John W. Macon
(1912-1979)
Inducted October 2, 1996
Plaque Engraving:
A professional forester whose career in public industrial forestry spanned a forty year period from 1935 to 1974. He served in the U.S. Forest Service from 1935 to 1945 in both Minnesota and Wisconsin and in 1945, he joined Consolidated Papers, Inc. as a research forester. His pioneering work with hybrid aspen, timber inventorying and development of white spruce super trees brought him state and regional recognition. He authored numerous scientific papers, research notes, and articles and was active in forestry legislative and policy issues. He became manager of woodlands in 1968 and served in the capacity until his retirement in 1974.
John Macon’s commitment and strong ethic to land management continues to influence all forester. A lifetime member of the Society of American Foresters, he is honored by the Wisconsin SAF John Macon Award given to foresters who demonstrate the qualities exemplified by John Macon’s career as a forester.
More about John W. Macon:
John W. Macon was a professional forester whose career in public and private forestry spanned a period of forty years from 1935 to 1974.
His career began with the then Lakes States Forest Experiment Station, U. S. Forest Service in St. Paul in 1935 after graduating from Syracuse University and he continued this work until 1942.
In 1942, he transferred to the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison where he did research work until he left Federal service in 1945.
That same year, he started with Consolidated Papers. Inc. as a research forester stationed in Rhinelander. He is credited with the development of a faster and more accurate method of timber inventory, with pioneering work in the development of fast growing hybrid aspen and in the development of white spruce super trees at the Monico experimental forest in Oneida county. This and other research in forest practices brought him region wide recognition among forest managers and scientists. In 1968, John became manager of woodlands and served in this capacity until his retirement in 1974. John authored numerous scientific papers, research notes, articles and committee reports related to Wisconsin forestry and the Lake states in general.
During the period 1942 until his retirement in 1974, John was an active participant in Wisconsin forestry programs and gave willingly of his time and talents to serve on numerous professional and technical trade organizations, advisory groups to public agencies and in conservation education efforts.
This includes: membership on the Governor’s Resource Advisory Council as the resource person for forestry; the Coordinating Council for Higher Education in its policy decision to establish undergraduate forestry curricula at the UW-Madison and UW-Stevens Point; the Wisconsin Council for Conservation Education; on the board of directors of the American Pulpwood Association, the Lake States Technical Committee of the American Pulpwood Association; the Wisconsin Tree Farm Committee; the Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison Forestry Advisory Committee and the Research Advisory Committee of the DNR representing the forestry interests in establishing policy and priorities of DNR supported research.
John was active in the Society of American Foresters and was a lifetime member. He represented the then Wisconsin-Michigan section on the Menominee Indian study committee which established management criteria for the tribal forestlands upon termination from federal trusteeship. John served with distinction in SAF activities at the chapter and section level and was chairman from 1958-60.
John served with distinction on the Oneida county board of supervisors upon retirement and his leadership and social-political skills helped strengthen the state-county relationship in the county forest program during a period of unrest that threatened the continuation of this program.
In 1968, John received the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Forest Conservation award in recognition of his accomplishments in forest silviculture. In 1972, John was recognized by the Natural Resources Board for meritorious service to the department’s research program and to the people of Wisconsin.
The John Macon award, established by the Wisconsin Section, SAF in recognition of his professional career and contributions to Wisconsin forestry, is awarded to a member of the Wisconsin SAF who displays the professionalism in forestry that exemplifies John Macon’s career. This is a fitting tribute to John and provides clear insight as to why Wisconsin forestry is better because of John Macon’s forty years of dedication and service to a profession he loved.
John left the profession of forestry better because of his commitment and strong ethic to land management and his influence continues to be felt by all foresters – young and old and will be for many years into the future.
