VAFP's Legislator Of The Year Award

Recognizing the need for a constituency voice to be raised in support of the Commonwealth's State Park System, the Virginia Association for Parks (VAFP) was formed in 1997.

Since then, VAFP has worked long and hard to establish a vibrant grass roots presence across the State. The success of this effort was nationally recognized in 2007, exactly ten years later, when VAFP received the National Association of State Park Director's President's Award in recognition of VAFP's efforts to support Virginia's State Park System.

VAFP recognized at the outset that its results would be tied directly to legislative support. Thus, to recognize legislators for their support of the Park System's funding needs, VAFP created a "Legislator of the Year Award".

Since Virginia has historically ranked dead last (50th) among the states in terms of per capita spending on state park systems, VAFP's criteria for its Legislator of the Year Award is stringent and based on long term contributions.

This is demonstrated by the fact that VAFP presented only four Legislator of the Year Awards during the 13 year period from 1997 through 2009.

The four winners of this rare and prestigious award are:

Delegate Jim Dillard - 2003
Senator Creigh Deeds - 2007
Senator Emmett Hanger - 2008
Delegate Watkins Abbitt, Jr. - 2009

Pictures of the award recipients are shown below.

Pictured from left to right: Joe Maroon, Director - Virginia DCR, Nancy Fitzgerald - Co-Chair (State Parks), VAFP, Ann Lipp - Treasurer, VAFP, Wendy Oliver - Co-Chair (National parks), VAFP, Johnny Finch - Co-Chair (State Parks), VAFP, Delegate James (Jim) Dillard - Legislator of the Year 2003, Lynn Davis - Co-Chair (National Parks), VAFP, Jo Finch - Secretary, VAFP

Pictured from left to right: Jim Dillard - 2003 Legislator of the Year, Senator Creigh Deeds - Legislator of the Year 2007, Johnny Finch - President, VAFP, Joe Elton - Director, Virginia State Parks

Pictured from left to right: Jo Finch - Secretary, VAFP, Jim Klakowicz - State Parks Chair, VAFP, Ann Lipp - Treasurer, VAFP, Johnny Finch - President, VAFP, Senator Emmett Hanger - Legislator of the Year 2008, Joe Elton - Director, Virginia State Parks, Jim Dillard - 2003 Legislator of the Year

Pictured from left to right: Ann Lipp, VAFP Treasurer; Delegate Watkins Abbitt, Jr., Legislator of the Year, 2009; Johnny Finch, VAFP President; Jo Finch, VAFP Secretary; Lynn Davis, VAFP National Parks Chair; Ron Sutton, former Virginia State Parks Director; Joe Elton, Virginia State Parks Director