Grant wizard Bruz Clark was honored at the Land Conservationist of the year by The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee. The annual award was announced at the LTLT’s fall gathering earlier this month.

Fifteen years ago when LTLT was first taking form, Clark attended a land trust meeting in Franklin and heard of the vision for conservation of the upper Little Tennessee.

As a young environmental grants maker for the Chattanooga-based Lyndhurst Foundation, he headed downriver when he left town that day and was immediately smitten by the intact beauty of the river valley and surrounding mountains.

Since that first visit Clark has been LTLT’s greatest and most consistent friend and supporter within the grant-making world. Beginning with a grant in 1997, the Lyndhurst Foundation has invested more than $800,000 directly into LTLT’s work, along with an additional half-million dollar contribution towards the purchase of the Needmore Tract.  Clark also has served as a key promoter of LTLT’s efforts helping to attract other foundation investment to its work.

Ed Haight was honored as LTLT’s volunteer of the year.