Little Kanawha Resource Conservation and Development Coordinator Logan Cannon presents Richard “Dick” Waybright with the Willis Ridenour Special Achievement Award. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — The president of the Little Kanawha Resource Conservation and Development has been awarded the council’s Willis Ridenour Special Achievement Award.

Richard “Dick” Waybright has been a member of the agency for about 15 years and has been president for several years running. As a member of all standing committees, his part in grant-related projects, financial and operational procedures has helped sustain the council, the agency said.

The council serves Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood counties and promotes the area’s natural resources and economy.

Waybright is the representative of the Jackson County Commission, of which he is president.

Serving on many other boards, Waybright had a long career with the West Virginia Forestry Association where he was a 4-H Extension Agent, principal, teacher and coach.

As executive director of forestry, he played a major role in the adoption of state forestry-related laws and the Logging Sedimentation Control Act, which was nationally recognized. Some laws were used as models for other states.

Waybright was an assistant principal at Wahama High School. He then became Kanawha County Extension Agent and director of Camp Virgil Tate and other summer camps for youth, including the Oddfellows Youth Camp at Camp Caesar.

He has served on the West Virginia Business and Industry Council, is in the West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Hall of Fame, has received the West Virginia Forestry Association’s President’s Service Award, the state 4-H Club Foundation’s Green Clover Award and was the 1975 West Virginia Young 4-H Agent awarded by the 4-H Agents Association. He received the West Virginia Future Farmers of America’s Honorary American Farmer Degree, Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree of Ravenswood FFA Chapter, Friend of Extension Award, director emeritus of the Jackson General Hospital Board of Directors, served on Ripley Main Street and is an admiral in the Cherry River Navy.

The Willis Ridenour Special Achievement Award is presented each year and honors its namesake, Willis Ridenour, who was an agency coordinator.

For more information about the RC&D Program, contact the Little Kanawha RC&D, 2309 Gihon Road, Parkersburg.