October 2, 2009
Father Damian Schmelz named to Indiana Conservation Hall of Fame
Benedictine Father Damian Schmelz, a monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey and pastor of St. Henry Church in St. Henry, is among the first group to be inducted into the Indiana Conservation Hall of Fame, according to a news release from St. Meinrad.
The inaugural class, which includes a U.S. president, Indiana’s first state forester, a noted author, the recognized father of the Indiana state park system, and several academicians, philanthropists and environmentalists, was honored at a banquet Sept. 25 at The Garrison at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis. The Natural Resources Foundation and the Indiana Wildlife Federation co-hosted the event.
The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals, living or deceased, who have made extraordinary contributions to the conservation and preservation of natural, cultural and historical heritage.
Other members of the inaugural class include President Benjamin Harrison, Eli Lilly and Gene Stratton-Porter.
President Harrison (1833-1901) while in office used the General Public Lands Reform Act of 1891 to establish 17 national forest reserves totaling 13 million acres and lay the foundation for today’s national forest system.
Eli Lilly (1885-1977) founded and endowed the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, which led to the establishment of Angel Mounds State Historic Site and Conner Prairie.
Gene Stratton-Porter (1863-1924), a prolific author, drew on experiences growing up near Limberlost Swamp and Wildflower Woods in northeast Indiana to write 12 novels and seven nature books, including Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost.
“These inspired and passionate people worked to conserve our wild and historic places,” said Bourke Patton, executive director of the Indiana
Natural Resources Foundation. “We are excited to honor their contributions in a way that will inspire us all to work harder to protect our irreplaceable treasures.”
In 2007, Father Damian was awarded a Lifetime Conserva-tion Achievement Award by the Indiana Wildlife Federation for his work as a member of the Indiana Natural Resources Com-mission since 1976 and as co-author of Natural Areas of Indi-ana, published in 1969. The work served as a guide for the creation of Indiana’s Natural Preserves.
Father Damian is also known for his research in Indiana old-growth forests. As chairman of a blue-ribbon committee as-signed to study controlled deer hunts in Brown County State Park, Fr. Damian and other state wildlife experts determined that the hunts would thin deer herds and prevent destruction to the flora of the state park.
He attended St. Meinrad College, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, followed by a Master of Divinity degree from St. Meinrad School of Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1958. He did graduate studies at Purdue University, earning a master’s in plant ecology in 1964 and a Ph.D. in that field in 1969.
Father Damian taught biology at St. Meinrad High School and College for nearly 40 years. He also served as academic dean and, later, as provost and vice rector of St. Meinrad College. He has served on the school’s Board of Trustees. He has been pastor of St. Henry Church since 2001.