ODNR honors Hall of Fame inductees, Cardinal Award winners

COLUMBUS – This week, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) celebrated and honored 13 recipients for their achievements in conservation and protection of Ohio’s natural resources with a special ceremony at the Ohio State Fair.

The department inducted six people into the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame and awarded seven others with the Cardinal Award during a special ceremony in the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair.

“Ohio is blessed with a diverse landscape, and it’s our responsibility to protect our natural resources,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Conservation is a mission that depends on the hard work and commitment of Ohioans across the state, and today we’re proud to celebrate just some of the individuals and partners who go above and beyond to safeguard our outdoor spaces.”

Governor DeWine joined ODNR Director Mary Mertz and Assistant Directors Steven Gray and Mindy Bankey to honor the new inductees and Cardinal Award winners. The ceremony was preceded by a reunion of past Hall of Fame inductees.

“Ohio’s Natural Resources Hall of Fame alumni include a wide range of backgrounds from academic researchers to grassroots conservationists and farmers, highlighting every aspect of conservation and natural resources,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “The Hall of Fame is the highest honor conservationists who call Ohio home can receive, and we hope the honor inspires future generations of Ohioans to protect our great outdoors.”

Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame

The Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame was created in 1966 to celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to protecting Ohio’s natural resources throughout their lifetime. With today’s inductions, the number of people presented with this honor is 206.

New Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame inductees are as follows:

Terry Cosby: Terry Cosby has been dedicated to public service and conservation since his first job as an intern with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service up through his final role as chief from May 2021 until retirement in January 2025. He also spent 16 years as the Ohio State Conservationist, leading efforts such as establishing Ohio as the first state in the nation to use Environmental Quality Incentive Program funds for forest management practices. Terry has been a leading voice to increase recognition of the importance of forestry and forest management in Ohio and the nation. He also currently serves on the Ohio Wildlife Council, the Gettysburg Foundation Board of Directors, and he continues to maintain and expand his beloved family farm in Mississippi.

H. Thomas Bartlett: Tom Bartlett is a beloved and respected retired high school biology teacher who has been banding birds and spreading a love of birding for more than 50 years in northwestern Ohio and across the Lake Erie islands. During the spring, Tom and his wife Paula wake up and band birds almost daily. In 2021, he banded his 100,000th bird, a northern saw-whet owl. Tom’s research through banding has directly contributed to the scientific understanding of bird populations, migration patterns, and ecosystem health. Tom also founded the Big Sit, an annual fundraiser for the Black Swamp Bird Observatory of which he was a charter member. Tom also has been and continues to be involved in various organizations including the North American Banding Council, Seneca County Park District, The Nature Conservancy, and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Association.

Pamela Dillon: For five decades, Pamela Dillon demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and service to Ohio’s natural resources, especially in boating safety, waterway management, paddle sports, and outdoor recreation. Pam’s service began in 1976 as a naturalist at Lake Hope State Park, and the following year she became a state watercraft officer and continued in various leadership roles at ODNR, retiring in 2011 as Chief of the Division of Watercraft and Ohio’s State Boating Law Administrator. Across every chapter of her career, Pam has shown unwavering dedication to public safety, environmental stewardship, professional training, and conservation education.

Bill Frost: Bill Frost has been a stalwart in hunter safety education for youth in south-central Ohio for nearly half a century. He has taught at least 5,000 youth hunters. Today, Bill continues his hunting safety course at Logan Elm High School in Pickaway County. As a member of American Legion Post 134 in Pickaway County, he leads Buckeye Boys State and coordinates Americanism and Government testing. Every year, Bill coordinates and hosts annual deer hunts at Deer Creek in Pickaway County for veterans with disabilities, which have grown to over 60 hunters and involve more than 100 volunteers.

Frances Beasley, of Columbus: Frances Beasley’s passion for conservation began in the 1970s when she got a job in then ODNR Director Bill Nye’s office. She blazed a trail forward, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Policy from The Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources. Frances’ passion for environmental equity guided her career. Defining the environment as “Where we Live, Work, and Play” ensures that all communities – urban and rural – and all environments are included in planning and protection. Her leadership established the Noe Bixby Road Urban Scenic Byway, an award-winning national model of watershed protection on Columbus’ east side.

Doug Gonzalez: Doug Gonzalez has more than 40 years of experience and expertise in the oil and gas industry, and a pioneer in directional drilling, but it’s his work and techniques with plugging idle and abandoned oil wells, called orphan wells, that have been a huge asset for Ohio. Doug worked with ODNR to develop the well plugging procedures that have become the industry standards today. Through his business, Doug has improved the health and safety of hundreds of orphan well sites, including many that were leaking oil, gas, and brine into nearby waterways. He has successfully remediated sensitive, contaminated well sites in wetlands, lakes, and canals.

The Cardinal Awards

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductions, ODNR also presented the Cardinal Award to seven Ohioans. The Cardinal Award, created in 1971, honors individuals and organizations that demonstrate exceptional awareness and concern for ideals reflected in the department’s mission statement: To ensure a balance between the wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Nominations are made by ODNR staff.

Cardinal Award recipients have included outdoor writers, educators, farmers, biologists, naturalists, businesses, sporting organizations, and volunteers across the state of Ohio. The 2026 Cardinal Award honorees are:

Friends of Scioto Brush Creek, Rarden: Friends of Scioto Brush Creek was founded in 1997 by Martin McAllister and Jody Newton-McAllister with a mission to maintain and improve the water quality of Scioto Brush Creek through education, awareness, and involvement of local residents. Their efforts were key in the 2025 designation of Scioto Brush Creek as Ohio’s 17th State Scenic River.

Gene Kritsky, of Cincinnati: For over four decades, Dr. Gene Kritsky has been dedicated to the conservation and preservation of insects. He has not only advanced our scientific understanding of these remarkable creatures, but as a professor at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, he has inspired a new generation of conservationists to protect the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystem.

Brewster Rhoads, of Cincinnati: Since the 1980s, Ohio River Way Board Chair Brewster Rhoads has been a conservation force in the Cincinnati area. He’s a founder and coordinator of the largest paddling event in the nation, Ohio River Paddlefest, and serves on numerous boards including Adventure Crew, Ohio Environmental Action Fund, and the Green Cincinnati fund.

David Klarer, of West Milan: In 1979, Dr. David Klarer embarked on a career that shaped the Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve to become an exemplary freshwater wetland and research location. Dr. Dave, as he is affectionately known, helped to preserve some of the highest-quality remaining coastal wetlands in the state.

Melinda Huntley, of Columbus: Since 2012, Melinda Huntley has served as executive director of the Ohio Travel Association. Beginning in the late 1980s, Melinda was an early leader in recognizing the connection between outdoor recreation, tourism, and conservation. Her contributions began in the Lake Erie region, where she launched a multi-county birding effort and the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail while also promoting sportfishing with events like dropping a walleye on New Year’s Eve to bring national awareness to Ohio’s world-class fishery.

Jennifer Windus, of Mount Vernon: Jennifer Windus, Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association president, has been a leader in improving Ohio’s natural habitats for more than three decades. She is a founding board member of the Ohio Prescribed Fire Council and instructor for the Ohio Certified Burn Manager Course since its inception in 2001. Her 40 years of experience with prescribed fire is invaluable and ensures future prescribed burn managers learn about prairie management perspectives.

Matt Misicka, of Plain City: As the Executive Director of the Ohio Conservation Federation, Matt Misicka brings together conservation and sporting groups from across the nation to advocate for Ohio. An avid hunter and angler, Matt also is an active member and past president of Central Ohio Anglers and Hunters, one of Ohio’s largest and oldest conservation clubs. He’s had a long association with the League of Ohio Sportsmen and currently serves as Ohio’s delegate to the National Wildlife Federation.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.