For his leadership in protecting Florida’s springs, Senator Charles Dean was honored with Audubon’s Theodore Roosevelt Award on Friday, October 25 at the annual Audubon Assembly.

Each year Audubon honors a public servant who shares with President Teddy Roosevelt the courage and honesty required to champion both good government and environmental protection. Theodore Roosevelt was a founder of Florida Audubon Society.  

Charles Dean has been chairman of the Florida Senate Environmental Preservation & Conservation Committee for three years. His support of the purchase of Three Sisters Springs near Crystal River and his role in getting $37 million for springs restoration in 2013 made him an obvious choice for this award.

Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon Florida said, “Charlie Dean should be known as Senator Springs.” 

Dean has made the Senate Environmental Preservation & Conservation Committee live up to its name. During his tenure as chairman, he refused to pass bills that that would undermine environmental protection. 

“Charlie Dean made the Senate Environment Committee the place where bad bills go to die,” Draper said.

Senator Dean also has been a champion for the Gulf Coast for using RESTORE Act funds from the BP oil spill for ecosystem protection. 

“For all these reasons Senator Dean reminds us of Teddy Roosevelt. And we honor him with Audubon’s Theodore Roosevelt Award,” Draper concluded.

The Theodore Roosevelt award was presented at the 2013 Audubon Assembly in Palm Harbor, Florida before an audience of 250 Florida Audubon leaders.