[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6829-S6830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        TRIBUTE TO MR. DARWIN HINDMAN AND THE DOLPHIN DEFENDERS

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to pay special tribute 
to Mr. Darwin Hindman of Columbia, MO, and the Dolphin Defenders of St. 
Louis, MO. These outstanding Missourians are among 15 honorees 
nationwide to receive this year's Chevron-Times Mirror Magazines 
Conservation Award. This honor is being bestowed in recognition of the 
contributions made by Mr. Hindman and the Dolphin Defenders to 
environmental conservation and development. I congratulate them for 
their highly notable achievements and encourage their continued efforts 
to create balanced solutions to natural resources problems.
  Mr. Darwin Hindman, Jr., the newly elected mayor of Columbia and 
president of Missouri Rails Trails Foundation, Inc., is one of five 
receiving the Citizen Volunteer Award. Mr. Hindman [[Page S6830]] is 
responsible for establishing Katy Trail State Park along the north bank 
of the Missouri River. Through his public activism and fundraising 
efforts, Mr. Hindman successfully spearheaded creation of the Katy 
Trail that follows the historic Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804 to 
1806. Mr. Hindman also was instrumental in developing the MKT Fitness/
Nature Trail. Mr. Hindman and the foundation are working with the State 
and others to expand the Katy Trail, with the goal of extending it 
across the State.
  The Dolphin Defenders of St. Louis is a group of more than 50 inner 
city children working to restore their neighborhood by improving the 
environment. Their name comes from the group's desire to mimic dolphin 
behavior of protecting each other from danger. The Dolphin Defenders 
revitalized a once trash laden vacant lot used by drug dealers and 
abusers into a beautiful environmental retreat now known as the 
Promised Land. The group has also recognized children surviving in 
violent communities by planting 31 trees on Arbor Day in Visitation 
Park. The Dolphin Defenders are one of five nonprofit organizations/
public agencies to receive this year's Conservation Award. Moneys 
raised from the youth group's continuous collection and recycling of 
tires and glass bottles enable the Dolphin Defenders to pursue new 
environmental projects.
  The honorees will be recognized at an awards dinner on May 17 in 
Washington, DC, and will receive a $2,000 award along with a bronze 
plaque acknowledging their achievements and continued efforts to 
enhance the environment. The awards program was established in 1954 by 
the late Ed Zern, a nationally recognized sportsman, humorist, author, 
and former columnist for Field & Stream. Nearly 900 individuals and 
organizations have received this award since its conception to honor 
individuals and groups who protect and enhance renewable natural 
resources.
  My sincerest congratulations to Mr. Hindman and the Dolphin Defenders 
for their significant accomplishments and contributions to conservation 
and the environment.


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