Meet our November and December 2000 Earth Heroes and our Earth Hero of the Year!

King County Executive Ron Sims honored Carol James, and Clare Henson as King County's Earth Heroes for November and December 2000. A special tribute was made posthumously to Ursula Judkins as King County's Earth Hero of the Year. Judkins passed away before this award could be presented.

In a special ceremony held in the Executive’s Office, Sims joined by King County Councilmember Larry Phillips honored the invaluable contributions these heroes have made in protecting King County’s environment.

"Ursula Judkins, Carol James, and Clare Henson represent the spirit and commitment behind the King County Earth Hero Award," said Sims. “Each has given selflessly to the cause of environmental protection and enhancement for the residents of this County.”

Presented in Ursula Judkins' memory, the Earth Hero of the Year award is a tribute to the life long commitment Ursula made to King County's air, land and water quality. Judkins was no stranger to environmental activism and protection. For years, she served as an advocate for the Magnolia neighborhood and the community at large. She worked tirelessly with the Magnolia neighborhood during the expansion of the West Point Sewage Treatment Plant. Judkins' work reduced the impact of construction on the neighborhood and also created the Shoreline Parks Improvement Fund that allocated more than $25 million to benefit Seattle’s waterfront parks. Judkins actively served on the Discovery Park Advisory Council, Magnolia Historical Society, Neighbors Advisory Committee, and the King County Regional Wastewater Committee. As a founding member of the Rail Noise Mitigation Committee, Judkins worked with Burlington Northern Railroad to make capital improvements on the Interbay area as well as reduce rail noise for residents. Judkins recently passed away, leaving a legacy of environmental protection and activism.

Carol James has been an open space activist in King County for over 20 years. She began her work in 1977 with Save Our Local Farmlands, where she successfully managed a campaign for voter approval of $50 million to purchase development rights of farmlands in the County. From 1984 to 1988 James co-chaired the citizens’ committee to secure 20 acres of open space for the Bellevue Downtown Park and raised over $2 million for phase one construction. Today, James is the President of the Board for Cascade Land Conservancy. She is one of the founding board members and continues to bring individuals, corporations and government together to preserve the natural beauty and heritage of this region. Using cutting edge techniques, Cascade Land Conservancy has preserved nearly 4,000 acres of close-to-home lands in the last decade and is working on 10,000 additional acres. James has also served as a board member for the Mountains to Sound Greenway, co-chair of the King County Citizen’s Open Space Oversight Committee, and chair of a committee where over $250 million was invested to acquire 11,000 acres of open space and 70 miles of trails.

Clare Henson of the Boulevard Park Community is a long time community activist involved in King County’s Adopt-A-Stop, Adopt-A- Road, and Adopt-A-Park programs. As an Adopt-A-Road volunteer, Henson regularly picks up litter on several miles of roadway. With the Adopt-A-Stop Program, Henson maintains 14 unsheltered bus stops by picking up litter and emptying litter containers weekly. She also maintains the beauty of the Hill Top Park. Currently, Henson serves as Secretary on the Boulevard Park Community Council. Her efforts continue to make a positive impact in the Boulevard Park Community and demonstrates the difference an individual can make in a neighborhood.

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