At the 2004 ECOS Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma the following individuals were recognized for their contributions to ECOS through the 2004 Founders Awards.
Lewis Shaw
Lewis Shaw was a member of ECOS from its inception until his retirement from state service in 2003.’ Shaw served on the ECOS Executive Committee, and was elected by the membership as Secretary/Treasurer and Vice-President. In 1999 Shaw was elected President. He also hosted a Spring ECOS meeting in Charleston, SC and chaired the Compliance Committee for one year. In addition, he served on the Board of the Environmental Research Institute of the States (ERIS), including serving as its President. Mr. Shaw’s impact on the role of the states in protecting public health and the environment through ECOS cannot be measured simply by examining the administrative positions that he held with this organization. Mr. Shaw routinely went “above and beyond” when it came to assisting and mentoring new environmental commissioners, and in working on projects of either regional or national significance.
Robbie Roberts
It seems unnecessary to summarize Roberts’ contributions to ECOS, as they were numerous and profound. However, the award is for service to ECOS while a member, and in that regard we can add to adjectives describing his contributions the word “unique.” In short, Robbie was the commissioner that led the effort to get ECOS organized in the first place. After we found a similar interest from Kathy Prosser, he teamed up with her and there were two advocates, and so on until the December 1993 meeting (which he chaired) that led to the formation. The organizing body present gave him the distinction of being the only “Past President” that never served as the President.
George Meyer
Meyer was one of the persons present at the founding meeting of ECOS in December 1993. He served on the Executive Committee, and as Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-President, President (in 2000-2001), and Past President. He was the chair of the Air Committee for three years. He hosted the largest ECOS Spring Meeting in Madison, WI.
Meyer is perhaps best remembered for his work on mercury. He was the first ECOS member to bring this to the association’s attention, when he introduced a resolution asking for the federal government not to sell its surplus mercury in the international marketplace. While President, George created the Quicksilver Caucus, the first formal partnership ECOS had with its sister media associations. George’s style was gentle and non-confrontational and he was a very effective consensus-builder. His mercury legacy remains as one of the issues in which ECOS is a leader.
Mark Coleman
Mark served on ECOS’ Executive Committee and as Chair of the Compliance Committee for four years. During his years with ECOS he was universally recognized as the expert on compliance matters, tracing such expertise at least to the famous 1986 memorandum of understanding between EPA and the states. Mark led many discussions between EPA and the states, and was an unflagging champion of the right of a state to run its own compliance and enforcement program once a program had been delegated. He was also well known for pointed and common sense remarks during plenary sessions, a champion for “customer service” and an advocate for management issues such as the impact of retirements on our agencies. Mark served as the Executive Director of Oklahoma DEQ.
