Friday, December 6th

11:00 AM

Please join us for a dedication on the La Chua Trail to Harold Nugent, also known as the "Alligator Man".  Harold was a retired linguistics professor and environmental educator.  He and his wife, Susan, moved to the Florida Keys in 1991, where he soon developed his knowledge and love of environmental education.  He was named Volunteer of the Year in 1999 by The National Wildlife Refuge system, and was honored by the Nature Conservancy in 1995 with the Conservation Colleague Award.  He was instrumental in founding FAVOR-Florida Keys (Friends and Volunteers of Refuges). 

He and Susan moved to Gainesville in 2000 and Harold soon became known as the Alligator Man.  Harold visited thousands of school children each year in a joint effort with FWC to teach kids about Alligators.  He became a volunteer at Paynes Prairie, continuing his outreach activities and training park volunteers and staff ways to teach others about alligators. He received the Florida State Park Award of Outstanding Volunteer of the Year in 2003, and was a director for the Friends of Paynes Prairie.  In 2008 he was named Conservation Steward by Alachua Conservation Trust. 

Harold E. Nugent passed away on October 14, 2010.  In 2012 new interpretive panels were installed on La Chua Trail, several of which pertain to alligators and help interpret a part of the message Harold conveyed to thousands of people at Paynes Prairie and throughout Florida.  Paynes Prairie would like to dedicate the covered portion of the La Chua boardwalk where these panels help interpret the animals for which he was so passionate.  Please join us for this dedication and remember the life and legacy of Harold Nugent.

Meet us on the La Chua Trail boardwalk at 11:00 am on Friday, December 6th.

Light snacks will be provided, so please RSVP and let us know you plan to attend.  Click "register" in the green box to the left.