[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 196 (Monday, December 11, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S18370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TOMMY WYCHE: FATHER OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S MOUNTAIN BRIDGE WILDERNESS

   Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to salute a native 
South Carolinian and the ``Father of South Carolina's Mountain Bridge 
Wilderness,'' C. Thomas Wyche. On December 7, 1995, here in Washington, 
Tommy Wyche was recognized for his outstanding contributions to 
environmental conservation when he was awarded one of the Nation's top 
environmental awards, The Alexander Calder Conservation Award.
  Located just 30 miles up the road from Tommy's hometown of 
Greenville, the rolling red clay hills of the South Carolina piedmont 
suddenly springs into the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains. The 
area, known as South Carolina's Blue Ridge Escarpment, is one of 
unusual natural beauty. Typified by high cliffs, steep terrain, rushing 
rivers and dense forests, it is relatively pristine despite being 
located within 30 miles of one of the Nation's fastest growing 
communities. It is for preserving this natural wonderland that Tommy 
Wyche was recognized.
  Mr. President, the Mountain Bridge is just one of Tommy's many 
conservation successes. Over the last quarter century, he has almost 
singlehandedly led the fight to ensure that the mountains of South 
Carolina are preserved for the benefit of future generations. He 
spearheaded efforts to designate the Chattooga River as a wild and 
scenic river, and drafted the South Carolina Heritage Trust Act, the 
first in the United States. In addition, he has produced books 
celebrating the area, a guidebook and a photographic journal, both of 
which have played an important part in educating the public on the 
area's natural treasures.
  Tommy's crowning achievement, and the basis for the Calder Award, is 
his work to preserve 40,000 acres along the South Carolina-North 
Carolina border--the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. Tommy began 
efforts to preserve the area in the early 1970's. As I mentioned 
earlier, this is an area of rough terrain which contains a number of 
natural wonders like Raven Cliff Falls, a 400 foot waterfall--one of 
the highest east of the Mississippi--and a monolith known as Table 
Rock. A recent biological assessment of just a portion of the 
wilderness area produced a number of astonishing finds, enormous trees, 
trophy-size native brook trout, and a stunning variety of birds, 
reptiles, amphibians and insects, many of them rare or endangered and 
two new to science. The scientist concluded the area was ``the most 
significant wilderness remaining in South Carolina.''
  Tommy not only originated the idea of the Mountain Bridge but he is 
responsible for its success. In the beginning, he organized a nonprofit 
organization known as the Natureland Trust to preserve the area we now 
know as the Mountain Bridge. Working with the Natureland Trust, Tommy 
met with numerous landowners, walked their properties, and developed 
plans for the donation or bargain sale of their lands to the State. In 
many instances, he volunteered his expertise as a tax attorney to 
insure the most beneficial transfer for all parties. Slowly but surely, 
Tommy's efforts began to pay off--a hundred acres here, a thousand 
acres there. The wilderness acres began to take shape.
  Today the Mountain Bridge is almost complete, although Tommy has 
recently been working on one last acquisition. Although Tommy and the 
Natureland Trust are closing in on their goal, I am sure he is looking 
for other mountains, not to climb, but to preserve--other missions, 
like the Mountain Bridge which will ensure future generations enjoy the 
natural beauty of South Carolina.
  Mr. President, for a quarter century Tommy Wyche has worked 
tirelessly and unselfishly to coordinate efforts to preserve this piece 
of South Carolina's wilderness. I encourage others to follow his lead. 
Given the severity of the current budget deficit, the Federal 
Government has limited resources dedicated to preserving wild areas. I 
encourage others to use Tommy Wyche as a model for cooperative 
conservation. I commend him for a job well done, congratulate him for 
the Calder award and encourage him to continue his good works.

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