James R. Compton River Achievement Award

In 2001, to celebrate his dedication to conserving our nation's rivers, River Network created an award in honor of James "Jim" Compton.

Jim is a remarkable man. Although he served as a decorated Marine Corps Platoon Leader at Iwo Jima, he has worked all his life for world peace. Over the years, he has emerged as one of the outstanding environmentalists in California and the United States. As President of the Compton Foundation, his commitment to river conservation has lead to the research and development of a new, long-term strategy to protect salmon; encouraged environmentally sound dam operations and deregulation incentives; and assisted local river and watershed groups across the country to achieve their restoration and protection goals through the powerful but under-used tool: The Clean Water Act of 1972.

Through his personal and professional contributions, Jim has touched the lives of thousands of river activists and community members. Those whom we honor in his name display a similar amount of passion, respect and actions toward the protection of our rivers. Jim passed away in the spring of 2006; he will dearly be missed, but never forgotten.

Past Award Winners

2006 - Dave Borden

David Borden has been active in the environmental community since 1978 when he helped to organize the Alaska Coalition, David Borden was a trustee of Clean Water Fund and River Watch Network (RWN) prior to RWN's merger with River Network. A dedicated conservationist, David has served on River Network's board of directors since 1999, including a term as chair. In addition, he is on the boards of the New Hampshire Rivers Council and the Seacoast Land Trust. The "rivers of his life" include the Ottoqueechee (where he grew up in Woodstock), the Piscataqua (right out his front door in New Castle) and the Blackwater (near his farm north of Concord).

2005 - Tom Stuart

Tom Stuart, a retired Air Force fighter pilot and Idaho Air National Guard colonel and flight instructor, decided he would spent his retirement working to protect the salmon and steelhead runs of the Salmon River. Working closely with Idaho Rivers United, Tom has become the heart and soul of the state-wide organization - not to mention it's leader; source of inspiration, strategic thinker and tireless volunteer. His concern for protecting fish has evolved into a passion for keeping all rivers free-flowing, healthy and clean.

2004 - Shirley Caldwell-Patterson

Shirley Caldwell-Patterson was born in Nashville and raised with a deeply rooted respect for the rich history and natural resources of the area. She is a great lover of rivers, a great advocate for rivers and a great friend to many river groups, including several in Tennessee, where she lives, and in Wyoming, where she has spent many summers hiking and fly-fishing. Shirley is currently working to enhance the water quality of the Cumberland River and its tributaries through the Cumberland River Compact, which she help found in 1997. She has also made numerous additional contributions to many other conservation efforts, including: establishing the Lucius Burch Conservation Funds, the Gaia Fund and the Tennessee Environmental Council; one of the first women board members for the Tennessee Conservation League; and co-author of a book featuring many of the personal papers and transcripts belonging to her good friends, Tennessee trial attorney, Lucius Burch.

2003 - Harriet Bullitt

Harriet Bullitt is a multitalented entrepreneur and supporter of the arts and environmental conservation. She purchased the land for Sleeping Lady, which is adjacent to family property owned since the 1930s, to prevent its development into condominiums. Recently, she created the Icicle Fund, a charitable foundation to supports the arts and environmental protection in the upper Wenatchee Valley, Washington.

2002 - Phillip Wallin

Phillip Wallin was born in Chico, California and graduated from Stanford University and the University of Chicago Law School. Early on, Phil worked with The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land. In 1985, he founded the Rio Chama Preservation Trust in New Mexico to oppose a Corps project that would have inundated a portion of that beautiful river. Due in large part to Phil's work, the Rio Chama was designated a Wild & Scenic River. In 1988, Phil moved to Portland, Oregon and founded River Network. In 2001, Phil left River Network to found the Western Rivers Conservancy.