The John V. Kabler Memorial Award
Established in 2001, the John V. Kabler Memorial Award is presented annually to Maryland’s most outstanding environmental leaders and organizations. Awardees are selected at the discretion of Maryland LCV’s board of directors.
John Valentine Kabler dedicated his life to the people he loved, to making change through the political process, and most importantly to the Chesapeake Bay. Kabler’s work helped create protections for Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay that benefit us all today. He played a crucial role in banning the use of phosphate detergents in the Bay area, and he worked to create non-tidal wetlands protection and the state’s Critical Areas program that controls waterfront development.
Motivated to act on behalf of the environment in the wake of the Three Mile Island crisis in the late 1970s, John Kabler inspired a handful of his environmental colleagues to become active in political campaigns. Together these leaders founded the Maryland League of Conservation Voters in 1979. Until his death in 1996, John Kabler was a key leader of the Maryland conservation movement.
Sandy Kabler, the wife of the late John V. Kabler, remembered his passion and dedication to preserving the Chesapeake Bay: “John saw a need for action and leadership to protect the Chesapeake Bay and stepped up to bring the community and leaders together and hold our elected officials accountable. He worked tirelessly to protect a key asset in our ecosystem and community.”
The award is dedicated to John Kabler’s enduring memory and the principles he fought for and cared about so deeply.
John V. Kabler Memorial Awardees
2021 Dr. Sacoby Wilson
2020 No awardee due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Robert Gallagher
2018 Jeff Horstman on behalf of Shore Rivers
2017 The 2016 Prince George’s County Promotores Class
2016 The Central Maryland Beekeepers Association
2015 Prince George’s County Department of the Environment Director Adam Ortiz
2014 Nancy Davis and Ajax Eastman
2013 1000 Friends of Maryland Executive Director Dru Schmidt-Perkins
2012 Maryland DNR Secretary John Griffin
2011 Congressman Chris Van Hollen
2010 Speaker of the House of Delegates, Michael Busch
2009 U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski
2008 Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest
2007 Former Governor Harry R. Hughes
2006 U.S. Senator Joseph Tydings
2005 Maryland’s Chesapeake Waterkeepers
2004 Former EPA Administrator Russell Train
2003 Maryland Senator Brian Frosh
2002 U.S.Senator Paul Sarbanes
2001 Inaugral Recipient Governor Parris Glendening
Legislator of the Year
Established in 2012, the Legislator of the Year Award honors environmental champions from the most recent legislative session. Awardees are selected based on leadership and commitment to promote and pass equitable laws and policies for clean water, healthy air, and a resilient climate.
2021 Senator Cory McCray
2020 No awardee due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Senator Cheryl Kagan and Delegate Brooke Lierman
2018 Delegate Marc Korman
2017 Delegate Kumar Barve
2016 Senator Catherine Pugh
2015 Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo
2014 Legislator Lifetime Achievement recognition: Delegate Liz Bobo and Delegate Jim Hubbard
2013 Delegate Chair Maggie McIntosh
2012 Inaugural recipient Senator Paul Pinsky
Theodore Roosevelt Award
In recognition of the individual, group, or organization whom through a specific action, event, or body of work will leave a positive conservation legacy that mirrors the ethos of President Theodore R. Roosevelt, often considered the “conservationist president.”
2020 No awardee due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Ocean City, Maryland, business Owner Ryan James
2018 Salisbury, Maryland, Mayor Jake Day
2017 Emitsburg, Maryland, Mayor Don Briggs
Other Awards
Presented as deemed appropriate by the Maryland LCV members of the board
2019 Senator Brian Feldman – Climate Champion award
2018 Baltimore Beyond Plastic – Youth Leadership award
2017 CBF’s Will Baker – Chesapeake Champion award
2013 Governor Martin O’Malley – Climate Visionary award
2011 Charles “Chuck” Fox – Environmental Leadership award
2009 Keith Campbell – 30th Anniversary Pearl award
2004 Jennifer & Ted Stanley – Silver Anniversary award