KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

Tullahoma’s Community Engagement Officer and City Forrester Lyle Russell was recognized by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC) as the 2024 Award of Excellence as a government employee.

According to TUFC, The Government Employee Award recognizes an individual working for a government agency who has made outstanding contributions to the urban forestry effort at the local, regional or state level.

“As the city of Tullahoma’s forester, Lyle Russell wears many hats,” TUFC representatives said in a statement. “Not only does he work on the city’s trees and trees in the rights-of-way, Lyle manages the arboretum and memorial tree programs.”

 Russell was highlighted for organizing tree ID walks for citizens, growing the Tree City, USA designation by earning Growth Awards, securing grants for riparian buffer enhancements and becoming an ISA-certified arborist.

“Over the last five years, Lyle has made tremendous contributions to Tullahoma’s urban canopy preservation, citizen engagement, and personal education,” Tullahoma Parks and Recreation Director J.P. Kraft said.

Russell said it was honor to receive the award, adding that taking care of Tullahoma’s urban forest is not a one-person job.

“I have many to thank for their support for the job I do, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to look after one of Tullahoma’s biggest natural resources,” Russell said.

 Russell wasn’t the only representative of Tullahoma to receive an honor from TUFC, as Tullahoma Utilities Authority’s Monty Hawkins received the 2024 Private Professional Award. The Private Professional Award recognizes an individual, who has made outstanding contributions to the urban forestry effort at the local, regional or state level. Per TUFC, the recipient must work for a company whose business is related to urban forestry.

Russell and Hawkins are not the only Tullahoma natives to receive honors from TUFC, as Dr. Randall Smith was awarded the Citizen Activities award in 2003, and the Tullahoma Tree Board was given the TUFC’s Tree Board award in 1997 and 2002.

To view other award recipients who have been recognized for their efforts, visit TUFC’s website at tufc.com/programs/awards/.

About TUFC

Founded in 1991, the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is also Tennessee’s oldest nonprofit “voice for trees.” Its diverse membership is comprised of urban foresters, arborists, community leaders, educators, gardeners, landscape designers who strive to expand public awareness of the role trees and forests play in the urban environment. Through programs, events, and outreach, TUFC works to inspire action, exchange information, foster collaborations, and represent all people to support healthy urban and community forests. TUFC is supported by funding through its members, program revenue, private donors, and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. For more information, visit TUFC’s website at https://tufc.com/.