Master Conservationist Award 2006
Shirley & Richard James
Shirley James was born in Butte, Montana, attended Washington State College, graduated from University of Evansville, traveled for six months in South American, worked for several companies and served on numerous boards all before coming to Evansville. She has been married for 49 years to Richard James who has supported her work in our community for over thirty years to protect and save the environment.
She worked in mental health, served on the Indiana State Mental Health Commission and helped establish the Youth Service Corp. She organized and was president of the Westside Improvement Association, Inc. which works tirelessly to enhance the natural environment of the west side of Vanderburgh County.
Her accomplishments while president of WIA are two county ordinances, closed three illegal dumps, conducted cancer surveys, formed 5 neighborhood associations, massive cleanup projects, petitions to fight zoning issues, planted 9 blocks of trees, worked with Perry Twp Fire Department & scouts to use abandoned houses as practice sessions, got the Lloyd Expressway raised through town on the Westside, worked to save the Howell Wetland, pushed for and got $4,000,000 worth of improvements for the west side treatment plant, supported $22,000,000 worth of improvements to both treatment plants, put out a monthly newsletter supported by West side Nut Club Fall Festival booth and a Paul Harper scholarship fund.
In 1990 she was appointed by the County Commissioners to serve on a committee to build a 42 mile greenway/bikeway around Vanderburgh County and to clean up Pigeon Creek (she chaired the Enforcement Committee). Mayor McDonald and the County Commissioners appointed her to serve as chairperson to the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage Advisory Board to the Evansville Department of Parks and Recreation. She often visits the Greenway to check on its progress and looks forward to the day when the 42-mil Greenway is completed.
She led the development of Howell Wetlands, worked on the development of the riverfront, Veterans Memorial Parkway and restoration of the Pagoda. She also served on the Board of Directors of Operation City Beautiful for three years. She is currently WIA’s Parks Committee Chair. Shirley is truly a Master Conservationist—Congratulations to our Master Conservationist – Shirley James!