2026 Wall of Honor Inductee

A 60+ year resident of Ellington, Jim was nominated by Ellington Town Planner Lisa Houlihan, who was joined by several other references.

One of the original members of the Ellington Conservation Commission, Jim is being recognized for his role in advocating for open space and farmland preservation.

As an integral participant in multiple preservation projects in the area, Jim’s efforts included working directly with conservation groups, securing funding, physically preparing sites, and other critical acquisition efforts. He always offered a persistent and engaged voice in preserving Ellington’s agricultural character, working with local, regional, and state agencies to learn about preservation programs and help develop long-term plans. He was also instrumental in establishing the Ellington Farmland Preservation Program that has helped protect hundreds of acres of our farmland.

In addition to his service on the Conservation Commission, he served during the last three decennial revisions of the Ellington Plan of Conservation and Development, is a current member of the Northern Connecticut Land Trust, volunteers with the CT Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation (CT-TACF), and serves on the MassConn Sustainable Forest Partnership Steering Committee. In an article from CT-TACF, Jim is described as “quiet, smart, competent, hard-working, respectful and humble...incredibly productive...the ultimate team member.”

Jim finds connections between groups and organizations and works to create operational framework for meaningful collaboration; a lifelong appreciator of the outdoors, he continually seeks ways to keep nature close to his community.

A formal induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 4:00 pm at the site of the Wall of Honor in Arbor Park [off Main Street]. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.