Jack Lorenz
Encyclopedia
John R. "Jack" Lorenz was an American
environmental
activist who led the Izaak Walton League
. He served the League for nearly two decades. Lorenz was a vocal advocate for ethical use of outdoor spaces and lobbied off-road vehicle
manufacturers to avoid advertisements depicting and glorifying irresponsible treatment of forests and streams. An avid fisherman
, Lorenz fished in all 50 states
and all of Canada
’s provinces
.
Lorenz was born in St. Louis
, Missouri
, on March 14, 1939, and grew up in suburban Webster Groves
. He attended the University of Tulsa
, graduating in 1961, went on to work for the Falstaff Brewing Corporation
in St. Louis, and became the leader of the Izaak Walton League in 1974.
While serving as Executive Director of the Izaak Walton League, Lorenz implemented a number of noted programs. In addition to starting the Outdoor Ethics program, he initiated the League’s "Save Our Streams" initiative, a program to encourage public support for efforts by local groups to clean up waterways and lakes. He championed "catch and release
" practices at fishing tournament
s, practices that have become almost universally implemented. He helped to establish the Jackson Hole Land Trust, which provides assistance to landowners in Wyoming
who want to dedicate their wild lands for preservation. Lorenz co-founded a number of groups that have carried on the initiatives he and others in the environmental movement advocated, including the Wildlife Habitat Council, the Green Group, and the Washington Conservation Roundtable. He also served as President of the American League of Anglers and Boaters.
Lorenz’s work on behalf of fishing
and hunting
advocates as well as environmentalists and conservationist
s brought him acclaim in both communities, capitalizing on their mutual interests to advance programs that served both communities.
Lorenz was honored for his work by awards from most major environmental organizations and many smaller ones. His own Izaak Walton League placed him in its Hall of Fame, and honored him with their 54 Founders Award, the highest honor offered by the League. He received the coveted "Jade of Chiefs" award from the Outdoor Writers Association of America, the Chevron
Times Mirror Conservation Award, and the Award of Honor from the Natural Resources Council of America, among others.
Lorenz’s tenure with the Izaak Walton League was cut short by ill health. He suffered from cardiovascular disease
and had several major stroke
s that affected his speech, vision and mobility. He had numerous heart surgeries, as well, and suffered epileptic seizures periodically throughout his life. However, he continued to be active in the conservation movement long after leaving the League and until his death. He served on the Chevron Texaco Conservation Awards committee, helping to select recipients who were continuing the work he loved so well. He was active with many smaller groups, including Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River
, on whose board he served, an organization of activists dedicated to protecting their river from environmental degradation.
Lorenz’s work reflected a keen sense of altruism and practicality, a desire to leave something behind him that would demonstrate to future generations the important role the wild places of the country played in his life. He had grown up fishing the rivers in Missouri and Arkansas with his father, and he wanted others to have that same kind of experience. He is quoted as often saying that the hard work and sacrifice of his job was worth it. "The gratitude of our children will be thanks enough for our work."
Lorenz, who lived in Woodstock, Virginia
, died of a stroke on March 2, 2009, in San Diego, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
environmental
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
activist who led the Izaak Walton League
Izaak Walton League
The Izaak Walton League is an American environmental organization founded in 1922 that promotes natural resource protection and outdoor recreation. The organization was founded in Chicago, Illinois by a group of sportsmen who wished to protect fishing opportunities for future generations...
. He served the League for nearly two decades. Lorenz was a vocal advocate for ethical use of outdoor spaces and lobbied off-road vehicle
Off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks...
manufacturers to avoid advertisements depicting and glorifying irresponsible treatment of forests and streams. An avid fisherman
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
, Lorenz fished in all 50 states
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
and all of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
’s provinces
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
.
Lorenz was born in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, on March 14, 1939, and grew up in suburban Webster Groves
Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,995 at the 2010 census. The city is named after New England politician Daniel Webster....
. He attended the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
, graduating in 1961, went on to work for the Falstaff Brewing Corporation
Falstaff Brewing Corporation
The Falstaff Brewing Corporation was a major American brewery located in St. Louis, Missouri. With roots in the 1838 Lemp Brewery of St. Louis, the company was renamed after the Shakespearean character of Sir John Falstaff in 1903. Production peaked in 1965 with 7,010,218 barrels brewed, and then...
in St. Louis, and became the leader of the Izaak Walton League in 1974.
While serving as Executive Director of the Izaak Walton League, Lorenz implemented a number of noted programs. In addition to starting the Outdoor Ethics program, he initiated the League’s "Save Our Streams" initiative, a program to encourage public support for efforts by local groups to clean up waterways and lakes. He championed "catch and release
Catch and release
Catch and release is a practice within recreational fishing intended as a technique of conservation. After capture, the fish are unhooked and returned to the water before experiencing serious exhaustion or injury...
" practices at fishing tournament
Fishing tournament
A fishing tournament, or derby, is an organised competition among anglers. Fishing tournaments typically take place as a series of competitive events around or on a clearly defined body of water with specific rules applying to each event...
s, practices that have become almost universally implemented. He helped to establish the Jackson Hole Land Trust, which provides assistance to landowners in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
who want to dedicate their wild lands for preservation. Lorenz co-founded a number of groups that have carried on the initiatives he and others in the environmental movement advocated, including the Wildlife Habitat Council, the Green Group, and the Washington Conservation Roundtable. He also served as President of the American League of Anglers and Boaters.
Lorenz’s work on behalf of fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
advocates as well as environmentalists and conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
s brought him acclaim in both communities, capitalizing on their mutual interests to advance programs that served both communities.
Lorenz was honored for his work by awards from most major environmental organizations and many smaller ones. His own Izaak Walton League placed him in its Hall of Fame, and honored him with their 54 Founders Award, the highest honor offered by the League. He received the coveted "Jade of Chiefs" award from the Outdoor Writers Association of America, the Chevron
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
Times Mirror Conservation Award, and the Award of Honor from the Natural Resources Council of America, among others.
Lorenz’s tenure with the Izaak Walton League was cut short by ill health. He suffered from cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
and had several major stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
s that affected his speech, vision and mobility. He had numerous heart surgeries, as well, and suffered epileptic seizures periodically throughout his life. However, he continued to be active in the conservation movement long after leaving the League and until his death. He served on the Chevron Texaco Conservation Awards committee, helping to select recipients who were continuing the work he loved so well. He was active with many smaller groups, including Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River
Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, long with two forks approximately long each, in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia...
, on whose board he served, an organization of activists dedicated to protecting their river from environmental degradation.
Lorenz’s work reflected a keen sense of altruism and practicality, a desire to leave something behind him that would demonstrate to future generations the important role the wild places of the country played in his life. He had grown up fishing the rivers in Missouri and Arkansas with his father, and he wanted others to have that same kind of experience. He is quoted as often saying that the hard work and sacrifice of his job was worth it. "The gratitude of our children will be thanks enough for our work."
Lorenz, who lived in Woodstock, Virginia
Woodstock, Virginia
Woodstock is a town in Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States. It has a population of 5,097 according to the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Shenandoah County....
, died of a stroke on March 2, 2009, in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.