The AWW family mourns the loss of Colonel Richard (Dick) Bronson who passed away on June 10, 2024, at the age of 90. Col. Bronson was a dedicated AWW Volunteer Monitor, friend, and environmental educator whose legacy leaves a lasting impact on Alabama. This is a moment to honor a dear friend, and tell his story so that others might be inspired to work as tirelessly as Dick did to care for Alabama’s precious waters.
Founding of Lake Watch of Lake Martin
The Bronsons, originally from Michigan, made Lake Martin their home in 1984, after retiring from a long and successful career with the military that took them around the world. Col. Bronson founded Lake Watch of Lake Martin in 1989, with a vision to restore and preserve the surrounding watersheds, demonstrating his passion for environmental conservation and community engagement. He served as the LWLM president for more than 20 years.
He worked alongside his wife, Mary Ann, for several decades to conduct AWW monitoring on the waters of Lake Martin, educate thousands of youth and adults of its importance, and advocate for greater protection for his beloved Lake and its watershed.
Their warm and welcoming personalities made their Lake home a favorite spot for their many children, grandchildren, and friends to gather. They regularly welcomed AWW Staff over to enjoy their one-of-a-kind waterslide into the lake, delicious meals, games of farkle, and many laughs. We created memories that we will never forget.
His efforts not only established a strong foundation for the organization but also ensured its growth and continued impact on preserving the natural beauty and ecological health of Lake Martin.
Thanks to the dedication of Mr. Bronson and Lake Watch of Lake Martin, Lake Martin was recognized as the state’s first Treasured Alabama Lake.
Volunteer Monitor with Alabama Water Watch
Col. Bronson was instrumental in the success of Alabama Water Watch. Lake Watch of Lake Martin was one of the first AWW groups to be established and to date is one of the groups that has submitted the most data records.
Dick was an active monitor with AWW from 1993 through 2016, submitting more than 300 water chemistry data records from several sites, including his own dock. As an AWW Trainer, Dick conducted more than two dozen certification workshops. He served as an advisor to the AL Water Watch Association Board of Directors and the AWW Program.
The Bronsons received the Alabama Water Watch Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 for their work in environmental education, conservation, and stewardship. There is an article on the AWWareness Blog recounting many of the accomplishments and qualities that led AWW to select them for the prestigious award.
Environmental Education Work
Mr. Bronson and his wife, Mary Ann, facilitated an environmental education program, Living Streams, geared towards engaging youth in stream biomonitoring and watershed stewardship. Their work inspired and informed the creation of the 4-H Alabama Water Watch Program to reach more youth in our state. They helped develop the curriculum, Exploring Alabama’s Living Streams, which has now expanded into several volumes that include all three types of AWW water monitoring, and is called Exploring Our Living Streams.
Radney Elementary School in Alex City held a special place in the Bronson’s hearts. During their regular visits to Radney, they took the students on hikes to the on campus stream where they learned about aquatic critters and conducted water monitoring. Dick believed in the power outdoor environmental education and printed t-shirts for LWLM that displayed the phrase “no child left inside!”
Work with Global Water Watch
Col. Bronson was also engaged with the Global Water Watch Program. He hosted international visitors at his home on Lake Martin countless times and traveled to the Philippines in 2004, where the group conducted water quality monitoring workshops.
Dick helped to bring GWW into Alabama classrooms by working with GWW staff to present the “Hats of the World” activity, which was always a crowd-pleaser.
Mr. Bronson’s contributions have been invaluable to the success and progress of Alabama Water Watch and have had a tremendous impact on environmental education in Alabama. We are lucky to have known and worked with him, and strive to carry on his legacy by doing good work that would make him proud. He will be missed by many.
You can read more about Mr. Bronson’s work and legacy in the articles dedicated to his memory:
My mentor and my hero. I miss him dearly!