Lake City graduate presented with 'Murie Award'

A Lake City High School graduate was recently presented with The Wilderness Society's 2010 "Murie Award."

Brad Smith, son of Bob and Nancy Smith of Post Falls, received the annual honor that recognizes "front-line federal or state land management employee - or any young environmentalists, early in their careers, especially those who are innovative and have taken risks to promote the principles of natural resource conservation."

Smith is a 1999 LCHS graduate. He received his undergraduate degree in environmental science at the University of Idaho and his master's from Boise State. He is employed by The Idaho Conservation League, and he and his wife, Sara, live in Boise.

The Wilderness Society President Bill Meadows believes that Brad "fits the description perfectly" and hopes that "this award will encourage him to reach great heights in the wilderness movement."

"As Idaho Conservation League's conservation associate for public lands, Brad has been very much on the front line, as well as in the trenches, and charging the crest - always confronting the challenges that face public lands in Idaho," a press release said.

The Wilderness Society member who nominated Brad wrote that he is "level-headed, passionate, highly effective and tenacious in his advocacy. He has a kind demeanor and is easy to work with. Besides being very creative, he never gets sidetracked but stays focused on thoroughly accomplishing those tactics/strategies that will realize an on-the-ground win for protecting wilderness in Idaho."