Ron Gore, the late longtime chief of the Air Division at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, ADEM, was recently named Air Conservationist of the Year by the Alabama Wildlife Federation, AWF.
The honor was presented posthumously at the recent 2025 Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards banquet. Governor Kay Ivey provided opening remarks and assisted with the awards presentation.
Gore unexpectedly passed away November 15, 2024, at age 72. He had worked at ADEM and its predecessor, the Air Pollution Control Commission, since May 1974.
“Ron Gore served the people of Alabama with extraordinary dedication through his work over the course of 50-plus years,” said ADEM Director Edward Poolos. “He earned the respect of environmentalists, health professionals, businesses and the news media who appreciated his honest, straight-forward approach in dealing with environmental issues and with the public.
“Ron was also a true catalyst for improved air quality protection in Alabama. He helped strengthen the state’s air monitoring network, guided Alabama through compliance with evolving federal air standards, and mentored a generation of environmental professionals who continue to carry forward his commitment to clean air. Though he never sought the spotlight, Ron’s work has had an enduring impact on Alabama’s environment. Cleaner air, healthier communities and more sustainable industry practices all bear the imprint of his thoughtful, principled leadership,” Poolos shared.
Accepting the award on behalf of Gore at the banquet were his wife, Allison, and son, Thomas.
The Alabama Wildlife Federation, Alabama’s oldest and largest citizen conservation organization, presents the annual AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards to recognize the outstanding achievements of individuals and organizations who make a lasting positive impact on Alabama’s wildlife, forests, fish, waters, soils and air. Since 1971, more than 600 individuals and organizations have been recognized and celebrated.
“Ron Gore not only promoted air improvement, he also shined the light on people and organizations in Alabama that were doing the right thing, for the right reasons, to improve air quality,” said AWF Executive Director Tim L. Gothard. “During his tenure as director of the Air Division at ADEM, he nominated more people for the Air Conservationist of the Year Award than any other person in the history of the Awards. It is quite fitting, after years of Ron shining the light on others, to finally honor him with the 2025 Air Conservationist of the Year Award.”
