The Land Trust for Tennessee's President and Executive Director, Jeanie Nelson,
Awarded the Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award
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Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards
Recognize Positive Impacts Across the State
June 24, 2010 | 
In its 24th year, the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program recognizes exemplary voluntary actions that improve or protect our environment and natural resources with projects or initiatives that are not required by law or regulations. Thirteen awards were presented to individuals, community organizations and government agencies in a number of environmental categories.
Three additional honors were announced at Monday’s ceremony. They are the:
- Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award – Jeanie Nelson, The Land Trust for Tennessee;
- Governor’s Award for Excellence in Sustainable Transportation Solutions – Tennessee Department of Transportation; and
- Commissioner’s Award for Exceptional Commitment and Public Service – Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner Paul Sloan.
The Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award
The Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Nashvillian Jean C. “Jeanie” Nelson, with The Land Trust for Tennessee.
Nelson currently serves as The Land Trust for Tennessee’s executive director and president of the board, a position she’s held since The Land Trust for Tennessee was founded by Governor Phil Bredesen. Nelson has served as chief deputy attorney general for Tennessee, general counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the EPA administrator’s liaison to Vice President Al Gore’s office. She has also served as president of the Tennessee Environmental Action Fund (now called Tennessee Conservation Voters) and on the boards of the Tennessee Environmental Council and Southern Environmental Law Center. During his tenure as mayor of Nashville, Bredesen appointed Nelson a founding co-chair of the Metro Greenways Commission, and she was instrumental in identifying and procuring sites such as Shelby Bottoms Park.
“Each year, we recognize an individual who has devoted a lifetime of exemplary service to environmental protection or conservation stewardship in Tennessee,” said Sloan. “Through her work over the past 30 years, Jeanie Nelson has created a positive impact across Tennessee and beyond.”
2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards
Robert Sparks Walker was a native of Chattanooga and a leading Tennessee naturalist. Winners of this lifetime achievement award reflect Walker’s contribution to a greater awareness of Tennessee’s environment and the need to preserve its natural beauty. Nominees must have at least 25 years of service devoted to enhancing Tennessee’s environment through natural resource management, conservation, education and public service. Previous winners include Dr. Patrick Doyle, Mack Prichard, Ann Tidwell, Gary Myers, Happy Birdsong, John Noel and Judge Larry Potter.
