Larry Dolphin, Director at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, received the Judge John W. Tobin Award for his dedication to Austin Chapter 10 of the Izaak Walton League of America at its July 8 meeting.

“I’m very proud of being part of the Austin chapter because of their fight for clean water and air and to get families outdoors,” Dolphin said.

Dolphin joined IWLA at the chapter level in 1993, but he first heard of the organization when he was in college.

Some of Dolphin’s contributions include being president of the Austin Chapter, Minnesota Division President and Vice President and leading the clean water effort in Mower County, which lead to a IWLA Save-Our-Streams award.

“Austin is a very strong chapter in the state of Minnesota.” Dolphin said.

The Tobin Award is a national award that is given to dedicated chapter members- the ones who show up for all the meetings, sign up first for work crews, serve on committees, and make the organization run more smoothly.

“It’s nice to be appreciated,” Dolphin said. “It’s an honor.”