ODNR Awards Conservation Honors

Marblehead’s D’Arcy Egan presented with Cardinal Award

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) honored D’Arcy Egan and other leading conservationists who have made outstanding contributions to the protection and enjoyment of the state's natural resources.

ODNR Director Sean D. Logan presented Egan with the agency’s Cardinal Award for Conservation for his efforts to reveal the value of Ohio’s natural resources to citizens across the state. The Cardinal Award 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.
“D’Arcy Egan is dedicated to the promotion of Ohio’s natural resources,” said Director Logan. “Through his outdoor column and radio shows, he has educated the public about natural resources issues and highlighted all that the outdoors has to offer while exposing wildlife violators and celebrating wildlife reintroductions.”

A true advocate of ODNR’s mission, Egan has devoted 30 years to being Ohio’s “Outdoor Columnist” for the largest newspaper in the state, the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Egan has not only written about conservation, he has played an active role in preserving the outdoors. He has promoted partnership projects between ODNR and several conservation groups to obtain and restore habitats and increase public access to such habitats for Ohio’s outdoorsmen and women.

An avid hunter and angler, Egan offers tips from experts to even the novice hunter or fisherman in his articles and radio shows. Recently retired from his popular radio show “Inside the Great Outdoors,” Egan is currently the host of the outdoor show, “Outdoors Ohio with D’Arcy Egan and Joe Thomas.” The show features hunting and fishing adventures of many species across Ohio.

ODNR also presented Cardinal Awards to Doug Adams of Camden, Larry Rosche of Kent and Tom Stockdale of Columbus.

During the awards ceremony, which was held at ODNR headquarters in Columbus, Helen Black of Cincinnati, the late Judge Guy B. Findley of Elyria, Tim Gerber of Worthington and Dean Sheldon Jr. of Greenwich were inducted into the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame.

The Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame recognizes a lifetime devoted to the preservation, protection and wise management of Ohio's natural resources. 145 individuals have been accorded the honor, including the legendary Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman), Ohio-born explorer John Wesley Powell, botanist Lucy Braun and conservationist/novelist Louis Bromfield.