07/07/1999

AU Agricultural Leader Tom Corley Wins Mosley Environmental Award

AUBURN, Ala. —Tom Corley, an ag engineer and former associate director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn University, was recently presented the prestigious W. Kelly Mosley Enviornmental Award for Achievements in Forestry, Wildlife, and Related Resources.

Corley, and his wife Mary, were cited for preserving an 1840s era log cabin and developing the surrounding 18-acre tract of land in an environmentally sound way. In presenting the award, AU Forestry Dean Richard Brinker noted that in addition to developing the land and cabin, the Corley's have made it available to visiting groups from all over the world.

The 18 acres of eroding land, located near Loachapoka in east-central Alabama, was acquired by the Corley in 1964. First, he constructed a fish pond and then began planting and grafting camellias. He and friends have added native azaleas and rhododendrons, making the entire setting a true garden place. Before he retired from Auburn University in 1984, Corley bought an 1840s era log cabin and moved it over 50 miles–board-by-board to his land. Tom Corley subsequently restored the log cabin and Mary Corley furnished it in 1840s style.

The Mosley Environmental Award was established in 1979 in an attempt to get more people involved in the wise and creative use of natural resources. Winners of the award are selected by a screening committee of diverse leaders in the environmental community. Those selected for the award have undergone the scrutiny of top foresters, wildlife biologists and other environmental leaders, making this award among the most prestigious of its kind in the world.

Included in the award is a numbered print of Little River Canyon by Auburn artist William Baggett and a cash award. Corley was nominated for the award by long-time friend and colleague Dennis Rouse, former Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.

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Auburn, AL 36849
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Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Roy Roberson

07/07/99