Murie Awards

Please join The Wilderness Society as we present the 2026 Olaus and Mardy Murie Award to David Brooks, honoring his extraordinary leadership and tireless dedication to protecting America’s public lands. Through his service in the United States Congress, David helped advance landmark conservation legislation that protected tens of millions of acres and ensured these lands continue to provide public access, wildlife habitat, clean water and lasting benefits for future generations.

The event will include a cocktail reception, seated dinner, and award program with remarks from TWS President Tracy Stone-Manning and more.

Date: Wednesday, June 17
Time: 6:30 - 9:30pm ET
Location: 
National Museum of the American Indian
Fourth Street & Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20560
Attire: Business festive

RSVP by Wednesday, June 10 by visiting our Eventbrite page. 

Please note, this is private, invitation-only event. Invitations are not transferable.

Please contact Melissa Pewett if you have any questions or need further information: mpewett@tws.org.

About the Murie Award

The Wilderness Society's Olaus and Mardy Murie Award is presented to front-line federal or state land management employees, especially those who are innovative and have taken risks to promote the principles of natural resource conservation.

About Olaus and Mardy Murie

Image by US Fish and Wildlife Service

Olaus and Mardy Murie were among the defining wilderness advocates of the mid-20th century and central figures in The Wilderness Society’s formative era. Olaus, a pioneering wildlife biologist, joined The Wilderness Society’s council in 1937, became director in 1945 and helped lead the organization through the crucial postwar years when the modern wilderness movement was taking shape. Mardy, often called the “Grandmother of the Conservation Movement,” served as secretary and governing council member of The Wilderness Society and became one of its most powerful public voices. Together, from their Wyoming home and through expeditions in Alaska, the Muries helped build the case for protecting large, intact wild landscapes, including what became the Arctic National Wildlife Range. They also championed the Wilderness Act, written by Wilderness Society leader Howard Zahniser, which created the National Wilderness Preservation System when it was signed in 1964. Olaus died in 1963, just before the Act became law, but Mardy stood at the White House signing, carrying forward their shared legacy and helping secure one of the most important conservation victories in American history.

Past recipients

Dr. Jerry Franklin 1988

Jeff DeBonis 1989

Donald G. Oman& Irvin C. "Buzz" Caverly, Jr. 1991

Diane Ronayne 1993

Jon Andrew & Barry Reiswig 1994

R. M. "Jim" Nelson 1995

Dr. Kevin Browngoehl & Maggie Willie 1997

Kevin Browngoehl 1998

Sue Husari 1999

Gloria Flora 2000

Evelyn MacKinnon & Fred Lavigne 2001

Rob Messick 2002

Faith Gemmill 2002

Quentin Bass 2003

Katherine and Aaron Prussian 2009

Bradley Smith 2010

Not awarded 2011-2025

David Brooks 2026