MEEKER | Colorado Parks and Wildlife Meeker Area Office would like to congratulate Mary Taylor and Angelo “Butch” Theos for receiving the Joe Gerrans Memorial Habitat Partnership Program Award at the Habitat Partnership Program Conference in January.
Butch Theos was appointed to the White River Habitat Partnership Program (HPP) committee based in Meeker at its inception in 1993. Because of his tremendous leadership, he was asked to assume the key role of HPP committee chairman in 2015.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Butch Theos serve as chairman of the White River HPP committee in Meeker,” said District Wildlife Manager Bailey Franklin. “The White River HPP committee was one of the earliest HPP committees to become established in Colorado, and Butch has endured through thick and thin in the project decision-making process from day one until now, which is a great accomplishment in and of itself.”
Butch has a very outgoing, kind, and fun personality allowing him to be extremely successful in his various endeavors, and knows virtually everyone in the local community. He has been a true leader on the White River HPP committee over the last 29 years. Butch was also a personal friend of Joe’s and is often heard mentioning Joe Gerran’s name with great respect at local HPP meetings.
Mary Taylor was appointed to the White River HPP committee in 2004 as the federal public lands BLM representative due to her ability to work well with others to resolve complex land management-related issues.
“Mary is an incredible asset, and we are very lucky to have her serve as the BLM representative on the White River HPP committee in Meeker,” said Franklin. “Mary Taylor has been a true leader on the White River HPP committee from 2004 through today, which is an amazing 18-year contribution in and of itself to Colorado’s HPP program!”
Over her 18 years on the White River HPP, Mary has been instrumental in many habitat improvement projects on BLM lands throughout the White River area including water developments, livestock grazing management plans, and noxious weed control projects. In 2009, Mary was instrumental in getting a long-term landscape-scale habitat improvement program started in the White River HPP area. Since then, over 25,000 acres of critical wildlife habitats have been improved on private, state, and federal lands with a wide variety of techniques that have been incredibly successful for the White River deer and elk herds, which are the largest in the state.
“I could not think of two better individuals to receive this award,” said Franklin. “They have been staunch supporters of the HPP program since its inception, just like Joe Gerrans.”
Butch and Mary have been integral in the long-term, landscape-scale habitat improvement program the White River HPP committee implemented in 2009. Today, this program is recognized as one of the most successful and proactive HPP accomplishments in the state.
About the award:
As the founder of HPP, Joe Gerrans was instrumental in its success and devoted many hours to making it a successful program for landowners, land managers, sportsmen, CPW, and wildlife. In recognition of this, at each of the HPP state meetings, the State Council will award deserving people with this award. Nominations should be based on a person’s contributions, advocacy, and support of the Habitat Partnership Program. Recipients of the award exemplify Joe’s spirit, enthusiasm, and dedication to the program.
The Habitat Partnership Program (HPP), funded by revenue from the sale of big game licenses, works through local committees to develop partnerships among landowners, land managers, sportspersons, the public, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to reduce conflicts caused by deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose to agriculture. HPP also assists CPW to meet game management objectives for deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose. Visit our website to learn more about Habitat Partnership Program (cpw.info/habitat-partnership-program)
HOPEWEST PRESS RELEASE | Special to the Herald Times
