The long-time founder and director of the Schuylkill Conservation District, James Shadle, is retiring at the end of this year after 58 years of service.
Shadle, Hegins, who could not be reached for comment, was honored Nov. 21 at the Sacramento Community Fire Company hall, 2206 E. Main St., Sacramento, where he received many proclamations and accolades from local legislators.
According to information prepared by Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney, educational coordinator for the Schuylkill County Conservation District, and Elizabeth A. Hinkel, manager of the Schuylkill Conservation District, "leadership, foresight and inspiration are traits that best describe Dr. James S. Shadle."
On September 1955, on behalf of the Schuylkill County Young Farmers Association, he petitioned the Schuylkill County commissioners to form what was originally called the Schuylkill County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Shadle led the Conservation District from farmland soil and water conservation to preserving farms for future generations; from water quality improvement projects to cleaning up miles of streams polluted by mine run-off; and also from flood protection projects to sponsoring future leaders for the environment through programs for local youth. He served as a conservation district chairman, vice chairman and board member for more than 58 years and is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts.
In 2010, he had the prestigious distinction of being selected from nominees across America to receive the National Association of Conservation Districts "Distinguished Service Award."
In 2005, Shadle received the Gold Standard Award as the first inductee into the Schuylkilll Conservation District's Conservation Hall of Fame.
Upon his retirement, Shadle will be named Director Emeritus of the Schuylkill Conservation District.
Glenn Luckenbill, public director for the Schuylkill County Conservation District board, said Thursday that he began to know Shadle when he was a teacher in the Blue Mountain School District.
"He was an ag teacher involved with environmental education," Luckenbill said. "He was one of the more outstanding ag educators in the state."
Shadle was also a principal of Blue Mountain Middle School.
Luckenbill, who met Shadle in the 1970s, said that he was the inspiration behind the formation of the Blue Mountain Envirothon Team which has earned county, state and national titles.
According to Luckenbill, the Envirothon, which has students demonstrating what they learned about aquatics, forestry, wildlife, soil and current environmental issues, started in Pennsylvania in Schuylkill County and two other counties then eventually became statewide and national.
"He was very encouraging," Luckenbill said. "The Envirothon is the one activity that I got really involved in and he gave all the support to the school and conservation district to develop it."
Luckenbill said he has no doubt that Shadle has been the strong factor with the conservation district since day one up until about 10 years ago when he started having health problems.
"He's very involved in the leadership," he said. "Shadle was always there with the conservation district."