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LJ volunteer honored with prestigious award
Published November 15, 2009
LAKE JACKSON — There were no tears when David Howarth was surprised as he was presented with Keep America Beautiful’s Iron Eyes Cody Award.
There was a parade, cake and plenty of congratulations for the chairman of Keep Lake Jackson Beautiful at the city’s part of a Brazoria County fall cleanup Saturday. The national award is the highest possible for a Keep America Beautiful affiliate, and is named after the American Indian shown crying on 1970s anti-pollution commercials.
“I am truly honored … I’m shocked and surprised,” Howarth said to about 100 people outside City Hall after many of them formed a parking lot parade to announce the award, of which he was not aware.
“I really enjoy this community,” he said. “I love giving back. I could live anywhere in the United States I want and I choose to live here.”
Mayor Bob Sipple declared Nov. 14, 2009, “David Howarth Day” in Lake Jackson. Howarth said he appreciated the award, but said keeping the city clean is a team effort.
It’s a team made better by Howarth’s presence, said Terri Cardwell, Lake Jackson volunteer coordinator.
“He’s been such a great volunteer,” Cardwell said. “He’s a go-getter. He’s not just all talk.”
Howarth in 1999 was named chairman of Clean City Commission where he remained after the name was changed to Keep Lake Jackson Beautiful. He participates in every Keep Lake Jackson Beautiful event and is passionate about the organization, she said. Howarth has led the way in stopping cigarette litter and encouraging recycling in Lake Jackson.
Howarth also has dedicated himself to teaching Lake Jackson youth about the environment, Cardwell said. This summer, he received a lifetime achievement award from Keep Texas Beautiful.
Howarth will be presented the Iron Eyes Cody Award on Dec. 4 at Keep America Beautiful’s 56th annual national conference in Washington D.C. The award is given for leadership in promoting Keep America Beautiful’s mission.
Keep Lake Jackson Beautiful also will receive the first-place National Affiliate award. Keep Angleton Beautiful won a third-place National Affiliates Award and Keep Brazoria County Beautiful won third for Waste Reduction Project.
“We probably have the most winning county across the nation,” Cardwell said.
That clean spirit was evident Saturday during a countywide collection of electronic waste, old tires, batteries, motor oil and other pollutants. Collections were held in Lake Jackson, Clute, West Columbia and Alvin. Volunteers also picked up litter, painted fire hydrants and spruced up landscaping.
Brazoswood High School student Jessica Pham helped hand out T-shirts to volunteers.
“I like being part of the community,” Pham said. “It helps you stay involved and keeps you out of trouble.”
At the Brazoria County Fairgrounds In Angleton, workers filled pallets with old computers, monitors, television sets and other electronics.
“It keeps all of this from going into the landfill,” said James Sawyer, facilities manager for ECO International, which hauled off the county’s collection. “If it’s just thrown away, it’s going to become hazardous material.”
Saturday’s electronic waste dump sites were at the fairgrounds, Brazosport College and the Precinct 4 barn in Brazoria. Saturday marked the county’s third e-waste collection, said Jamae Bowman, Keep Brazoria County Beautiful president.
In April, 90,000 pounds of such waste was collected, and 60,000 pounds were gathered in August.
On Saturday, 278 county volunteers collected 85 bags of trash, 42 bags of recyclables, 35 tires, 9 gallons of paint, 275 batteries, 20 pairs of eyeglasses, two cell phones, 10 gallons of cooking oil and 150 gallons of motor oil.
Katlynn Lanham and John Lowman are reporters for The Facts. Contact them at 979-237-0100.
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