WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dr. Milton W. Weller of Corpus Christi received The Wildlife Society’s most prestigious award, the Aldo Leopold Memorial Medal, recently during the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources conference here. Dr. Clait E. Braun, president of The Wildlife Society, presented the award.
The medal is presented annually for distinguished service to wildlife conservation and in memory of Aldo Leopold, the father of modern wildlife management.
Weller, who retired from Texas A&M University in 1994 after 11 years as professor and holder of the Kleberg Chair in Wildlife Ecology, began his scientific career studying redhead ducks. His subsequent works significantly expanded the understanding of wetland and wetland-wildlife ecology, according to the society.
His work has served as a pioneering effort to understand the linkages between wetland birds and their habitats. During the 40 years of his career, Weller wrote numerous publications including two books — “The Island Waterfowl” and “Freshwater Marshes, Ecology and Wildlife Management” — which are used throughout the nation in college wetland courses.
Weller received a doctorate degree in zoology/wildlife in 1956 from the University of Missouri-Columbia. In addition to Texas A&M, he served on the faculties of the University of Missouri, Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota.
The Wildlife Society is a scientific and educational organization of wildlife professionals with 9,600 members in more than 60 countries.
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