The 2010 John Van Swearingen IV Stewardship Award Winner:
Tom Moltz

Tom Moltz is the winner of the 2010 John Van Swearingen IV Stewardship Award.  Tom has been an active participate in  numerous conservation projects over the years. He also participates in the cleanup of several Georgia sinks, caves and karst areas, including leading a major cleanup effort and installation of sediment barriers at Crisp County Georgia’s Rockhouse Cave. Tom also participated in the discovery, exploration and mapping of numerous caves, often traversing virgin passage while carefully laying flagging to protect sensitive areas. He also helps educate numerous first time cavers (young and old) regarding conservation minded caving techniques and respect for the cave and cave environment. Tom has also been instrumental in obtaining access to numerous caves through patient discussions with cave owners that demonstrate his deep respect for "their cave" and willingness to assist them in conservation. Tom also has greatly helped in the preservation of South Georgia caves through the installation of probably a thousand feet of sediment fencing and discussion with farmers, timber interest, etc.

Tom worked hard on looking for caves on Pigeon Mountain in the area that the quarry at Blue Bird Springs wanted to expand into a few years back. This was important conservation work because finding caves there may have prevented the expansion of the quarry, destroying a good bit of hillside of the Crockford Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area. He was instrumental in the discovery of Flowing Stone Cave on the property, a premiere 224' deep pit (second deepest in Georgia) decorated with lots of flowstone/rimstone dams and cave pearls. Tom fretted over that fact that announcing the existence of the cave could potentially save the mountainside from being quarried (with the eventual possibility of the cave being quarried away) while at the same time result in damage to the cave due to over-visitation of this fine find by cavers. The decision to announce the cave to cavers and the subsequent visitation by cavers ended up playing an important role in halting the quarry permit as it was shown that the cave was significant enough to need preservation. He took care to flag a trail through the cave to protect the cave as much as possible. Tom was very helpful in working with everyone trying to protect Pigeon Mountain from being quarried away.

Tom has been very active in caving in Georgia. He has been a prolific ridgewalker and digger, typically finding several caves every year (which is impressive in Georgia). He has been active in cave surveying and drafting his new finds. He has also helped out with the GSS Frick's Cave Resurvey Project. He has been active
in the GSS over the years, serving as an officer some years.

Tom rallied his MGG grotto members and worked with the Flint River Grotto in the stabilization and gating of Glory Hole Cave.  The project protected the highly decorated cave that was becoming endangered because of in-fill of sediment from surrounding farmland and degradation from “sneak-in” flashlight graffiti artists. Tom worked with a surrounding property owner to obtain rock and fill to combine with cement and supplies the grottos purchased to build the impressive cement gate and structure.  The CCC scale project will protect the cave for decades to come.

Tom’s activities have protected, preserved and insured access to numerous caves throughout Georgia.  Through his countless meetings with property owners, Tom has contributed to a positive image for all NSS members and helped insure access to caves and karst regions.