D&L FOUNDER'S DAY

As we prepare to celebrate 30 years of inspiring connections, we need your help. Please take a few moments and select up to 30 HEROES, GENIUSES & LEADERS of our first three decades. Individuals chosen will be recognized at our big celebration on June 2, 2018.

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Through the years there have been many individuals who brought their unique vision and energy to the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. These visionaries came from near and far to inspire connections that evolved into a dynamic movement to conserve and revitalize a region that made undeniable impact on the formation of our great nation. Because of their efforts, our 'mine to market' path has become a new regional centerpiece - the D&L Trail.

Historically, it took people like Josiah White, Erskine Hazard and Asa Packer to conceive, design and build the Lehigh Navigation and subsequent Railroad that helped fuel America’s Industrial Revolution. Now it is our turn to recognize the modern-day Heroes, Geniuses & Leaders who made real impact in the first 30 years of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and its signature programs.

Consider the following definitions as you SELECT OR NOMINATE UP TO 30 INDIVIDUALS to be recognized at the Founder's Day event.

Hero - a person or organization admired for achievements and honorable qualities in carrying out the D&L's mission

Genius - a person or organization that brought exceptional intelligence or creativity to carrying out the D&L's mission

Leader - a person or organization that set direction and helped others build an inspiring vision and create something new

Question Title

* 1. SELECT YOUR D&L HEROES, GENIUSES, AND LEADERS (Vote for maximum of 30)

Ray Angeli - Former Secretary, PA Department of Community & Economic Development, and early leader in the Pennsylvania State Heritage Area Program

Gerald Bastoni - Influential D&L Executive Director 1996-1998 (deceased)

Don Bernhard - Early Advisor and long-time D&L Commission Chair (Lehigh County)

Judy Borger - Advisor and former D&L Chair (Carbon County)

Becky Bradley - Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, for creating the strategic partnership to connect the D&L Trail through the Lehigh Valley

Jim Brozena - Former Executive Director, Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, for integrating the Corridor's history along the Wyoming Valley Levee System

Carbon County Commissioners - Wayne Nothstein, Tom Gerhard & William O'Gurek, for their commitment to building and long-term ownership of the Mansion House Bridge at Jim Thorpe (Carbon)

Charlotte Carter - representing White Haven Area Community Library for the re-use of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Engine House (Luzerne)

Andrew Cornell - Glen Summit Homeowner's Association for assistance in closing a key D&L Trail gap in Fairview Township (Luzerne)

Dr. Bonnie Coyle & Kenneth Szydlow - Founders of "Get Your Tail on the Trail", the D&L's award winning wellness initiative with St. Luke's University Health Network

Jan Creedon - Former Lehigh County Director of General Service for her role in building the D&L Trail from the Lehigh Gap to Cementon (Lehigh)

Dennis Demara - Long-time advisor to the D&L and champion of the Lehigh Canal and rail-trails in Carbon County (Carbon)

Hon. Charlie Dent - US Congressman, 15th District and Chair of the National Heritage Area Caucus for his invaluable commitment and support of the D&L (Lehigh)

Charlie Derr- Freemansburg resident, Lehigh Canal advocate and founding D&L Commission member (Northampton)

Cindy Adams Dunn - Secretary, PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, representing our long-time DCNR partnership and for leading the Commonwealth's efforts to complete the D&L Trail

Mrs. Elaine Emrick - For sustained support of the D&L, Emrick Center and National Canal Museum (Northampton)

Glenn Eugster - For his role in developing the D&L's 1992 Management Action Plan for the National Park Service

Nick Forte & Peter Marmaras - Founding Chairs of D&L/National Canal Museum Strategic Alliance that led to our 2017 merger

Dierdre Gibson - For her advisory role in developing the D&L's 1992 Management Action Plan for the National Park Service

James C. Greenwood - US Congress, 8th District (1993-2005) for his supportive role in the evolution and development of the D&L organization (Bucks)

Steven Humphrey - Founder and early D&L Commission Member who also served as the long-time Executive Director of the National Canal Museum

Andrew Johnson - Program Director, William Penn Foundation, for his role in recognizing how the D&L Trail engages people in outdoor activities and watershed protection

Marilyn Kaul - With her late husband, Everett (aka "Buddy") for a lifetime commitment to the Walnutport section of the Lehigh Canal (Northampton)

Peter & Carol Kern - Early and sustained supporters of the D&L's Education programming (Carbon)

Christopher Kocher - representing the Wildlands Conservancy - a long-time Lehigh River Watershed and Trail partner (Lehigh Valley)

Diane Kripas - DCNR's lead of Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape and tireless D&L Trail advocate

Dan Kunkle - Founder & Executive Director of Lehigh Gap Nature Center for his role in the restoration of the only Superfund site in the country into an environmental education center (Carbon)

Lance Leonhardt, Myron Yoder & Dennis Scholl - Lead educators and author who developed the D&L's educational curriculums

Rob Loughery - Bucks County Commissioner for his commitment to the revitalization of communities located along the Delaware Canal Towpath (Bucks)

Paul Lumia - representing North Branch Land Trust for its key role in the development of the D&L Trail in Luzerne County (Luzerne)

Mary Means - Lead planner of the D&L's 1992 Management Action Plan

Lance Metz - Noted historian and author who began collecting documents, films, and artifacts relating to Bethlehem Steel for the National Canal Museum in 1979 (Lehigh)

Isidore "Bill" Mineo - Early Commission Member and the first D&L Trail & Stewardship Manager who was instrumental in the re-vegetation of Lehigh Gap (Northampton)

William Mitchell - Executive Director, Bucks County Parks and Recreation, early Commission member and founding Chair of D&L Non-Profit (Bucks)

Betty Orlemann - Author & founder of the Friends of the Delaware Canal; an early D&L Commission member and originator of the Miles of Mules arts project (Bucks)

Vance Packard - Long-time Board member of the National Canal Museum & D&L; a founding member of the Society for Industrial Archaeology (Luzerne)

Bill Pezza - Early D&L Commission Member for revolutionizing the spirit of community volunteerism in Historic Bristol Borough.(Bucks)

Sal Panto, Jr. - Mayor of Easton, representing the City's long time commitment to Hugh Moore Park, Lehigh Canal Section 8, the National Canal Museum, Josiah White II Canal Boat and the D&L

Leslie Richards - PennDOT Secretary in acknowledgement of her impact on the strategic direction of the agency and the enhancement funding to build enhance bike/ped improvements like the D&L Trail

Judy Rimple - Past chair of Anthracite Scenic Trails Association for its role in acquiring the D&L Trail right of way in Luzerne County and her commitment to developing the Black Diamond Section between Lehigh Gorge State Park and Mountain Top (Luzerne County)

Don Ritter - Former Congressman from the 15th District (1979-1993) for his role in launching Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Commission (Lehigh Valley)

Will Rivinus - Author, preservation activist and historian; founding D&L Commission Chair (Bucks)

C. Allen Sachse - D&L Executive Director (1999-2011) during transition from federal commission to non-profit; early advisor to the D&L Commission and the PA State Heritage Parks Program

Annie S. Sanders (Bohlin) - Early Commission Member and champion to preserve the Seven Tubs Nature Area (Luzerne)

Mike Stershic - President, Discover Lehigh Valley; key convener of the Corridor's destination marketing organizations

Thomas Stoneback - Early Commission Member who's idea led to the merger of the D&L and National Canal Museum (Northampton)

Andrew Strauss - Planner and conservationist responsible for securing public property rights along former and active railroad lines so the D&L Trail could be built

Susan Taylor - Executive Director of the Friends of the Delaware Canal and long-time D&L Commission and board member for her commitment to interpreting and marking the Corridor route (Bucks)

Carole J. Wildoner-Walbert - Early D&L Commission Member (Carbon)

Elizabeth Watson - Planning consultant who combined regional planning with resource conservation, tourism development, and community education in the D&L's 2013 Management Action Plan (MAP) Update and was part of the planning team of the original 1992 MAP

Roger Whitely - For his tenacious role in building the Emrick Center and serving on the board of the National Canal Museum and advisor to the Facilities and Museum, Education & Archives Committee

Larry Williamson - For his role in launching and managing three programs key to the D&L's evolution: Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program, PA Greenways Program and the Growing Greener II Program

Have we missed someone? Please use the space below to nominate anyone you believe to be a D&L Hero, Genius, or Leader.