Annually, as part of its mission to sustain Georgia’s green legacy by helping communities grow healthy trees, GUFC enthusiastically rewards individuals, organizations, businesses, municipalities, and counties for outstanding work in protecting and enhancing our community forests. It is our goal that this awards program continues to give back to those who have been concerned about a healthy urban forest and also raises community awareness of the importance of these projects.   



2009 AWARD RECIPIENTS: 

Georgia Urban Forestry Awards were awarded at GUFC’s 2009 Annual Conference Awards Luncheon at the Merle Manders Conference Center in Stockbridge, Georgia.  Grand Awards were given to each of the following categories: Business, Individual Achievement, New Initiative, Education, Media, Urban Arboriculture, Community, Streetscape Revitalization, Elected Official, and Lifetime Achievement.  Also presented was the the 2009 President’s Award. Grand award winners received a limited edition framed print of a historic McDonough Deodar Cedar, painted by artist Barry Nehr solely for this conference.  Pictured with recipients are the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Larry Morris and 2009 GUFC President Eric King.  All photos by Jacquie Rives Photography.



Outstanding Business Grand Award The Rome Braves for Home Runs for a Greener Rome.  Pictured are Susan Cooley and Mary Hardin Thornton accepting for the Rome Braves.
Outstanding Individual Achievement Grand Award Larry Morris, Georgia Forestry Commission
Outstanding Education Grand Award Big K Farm’s Urban Education Program, Ryan Klesko.  Pictured with Larry Morris and Eric King are Lynn Hooven and Ryan Klesko
Outstanding Community Grand Award Tree Advisory Committee, Gwinnett County Department of Planning & Development for the Gwinnett County Buffer, Landscape & Tree Ordinance enhancements.  Pictured are Alicia McElheney, Planner, Gwinnett County; Nancy Lovingood, Director of Long-Range Planning, Gwinnett County, and Dale Higdon, Retired Georgia Forestry Commission.
Lifetime Achievement Award Dr. Jerry T. Walker, Professor Emeritus, UGA, Griffin campus, “Griffin’s Tree Doctor”
Outstanding New Initiative Grand Award John W. Atkinson, Gwinnett County Master Gardner,  for To See A Tree is to Know it: Identifying and Visualizing Trees in the Landscape.
Outstanding Media Grand Award Be Green: An Environmental Awareness Show-WHZ-247/Comcast Channel 4, Rome Georgia: Sara Hightower Regional Library and Keep Rome Floyd Beautiful.
Outstanding Urban Arboriculture Grand Award Spence Rosenfeld, Arborguard Tree Specialists for the Southern Seasons Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Pictured are Mary Pat Matheson of the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Spence Rosenfeld.
Outstanding Streetscape Revitalization Grand Award Timothy Gay, Thomas & Hutton, for the Bryan Square waterSmart Demonstration Garden, Savannah
2009 President’s Award Dan Whitehead, Moon’s Tree Farm
Presentation to Henry County Historical Society Frank Hancock, Henry County Extention Agent- accepting.