Kantrud, Greenwood Honored at Northern Prairie Research Center

Article taken from People, Land & Water, September, 1998

Dave Fellows

Jamestown, North Dakota -- Harold A. Kantrud, a botanist, and Raymond J. Greenwood, a wildlife biologist, have been awarded the Department's Superior Service Award to recognize their extensive accomplishments during long careers with Interior. Ronald Kirby, the director of the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, presented the honors to the two retired USGS employees at an awards ceremony on May 6.

Kantrud received the award for his many contributions to knowledge, understanding, and, especially, public education on the flora and wetlands of the Northern Great Plains. Between 1963, when hejoined Northern Prairie, and his retirement in 1997, Kantrud authored or co-authored 48 peer-reviewed scientific publications on a variety of topics, including studies of waterfowl nest sucess in relation to land use, waterfowl use of lakes and wetlands, life histories and ecology of a large number of native plants, effects of prescribed fire on prairie landscapes, and effects of grazing and soils on grassland breeding bird communities.

Director Ronald Kirby, left, congratulates Harold A. Kantrud, a botanist, for his accomplishments with the USGS.

Kantrud also authored or co-authored several scientific monographs, such as the widely-used classification system for ponds and lakes in the glaciated prairie region. Kantrud published hundreds of popular articles in newspapers and regional outlets on the native flora and fauna of the northern prairies and was often a featured speaker at meetings of regional sportsmen and natural resource organizations.

Greenwood, who retired earlier this year after 32 years at Northern Prairie, was recognized for his contributions to the understanding of waterfowl nesting ecology in relation to the predator communities of the Northern Great Plains. His accomplishments include authorship or co-authorship of 37 peer-reviewed scientific papers and several monographs dealing with predator and predation ecology. Many of Greenwood's studies were conducted on a large geographic scale and required the cooperation of numerous private landowners to met the study objectives.

Kirby presents Interior's Superior Service Award to Raymond J. Greenwood, a wildlife biologist.

His studies helped to develop current wildlife management practices and philosophies among waterfowl biologists throughout the northern Great Plains. Also cited in the award was Greenwood's willingness to mentor younger biologists by helping them with their research work and serving on graduate studen committees at several universities.