Don Bragg — one of three inducted into the Arkansas Foresters Hall of Fame — was a forester who loved science and sharing that passion with others.
The late Bragg joins the Arkansas Foresters Hall of Fame roster along with Greg L. Hay and Pete Prutzman.
The hall is housed in the Forest Resources Building at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Plaques honoring the three were officially hung this month following last November’s induction ceremony at the Ouachita Society of American Foresters.
The Arkansas Foresters Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to forestry in Arkansas, according to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Bragg is among the most recent inductees into the Arkansas Forestry Hall of Fame.
“All of these gentlemen have been leaders in the forestry profession not only in the businesses or agencies they worked but also in volunteering their time to serve the profession through state- and national-level committees important to Arkansas forestry,” said Michael Blazier, dean of the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources. “They also give back to the profession regularly through assisting our college through educational and research efforts. A lot of foresters in this state have been enriched by the work of these inductees, myself included.”
DON C. BRAGG (POSTHUMOUS INDUCTION)
Bragg was a project leader for the U.S. Forest Service with an office at UAM starting in 2000. His wife Hope was a STEM instructor for the Cooperative Extension Service’s 4-H program, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The two imbued their children with a love of science, technology and history, and the family shared those interests together on hikes, archaeological digs and 4-H youth development activities.
Don, Hope and two of their adult children were killed in December 2023 in a house explosion.
Bragg was a distinguished research forester and project leader for the USDA Forest Service from 2000 to 2023.
A graduate of Michigan Technological University and Utah State University, Bragg was a renowned expert in southern pine silviculture and Arkansas forest history and a distinguished research forester.
Additionally, Bragg served as the editor of the Society of American Foresters’ Journal of Forestry from 2013 to 2017 and authored nearly 100 publications. His dedication to forestry earned him numerous accolades from the Forest Service, SAF and the Arkansas Archaeological Society.
Bragg was a dedicated advocate for forestry and archaeology, leaving a lasting legacy through his contributions to both fields. A scholarship has been established in honor of the Bragg family.
“Don was one of the best silviculture researchers in the U.S., and we were blessed to have him as a close colleague to our faculty,” Blazier said. “His intelligence, helpfulness, and insight are greatly missed.”
GREG L. HAY
Hay, president of the Arkansas Forestry Association and recently retired ArborGen reforestation advisor, dedicated his entire career to Arkansas forestry. Shortly after earning his degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, Hay moved to Arkansas in 1977 accepting a position with Weyerhaeuser. Hay spent nearly 10 years with the USDA Forest Service as a silviculturist at the Ouachita National Forest and later held management positions with Timberland Enterprises, CellFor, Nutrien Solutions and ArborGen.
A highly engaged SAF member, Hay received the SAF Fellow honor in 2000 and the District Field Forester Award in 2022. Additionally, he was appointed to the Arkansas Plant Board, was Chair of the Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Consulting Foresters and received the President’s Award from the Arkansas Forestry Association in 2017.
PETE W. PRUTZMAN
Prutzman, President emeritus of Kingwood Forestry Services Inc., has been a leader in Arkansas forestry since 1978. As a co-owner of Kingwood from its founding in 1983 until his retirement, Prutzman played a pivotal role in providing forestry services to Arkansas timberland owners. A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University’s forestry program, Prutzman received honors from his alma mater by being named the Outstanding Alumnus of its School of Forest Resources.
Prutzman served as president of the Arkansas Forestry Association from 2014-2016 and received the organization’s President’s Award in 2018. Over the past 25 years, he has held multiple governor-appointed positions to Arkansas forestry boards including the Arkansas Board of Registration for Foresters, the Arkansas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board and the Arkansas Forestry Commission. He is a past chair of the Arkansas Chapter of American Consulting Foresters and an SAF Fellow, among other honors.
Established in 1994, the Hall of Fame now recognizes 27 members for their exceptional contributions to forestry in Arkansas. The Hall of Fame is a testament to their dedication and impact, ensuring their legacies inspire future generations.
Don Bragg
Greg Hay
Pete Prutzman