The Martha Hatch award was established by the Friends of the Bosque del Apache NWR in 1998 to be issued each year to an individual who has provided exemplary service to the Friends of the Bosque del Apache NWR and to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.  The award was named in honor of its first recipient, who for many years produced a newsletter for the refuge, and which after formation in 1993 of the Friends of the Bosque del Apache, became the organization’s newsletter.

Summary of Jon Morrison’s service to Friends of the Bosque del Apache NWR:

Jon Morrison was President of the Friends of the Bosque del Apache from July, 2005 until January, 2008; Vice President from January, 2002 until July, 2005.  His major initiatives for the Friends of the Bosque:
Sponsored the Friends classroom environmental education program, (presently the Mapping the Rio Watershed Education Program with classrooms in the Socorro Elementary Schools.
Initiated purchase by Friends of the Bosque del Apache’s of Chupadera Peak, which was donated to the Bosque del Apache NWR last year for inclusion in the Chupadera Wilderness.
Oversaw construction of the Christina Ann Lannan Educational Annex the the refuge visitor center in 2006 with $600,000 raised by Friends of the Bosque del Apache.
In 2007, initiated the first annual RioFest Environmental Film Festival in Socorro under sponsorship of the Friends of the Bosque del Apache.
Editor of Friends of the Bosque del Apache Newsletter July, 2002 until 2007.
In 2008, established an annual Costa Rica Birding Expedition as a combine fundraiser for Friends of the Bosque del Apache and for a conservation organization in Costa Rica to be selected each year.

Previous recipients of the Martha Hatch Award:
Martha Hatcch
Roy Poole
Phil Norton
John Bertrand
Robert Kruidenier
Jerry Goffe
Betty Davis
Steve Green
Park Borgeson
Percy Deal

Return to Friends of the Bosque web site