
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, October 14, 1994                   TAG: 9410140110
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FORESTRY WORKER GETS CONSERVATION AWARD

Arthur G. Cox, a forest technician for the Virginia Department of Forestry in Carroll and Grayson counties, has been recognized by the Virginia Wildlife Federation with its Forest Conservationist of the Year award.

The recognition is the result of a bloodhound tracking project Cox began in 1987 aimed at catching arsonists who start forest fires. In the past seven years, Cox has worked on hundreds of cases, often at night.

The tracking project was begun as both a law-enforcement and fire-prevention program. Cox bought and trained bloodhounds using his own money and time to make the program successful, according to Lou Southard, a Forestry Department spokesman.

Cox and his hounds have helped catch and prosecute numerous woods arsonists in Southwest Virginia. His reputation as a tracker led to an expansion of the program into assistance for local law-enforcement agencies searching for lost children and adults. Cox has assisted and trained law officers in several states.

Cox will receive the award at the annual Virginia Wildlife Federation banquet Saturday in Richmond.

by CNB