Staunton Man’s 90th Birthday to be Celebrated
by the Society of American Foresters and the Virginia Department of Forestry
with the Planting of 90 Black Walnut Trees

Tom Elliott’s 90th birthday will be recognized at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19th, through the planting of 90 Black Walnut trees that will help stabilize a stream bank at the Augusta Forestry Center. 

A resident of Staunton, Mr. Elliott will be on hand (along with his son from Stuart’s Draft) when members of the Skyline Chapter of the Society of American Foresters (SAF) and employees and retirees of the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) dig open the soil to plant this lasting honor.

A former Staunton District Forester, Mr. Elliott retired from the VDOF in 1983 -- capping a 38-year career with the agency that began after his return from service in the Pacific Theater during World War II.  Before the War, Mr. Elliott worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The idea for this environmentally friendly tribute came from Larry Edwards, one of Mr. Elliott’s former colleagues at VDOF.

-30-

Note: Members of the news media are invited to attend the planting ceremony that will begin at 2 p.m. at the Augusta Forestry Center on Route 340 just north of Crimora, Virginia.