Nov. 15, 2000: Group names Pasco man a hero of environment

Group names Pasco man a hero of environment

This story was published Nov. 15, 2000

By Mike Lee
Herald staff writer

Rick Leaumont gets another piece of hardware for his mantle after being named one of the state's top five environmental heroes for 2000.

The Pasco environmentalist - honored in 1998 as the National Audubon Society's conservationist of the year - is now the second Tri-Citian to be recognized by the Washington Environmental Council for efforts to protect the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. Rich Steele of Richland also was named an environmental hero by the council in 1995.

The environmental council praised Leaumont's vision and dedication.

"Rick Leaumont has spearheaded the effort to create the political atmosphere to protect the Hanford Reach," said Jack de Yonge, board member of the Washington Environmental Council.

"He has proved himself a suave, polite, eloquent and fearless champion of saving the Hanford Reach during onslaughts in the name of development," he said.

The Hanford Reach - the 51-mile stretch of river above Richland - and 200,000 nearby acres were named a national monument in June after years of work by Leaumont and others to secure federal protection.

"I've been very fortunate to get these awards," said Leaumont, 55. "We would never have made it without guys like Mike Lilga, Bob Wilson and Rich Steele. The award belongs to them as much as me."

Still, the recognition was a welcome reward. "We just felt exhausted by 15 years of hard work" on the Reach, Leaumont said. "A very nice thing about an award like this is it just reinvigorates you."

Each year, the environmental council honors five environmentalists around the state. This year's ceremony in honor of Leaumont and other winners is Friday in Seattle.

"In our times, the level of cynicism, apathy and selfishness are seen as being mainstays of our society, but these heroes act in defiance to all three," said Joan Crooks, council executive director. "They act out of selflessness, optimism and civic responsibility."

Other winners are: Bruce Barnbaum, Granite Falls, for efforts to stop a gravel mine in a scenic area; Elane Hellmuth, Bainbridge Island, for helping organize grass-roots efforts to protect the island's environment; Dean and Diane Schwickerath, McCleary, for their work with the Grays Harbor Audubon Society; and Robert Vreeland, Seattle, for efforts to save Thonton Creek, the only urban creek to support threatened Chinook salmon.