It is appropriate that the members and friends of the Colorado birding
community offer a tribute of special thanks and fond remembrance to Lawrence S.
Semo, who recently passed away after a short illness. Larry was a member of
the Board of Directors of the Colorado Field Ornithologists and chairman of the
Colorado Bird Records Committee, which for him was truly 'a labor of love.' He
was an excellent birder who contributed so very much to Colorado ornithology.
Larry did not seek the lime-light and in fact avoided it. Yet he tirelessly
pursued his passion for Colorado birding and made many important contributions,
despite his premature death at just forty-four years.
At the CFO Annual Convention this year in Grand Junction, CFO presented Larry
with the Ron Ryder Award. For those who did not attend the convention and do
not receive Colorado Birds, I have repeated my presentation remarks -
Ron Ryder Award 2011
The Ron Ryder award is bestowed to individuals who have:
o Performed distinguished service to the Colorado Field Ornithologists and
its goals;
o Made scholarly contributions to CFO and Colorado ornithology; and
o Shared knowledge of Colorado field ornithology with the people of Colorado.
Another condition of this award is that it be given to a living person, so that
his or her achievements are recognized during that individual's lifetime.
Past Ryder award recipients include Ron Ryder (1995), for whom the award was
subsequently named, Harold Holt (1998), Hugh Kingery (1999), Bob Righter
(2000), Stephen Martin (2003), Richard Beidleman (2004), Tony Leukering (2008),
and Alexander Cruz (2010).
This award is not granted every year and past award winners are well known to
the Colorado birding community. All have excelled in at least one of the
listed criteria and all have met each of the criteria at a high level of
demonstrated proficiency. Some are professors of ornithology with significant
impact on undergraduate students through instruction and by mentoring their
graduate students. Others had a vision and spent countless hours producing
important Colorado birding references including A Birder's Guide to Colorado,
Colorado Birds, and the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas.
This year's recipient is a strong contributor to Colorado birding. He has
provided distinguished service to CFO through chairing the Colorado Bird
Records Committee for many years and has made important advances to the review
of submitted documentation through the development and installation of an
advanced electronic (and paperless) review system. This system has greatly
reduced the review period for most decisions. He has published frequently in
Colorado Birds with timely and comprehensive CBRC Reports. He has published in
North American Birds with seasonal co-authored reports for the Colorado-Wyoming
Region. He has also produced stand alone monographs on various notable
sightings and on the distribution of selected species.
In addition he has assisted other authors with regional bird distributions for
North American field guides. He is the Senior Ornithologist with a national
environmental consulting firm and has positively influenced many studies for
the benefit of the birds, themselves. He has contributed to Cornell's eBird
reporting project. He is an instructor in the Audubon Master Birder program
where he has led young, beginning birders on field trips and enthusiastically
shared his knowledge and joy of birding with them.
He has contributed on many levels from beginning birders through expert. He
has performed important field work, instituted important system management
improvements, influenced bird management strategies, and authored and
co-authored numerous reports and documentation about Colorado birds. His
sustained performance over many years has been truly impressive.
The Colorado Field Ornithologists proudly awards the 2011 Ron Ryder Award to
Lawrence S. Semo.
* * * * * *
Larry was unable to attend to receive his award in person. His CBRC colleague
Doug Faulkner received the award on Larry's behalf. Larry, although absent,
received an extended standing ovation.
Colorado birds and birders have lost a great friend.
He will be missed.
Jim Beatty
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