Annual Ed Edmondson Awards Program, September 20, 2025
Honoring U.S. Representative Ed Edmondson
John Ellis, Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Hall of Fame
There's a scenic river beneath the deep waters of Lake Tenkiller. It's the Illinois River and while we can't see it, STIR recognized from our inception that Tenkiller and the Illinois River are inherently paired like hand and glove, bread, and butter, and like Scotch and soda.
Tenkiller Lake, one of Oklahoma's most beautiful recreation areas and a tremendous benefit to our area's economic vitality and quality of life, is fortunate to have had John Ellis living and working on its shores. This chemical engineer and industry executive voluntarily monitored water pollution from the dam upstream to Horseshoe Bend. Water science he collected helped the Oklahoma Water Resources Board adopt more stringent antipollution rules for Tenkiller and for three designated state scenic rivers in our watershed.
While most lake associations are reluctant to talk about water quality issues, a succession of groups Ellis has led did not hide challenges to clean, safe water. Those groups and STIR have been closely allied.
STIR is proud to induct John Ellis into the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Hall of Fame, which boasts members including Oklahoma Congressional Representative Ed Edmondson, State Senators Paul Muegge and Herb Rozzell, State Representative Jim Townsend, and Oklahoma Attorney's General Robert Henry and Drew Edmondson.
Nancy Garber, Francie Fite Water Warrior Award
Oklahoma Governor Henry Bellmon, the first Republican governor in Oklahoma's history, said to STIR members that clean water and industry are not mutually exclusive, that it's not one or the other.
Nancy Garber, a reporter for the Tahlequah Daily Press and wife of charter STIR member Dan Garber, was there at the state house when Bellmon told us that and accepted a STIR canoe paddle.
It is STIR's good fortune that Nancy came away from that meeting interested in writing and taking photos that would help readers learn about the threats in the Illinois River and Tenkiller Lake, including the burgeoning poultry industry and growing cities upstream from Tahlequah.
Her interest in reporting about scenic rivers led her to a director's position on STIR's board of directors. Now, she is becoming our next Secretary.
Two of Nancy's close friends were the late Francie Fite and her husband Max McCullough. Yes, Francie was a Fite, that prominent family out of Muskogee that was so proud and protective of the Illinois River and the green Ozark Mountains surrounding Tahlequah.
Tonight STIR is rewarding Nancy for her service by presenting her the 2025 Francie Fite Water Warrior award in memory of our friend Francie Fite.
Denise Deason-Toyne
It has been my great pleasure to serve as president of Save the Illinois River, Inc., STIR, since 2011. During that time, I have met many like-minded souls who value our precious natural resources and are committed to protecting them for future generations. While we remain committed to advocacy, STIR has expanded its horizons to incorporate education to encourage the next generation of water warriors. Members and board members have participated in educational programs for the community, with Cherokee Nation Environmental Departments, Blue Thumb and other organizations, and presentations to students at Northeastern State University. In 2022, the STIR board announced that we had established a scholarship at NSU to qualified students majoring in Freshwater Studies. We continue to work toward fully funding an endowed scholarship for those students.
Our work to protect the Illinois River, its tributaries, aquifers, and Tenkiller Lake will never be finished. But I am encouraged by the promising next generation of water warriors and, with the assistance of all of us, we can continue the fight for clean water. While I am stepping down as president, I hope to remain on the board to continue to assist in fulfilling the mission of STIR.
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.
Chief Seattle
