Edward J. Koenemann
Cornelius Amory Pugsley State Medal Award, 1995

Edward J. Koenemann (1933- ) received the Pugsley Medal in 1995 "for his outstanding leadership of Vermont State Parks, in responding to the legislature's removal of state funds to support the system by making it self-sufficient from revenues generated." At the time of his retirement in 1998, his 17 years as Vermont State Park director was the longest tenure of anyone who had held that position.

He was born and raised in Indiana and his future career path was strongly influenced by his parents who were both scout leaders and water safety and first-aid instructors. He became actively involved in scouting in elementary school and it remained a central interest through high school. In addition, his mother directed a local neighborhood pool, was aquatics director for the YWCA, and worked for the city recreation department on new programs. Thus, much of his leisure time as a youth was spent engaging in outdoor activities, especially swimming and fishing.

He started at the University of Indiana in 1950, switched majors, and after four years there before he could finish the degree, he was drafted. He spent two years in the military from 1954 to 1956 before returning to Indiana University to complete his BS and MS degrees in 1957 and 1958, respectively. At Indiana his career path decision was reinforced by a dorm counselor who was a graduate student in the park and recreation program, and good mentoring that he received from the faculty.

Following graduate school, he was advised by one of his Indiana professors, who was originally from Vermont, of a recreation specialist position available with the Vermont State Board of Recreation. The agency's main mission was advising and educating local communities interested in establishing recreation programs. There he was fortunate to receive good mentoring from Mrs. Theresa Brungardt who was the agency director. He worked in this position from 1959-61, helping "Mrs. B" assist the communities of Vermont to improve their recreation services. Koenemann later remarked, "I came to Vermont to work with Mrs. B right out of college for selfish motives. I knew I would learn more in a few years working with her than I would learn in any other position in 20 years. What I learned from her was professionalism and professional commitment."

After gaining this valuable experience, Koenemann moved back to his home town in Indiana in 1961. He became supervisor of a community center for the Evansville Public Recreation Commission and in 1966 was promoted to superintendent of parks for Evansville. He had worked in the center in the summers while going through college and was recruited by the director primarily to take charge of the teen program which was the largest in the state. It had 13,000 members, and at peak time on Friday evenings there would be 3,500 teens in the center. Its previous managers had been terminated and Koenemann inherited a conflict situation where all records and files had disappeared, and morale was low. This move proved to be characteristic of all the others he made in his career in that he looked for challenges. He deliberately sought positions where there were serious problems to be resolved and relationships to be healed.

In 1968, he returned to Vermont to become director of his previous agency, the Vermont State Board of Recreation, and stayed in Vermont for the remainder of his career. In 1974, he became director of the planning division of the Vermont Agency of Environmental Conservation, the division's primary responsibility was administration of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grants. Subsequently, when he was serving on an interview panel to hire a new state parks director for the agency, he was invited to step-down from the panel and apply for the position himself. He was appointed state parks director in 1980.  In 1986, a reorganization of the agency led to an expansion of Koenemann's role to embrace all state lands (including forests) not only state parks and he was given the title director of state lands. In 1990, another reorganization resulted in the State Board of Recreation being folded into the parks division and Koenemann acquired the title of director of state parks and recreation which he held until his retirement.

Koenemann transformed the Vermont state parks agency during his tenure. Often the most insightful comments on leadership come from employees "down-the-line" who are impacted by the process, corporate climate, and decisions implemented by senior managers. These people were highly complimentary of Koenemann's leadership. One of them noted that in previous administrations there was a pervasive attitude of "us versus them" between the field employees and head office, "That attitude has all but disappeared.  It feels like a team now, working toward a common goal. In a business so heavily weighted to providing public services, this attitude has translated into better run campgrounds and day use areas The current leadership team has elevated our department to the higher level."

One manager commented that Koenemann "has always been incredibly supportive, allows as much time as is necessary, and really listens so I never feel rushed. His leadership allows those of us who work for him to flourish and succeed." Another commented on his "consistent energy and enthusiasm" and noted with regard to the Youth Conservation Corps programs, "Your compassion and understanding for the youth we employ is inspirational, you are truly a great teacher."

Koenemann believed that parks professionals should exhibit leadership in the broader arena of conservation and environmental stewardship: "We cannot compartmentalize our lives. We do not have a quality life without a clean environment, and a clean environment is the responsibility of each and every one of us." Thus, for example, he viewed the recycling program and the "carry-in, carry-out" program for rubbish disposal that he introduced not only as cost-cutting measures, but also as part of the educational effort directed at park visitors. As part of his broad environmental awareness effort, he involved the Youth Conservation Corps in the work of preservation and restoration of historic and natural resources, and in managing 12 of the state parks.

In addition to his regular job, Koenemann also had a second career as a teacher. At various times, he taught recreation and park courses at Lyndon State College; Johnson State College, and the University of Vermont. He was an adjunct professor of the University of Vermont for over 20 years, teaching at least one course each semester. In addition, he was unusually active in professional associations serving as president of three national professional organizations: the National Society for Park Resources, the National Association of State Park Directors, and the National Recreation and Park Association.

Koenemann observed, "There is no higher calling than to serve people, particularly making their lives more enjoyable and managing the resources to that end...The parks and recreation profession is truly my passion.".