Patrick F. Noonan (born 1943) is an American conservationist and was president of

The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. it works via affiliates or branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the US. Founded in 1951, The Nat ...

from 1973 to 1980, and the

Conservation Fund The Conservation Fund is a U.S. nonprofit organization with a dual charter to pursue environmental preservation and economic development. From 2008–2018, it has placed more than 500,000 acres under conservation management through a program wh ...

. He was a recipient of the Lady Bird Johnson Environmental Award. He graduated from

Gettysburg College Gettysburg College is a private liberal arts college in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1832, the campus is adjacent to the Gettysburg Battlefield. Gettysburg College has about 2,600 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women. ...

with BS Business Administration, (1965), from American University with an MBA, and from Catholic University of America, with a MS in City and Regional Planning. He has served on three Presidential Commissions: the Commission on Americans Outdoors; Commission on Environmental Quality; and the Commission on White House Fellows. He currently serves on the board of trustees of the

National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world. Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, an ...

and is Vice Chairman of the Society's Education Foundation. He is also on the board of advisors of the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and was previously a board member of the Chesapeake Conservancy. His daughter, Karen Elizabeth Noonan (1967–1988) was one of the victims of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Noonan is quoted in the profile prepared by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration when he received its

Pugsley Medal The Pugsley Medal was created by Cornelius Amory Pugsley in 1928. The award honors champions of parks and conservation. Responsibility for selecting the recipients has shifted from the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society to the Na ...

in 2005: "Noonan's early childhood was spent with weekends in the great outdoors on rural lands owned by his family in Maryland. He developed there a deep and abiding love for nature and respect for its beauty. Later he noted, 'I had the privilege of transferring the land to the Maryland Parks and Planning Commission to create Little Bennett Regional Park. It was the most satisfying moment of my life, realizing that for all time generations would come to walk the land and experience firsthand the daily miracles of nature.'"

Awards

* 1985 MacArthur Fellows Program * 2005

* 2009 George Bird Grinnell Memorial Award

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Noonan, Patrick 1943 births Living people American conservationists Gettysburg College alumni Kogod School of Business alumni Catholic University of America alumni MacArthur Fellows