2024 Judy Gibbs “Unless” Award - Dick Haney
Judy Gibbs (left) and Lisa Luokkala (right) honor Dick Haney (center) as the 2024 "Unless" Award recipient.
One of the reasons we come together at the Great Lakes Outdoor Summit is to celebrate and recognize regional leaders within the environment and outdoor recreation community, particularly those who fly under the radar in more traditional settings.
In 2023, GLOS created the Judy Gibbs "Unless" Award to recognize exemplary service and outstanding achievements on behalf of the Great Lakes region’s environment and the outdoor recreation movement. This year, Judy Gibbs (left) and Lisa Luokkala (right) honor Dick Haney (center) as the 2024 "Unless" Award recipient.
Dick Haney was the pioneering founder of the U of M Duluth’s Recreational Sports Department and the person whose vision and bold leadership secured university support to form the U of M Duluth’s Outdoor Program (RSOP), which has had significant impacts on UMD, its students, staff, administration, and region. His life’s mission has been to encourage active lifestyles for his students, employees, and the community. The spark Dick ignited has led to countless similar efforts that carry this fire for connecting people to the outdoors and advocating for the environment and creating better built environments.
That said, his work has not been solely bound to the university campus or population. Dick has given his time and expertise to serve on the Duluth Parks Commission. He was a founding member of the Healthy Duluth Area Coalition where he lobbied for funding of the multi-use paved trail systems that would allow Duluth to provide active transportation alternatives. His efforts landed City of Duluth funding to build out the first section of the Campus Connector Trail. To that end he was at ALL the meetings (his Volvo 200 Series Wagon a fixture in the parking lot), he called his elected officials and used his voice to persuade others to action. In addition, Dick has been a lead advocate on the Cross City Trail and a driver of the Gnesen Township outdoor recreation plan.
When he transitioned away from UMD, he found himself at Lake Superior College serving on the college’s Environmental Sustainability Council. He has continued to open up his personal land and home to educators and provide mentorship to so many outdoor recreation professionals who were finding their way.
At 83, Dick is still going strong, and an example to us all. He continues an active outdoor recreation lifestyle (ask him about one of his recent solo paddling trips to the boundary waters or the Quetico), and remains engaged in community advocacy regarding conservation of the natural world and active living. Dick lives on a lake north of Duluth where he has established a significant conservation easement upon his property through the Minnesota Land Trust to assure sustainable protections of the environmental values exemplified by his legacy of outdoor stewardship.
While Dick might prefer to be paddling a remote lake or river, Dick “shows up” to thoughtfully communicate the importance of protecting open spaces, scheduling time for recreation, promoting inclusivity, and assuring developmentally appropriate play for both children and adults.
