October 20, 2005
Contact: Tim Martin, Panhandle Chapter President, 208-290-0426
WASHINGTON – The national conservation organization Trout Unlimited (TU) awarded Sandpoint resident Loren Albright its highest honor for volunteerism, the Mortenson Award.
Mr. Albright was recognized for his outstanding efforts in preserving and improving the habitat of native trout and salmon in Idaho and across the nation.
Mr. Albright has served as a TU National Resource Board member. He is a former regional vice president, state president, and chapter president. Presently, he serves as a grassroots trustee. He has been a member of the Idaho Panhandle Chapter of TU since 1982.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award,” said Mr. Albright. “When I went to the national meeting, I had no idea I was even being considered. I was called to the stage and was totally surprised when I was given the Mortenson Award. It is wonderful to be recognized for working on something that is so important to this beautiful part of Idaho as well as the environment as a whole.”
Mr. Albright and other members of the Panhandle Chapter have led numerous local restoration projects on Twin Creek, the Moyie River, Granite Creek, Brett Creek, Trestle Creek and other rivers in North Idaho.
“Loren gives so much to TU in this community, we are proud that received the highest honor TU bestows on a volunteer,” said Tim Martin, TU Panhandle Chapter president. “He has been instrumental in the success of TU efforts here, and his work influences TU’s efforts in many other parts of the country. We’ll be honoring Loren at our banquet on March 4. I hope the people in North Idaho who care about our fish, our water, and our environment will personally thank Loren for his work.”
“The Mortenson Award was named for long-time grassroots activist and TU volunteer leader Ray Mortensen,” said Charles Gauvin, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “This award is presented annually to that one-in-a-thousand volunteer whose work on behalf of trout and salmon over a period of years or even decades has made him or her an example and inspiration to the rest of TU’s volunteers. Loren richly deserves this recognition for the work he has done.”
Trout Unlimited is North America’s leading coldwater fisheries conservation organization, with over 140,000 members dedicated to the protection and restoration of trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.
The Trout Unlimited Panhandle Chapter has more than 140 members. Its board meets the second Thursday of every month in Sandpoint.