
Premier Volunteers
Premier Volunteer Award
Since 2009, Wild Alabama has honored outstanding individuals with the Premier Volunteer Award, recognizing volunteers whose dedication and service go far beyond the hours they contribute. Premier Volunteers exemplify the spirit of Wild Alabama through their generosity, selflessness, leadership, and unwavering commitment to protecting Alabama’s wild places.
These volunteers contribute not only their time, but also their skills, creativity, and steady leadership. Their impact is felt on the trail, within volunteer teams, and across the organization as a whole.
Beginning in 2024, Wild Alabama expanded this recognition to honor two Premier Volunteers each year—one serving the Bankhead National Forest and one serving the Talladega National Forest region—reflecting the growing scope of our stewardship work and the extraordinary commitment of volunteers in both areas.
Each year, Premier Volunteers are recognized at our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic, held each November. Honorees are presented with a handcrafted sourwood walking stick, symbolizing gratitude, stewardship, and the long paths they have helped care for and protect.
The Premier Volunteer Award celebrates the heart of Wild Alabama—our volunteers—and honors those whose service leaves a lasting impact on both the land and the community that cares for it.
Meet The volunteers

2025 Bankhead National Forest
melony terry
Melony Terry has been volunteering with Wild Alabama since 2019. Over the past six years, she has shown exemplary dedication and a passion for Stewardship. Her positive attitude is refreshing, and is a great example for other volunteers. Melony contributes her time in many ways, including trash pickup days, invasive plant removal in the Sipsey Wilderness, Volunteer Wilderness Ranger Program, Trail Maintenance work, and more.

2025 Talladega National Forest
Tabitha Stalvey
Tabitha Stalvey is a passionate environmental steward, creative, and military veteran. Her goal is to leverage her background and expertise to contribute to sustainable and impactful practices and projects.

2024 Bankhead National Forest
donna marcella
Donna Marcella brings dedication and expertise to her role as an A-level crosscut sawyer and Leave No Trace Level One Instructor, Volunteer Wilderness Ranger, and Alabama Water Watch monitor. Her commitment to conservation is evident in her work with Wild Alabama, where she plays a crucial role in maintaining trails, ensuring the health of waterways, and supporting the stewardship of Alabama's wilderness areas. Donna’s skills and dedication exemplify the spirit of volunteerism and the impact of community involvement in protecting and preserving natural landscapes.

2024 Talladega National Forest
David Lyons
David is a Wilderness Guide, Wilderness First Responder, and a Leave No Trace Level II Trainer. As part of giving back to the trails, David began volunteering with Wild Alabama on trail maintenance projects. This led David to serve as a Forest Ambassador and Volunteer Wilderness Ranger. David joined Wild Alabama in 2023 as the Interim Stewardship Coordinator for the Talladega National Forest until the position was permanently filled. David serves as volunteer Chaplain for the Alabama Pinhoti Trail.

2023
michelle pendleton
In 2019, Michelle had the “adventure” of a lifetime and acknowledges this as a pivotal moment that led her to volunteer with Wild Alabama. She has been volunteering with Wild Alabama for several years and has received her certifications in crosscut saw training and Wilderness First Aid. Her free time is spent volunteering, hiking, and sharing her love for the Sipsey Wilderness with others!

2022
anne markham bailey
Anne is a writer, awareness educator, forest bathing guide and former Wild Alabama board member who lives in Birmingham, Alabama. Anne is certified through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Anne has been a strong partner in the places we work to protect through regular forest bathing offerings to the public.

2021
terri slizewski
Terri is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger, a certified B-level crosscut sawyer, and an all-around skilled volunteer and team player. She brings reliability, technical skill, and a positive spirit to every project, consistently supporting stewardship work and fellow volunteers in the field.

2020
robert howell
Robert is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger, certified B-level crosscut sawyer, Helping Hands volunteer, hike leader, and former board member. He brings strong leadership, technical skill, and a deep commitment to stewardship, supporting Wild Alabama’s mission both in the field and at the organizational level.

2019
tony barber
Tony is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger and a ranger mentor, as well as a certified B-level crosscut sawyer and Leave No Trace trainer. He brings experience, patience, and strong stewardship ethics to both the trail and the volunteer community.

2018
donna kridelbaugh
Donna is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger and ranger mentor, as well as a certified B-level sawyer. She has supported numerous special projects, including recreation site monitoring, non-native invasive plant inventories, and solitude monitoring. Donna is also a Leave No Trace Level One Instructor, bringing strong stewardship ethics to both fieldwork and mentorship.

2017
julia bright
Julia is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger and ranger mentor, as well as a certified B-level sawyer. She assists with special projects and serves as a hike leader, supporting stewardship efforts and helping others connect with Alabama’s wild places.

2016
richard deal
Richard is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger and a certified B-level sawyer. He contributes valuable technical skills and a strong commitment to stewardship, supporting trail work and wilderness protection efforts in the field.

2015
wayne bailey
Wayne, aka "Coach", is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger and ranger mentor, as well as a certified B-level crosscut sawyer. A “Triple Crowner” who has completed the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail, Wayne brings deep trail experience—and memorable stories—to inspire and support fellow volunteers.

2014
chuck peterson
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2013
betty gill
Betty is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger and a certified A-level crosscut sawyer. She has contributed to special projects including recreation site monitoring and solitude monitoring, supporting the protection of wilderness character and visitor experiences.

2012
mary woodis
Mary is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger and ranger mentor, as well as a certified B-level sawyer. She has assisted with special projects, including recreation site and solitude monitoring, and is a Leave No Trace Level One Instructor, bringing strong stewardship ethics to her work in the field.

2011
jay murphy
Jay is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger and a certified B-level crosscut sawyer with specialized skills in sharpening and refurbishing crosscut saws—an increasingly rare and valuable craft. He has assisted with canyon mapping and non-native plant surveys and also serves as a hike leader, supporting stewardship and education efforts in the field.

2010
larry gautney
Larry is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger and a ranger mentor, as well as a certified B-level crosscut sawyer. He has assisted with special projects, including non-native plant surveys, canyon mapping, and recreation site inventories, supporting stewardship and monitoring efforts in the field.

2009
ted kuzma
Ted was one of Wild South’s first Helping Hands volunteers. In addition to trail maintenance, he contributed to special projects including canyon mapping and non-native invasive species inventories. Ted passed away in 2017, and his dedication and service continue to be remembered and honored.
