry in the health of Maryland's forests.
To quote from the letter MFA received from Mike Kay, Frederick County Project Forester, "You can always count on John to contribute a fair and accurate appraisal of the matter at hand and to recommend workable and impartial solutions. John's diligent work has done much to further the cause of forest management and the retention of viable forests while pointing out the flaws of narrow-minded policy, which would adversely impact our ability to derive benefits from the forests and retain viable forest land.....I marvel at John's dedication and energy in these matters."
Forestry Activist of the Year ~ John B. Blake
MFA's first VP for Governmental AffairsJohn has been researching, writing and testifying on forestry issues on the local, county, regional and state levels for many years, both on behalf of MFA and the Frederick County Forestry Board, as well as the result of his own convictions as a private forest landowner (He and his wife Jean own property in Myersville).
In addition to the attention to legislative issues, John also works to educate others about forestry by planning and conducting numerous workshops, field trips and seminars in cooperation with the State Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards, having served as chair of the Frederick County Board for the past ten years.
In 1999, MFA sought to further increase its efforts with regard to legislative and regulatory review and took the Legislative Committee Chair and elevated it to a VP position, named VP for Governmental Affairs, within the MFA Executive Committee. For many years John was the Legislative Committee and now he willingly served in the new VP position from 1999 through 2001, at which time Jim Mallow was named his successor. John is still very active on the committee and his efforts on local and statewide issues have not slowed down.
Congratulations John on a well-deserved, and long overdue award!
Beckman Lumber Company, Inc., owned and operated by Arthur "Art" Beckman, has been chosen as the Maryland's Forests Association's 2002 Logger of the Year. Beckman Lumber Company, Inc. received excellent recommendations from Anita Simmons, forester for MeadWestvaco and Phil Kisner, forester for Wood Products, Inc. Anita and Phil believe that Beckman Lumber Company's time and effort for the special concern of healthy forests, a safe work environment, as well as helping others in need, is commendable and deserves this recognition
MFA 2002 Logger of the Year Beckman Lumber Company ~ Mt. Lake Park, MD
Arthur Beckman, Ownershown (L-R) Master Logger Coordinator James Remuzzi, Nominating Forester Anita Simmons, Art, Louise and Kevin Beckman, Pat Friend, and Ray Fuller of J.P.Fuller,Inc. who has donated a chainsaw to every MFA Logger of the Year since 1987.
Art has been in the logging business for thirty years and founded Beckman Lumber Company, Inc. in 1981. The crew consists of the following employees: Larry Beckman, loader operator, Kevin Beckman, feller, Keith Beckman, track skidder operator, Brian Beckman, feller and trimmer, Larry Beckman, Jr., feller and trimmer, Bradley Beckman, skidder operator, William Thomas, Jr., skidder operator, and William Thomas, Sr. and Pat Friend, truck drivers. Art and his wife, Louise, do all of the company's bookkeeping.
The company performs various types of timber harvests in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Good utilization and adherence to SFI is very important to Beckman Lumber Company on all harvesting sites. The crew works closely with professional foresters in road layouts and stream crossings on all sites. The company's concern for leaving the forest in a healthy state can be seen by visiting past job sites. Good business management skills allow Beckman Lumber Company to seek out the most competitive markets for all forest products harvested. Sawlogs, pulpwood, and rails are some of the products produced from Beckman's operations. Good utilization allows for only small amounts of unmerchantable wood to be left on harvested sites.
As one of the founders of the Mountain Loggers Group, Art is also one of the leading participants to establish Log A Load for Kids in the area. Art has helped the Mountain Loggers Group raise approximately $90,000 (of a 2002 goal of $100,000) so far this year, to contribute to the West Virginia University Children's Hospital in Morgantown, WV.
The Company's special concern for the forests, safety of others, and the need for helping others are commendable and well deserve this recognition.
Congratulations to Art, Louise and All the Crew at Beckman's !
Nominations for 2003 Awards now open.
Help us recognize pro-forestry efforts!
