Soil Conservation Society of America - 1959
Purpose: To honor Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett, Falls Church, Va., "Father of Soil Conservation."
Organization: Society founded by Dr. Bennett in 1945 as non-profit association; dedicated to advance science and art of good land use. Fifteen years later, membership numbered 10,000 in all states and 72 other countries.
Site, Date: Fourteenth Annual Meeting of Society held at Rapid City, South Dakota, Aug. 26, 1959 where Medal was presented to each registrant.
Comment: Dr. Bennett joined old U. S. Bureau of Soils, Washington, D. C. in 1903; worked diligently for more than 25 years against unnecessary "soil washing." Later, he became head of Soil Conservation Service, serving until 1951. Through his efforts, Congress made first appropriation of $160,000 in 1929 to investigate erosion and today Federal program reaches into every county with 2700 soil conservation districts functioning under leadership of state governments; their responsibilities include watershed planning.
Medal: Conceived by Council of Soil Conservation Society of America; designed by H. Wayne Pritchard, executive secretary of Society; struck by Meyer and Wenthe, Chicago, Illinois.
Total issue limited to 2200 pieces in two strikings of 1200 and 1000. First lot distributed free to registrants at 14th Annual Meeting of Society as above indicated; second lot struck later and "made available for $1 to members and friends of Society who wanted a copy." In September 1960, Society advised that no additional medals would be struck and that dies would be destroyed.
Obverse: Male head l., below Hugh Hammond Bennett — within inner circle; outside around Commemorating Soil and Water Conservation; below 1929—1959
Reverse: Official insignia of Society (handful of soil up to sun and rain) — in center circle; outside, around Soil Conservation Society of America with star below.
HK-574 - Gilt, lacquered finish. Size 22.
HK-574a - White Metal.
 
Image provided by John Dean
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