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#05-248 November 21, 2005

Former South Carolina DNR Chief Left Legacy Of Land Protection

Dr. James A. Timmerman Jr., who protected thousands of acres of land for conservation during his tenure as director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, died Nov. 12 at the age of 70. Timmerman served as the director for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources from 1974 to 1997.

Services for Timmerman were held Nov. 17 in Irmo and Anderson. The Timmerman family requested that memorials may be made to the Jim Timmerman Jocassee Gorges Memorial Fund, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202.

Dr. James A. Timmerman Jr. Timmerman was born in Pelzer in 1935. He earned his bachelor of science degree in zoology from Clemson University in 1957, his master of science degree in zoology from Clemson University in 1959, and his doctorate degree in zoology from Auburn University in 1963. Timmerman joined the faculty at The Citadel in Charleston in August 1961 and was later appointed to head the new biology department, which was formed at the military college in July 1967. He helped establish and staff the new biology department and fund a new biology building and was the youngest department head ever to serve at The Citadel.

Timmerman served as acting director, then director, of the Marine Resources Division of the S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department from March 1970 through January 1974. During this time, he was instrumental in the development, staffing and funding of the Marine Center at Fort Johnson on James Island in Charleston. He was appointed deputy executive director, then executive director of the S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, which developed into one of the premiere state wildlife agencies in the nation.

Following the passage in 1993 of the South Carolina Restructuring Act, which reorganized several state agencies, Timmerman was named director-designee of the new S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and on July 15, 1994, the S.C. Natural Resources Board voted unanimously to name Timmerman agency director. Timmerman served as in this capacity until his retirement on June 30, 1997. Upon his retirement, the S.C. Natural Resources Board named him director emeritus.

During his tenure, the agency acquired thousands of acres in heritage preserves, protecting many rare and endangered species. The ACE Basin Project became one of the nation's premiere land protection efforts. Timmerman played a key role in acquisition of the property known as the Jocassee Gorges in his beloved Upstate region. By resolution of the South Carolina Senate and designation of the S.C. Natural Resources Board, the property was named the Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area at Jocassee Gorges in his honor, with formal dedication on Dec. 7, 2000. In December 2003, Clemson University recognized Timmerman by presenting him the honorary doctor of science degree. He continued to assist the S.C. Natural Resources Board and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources in the cause of preserving and protecting the state's natural resources and helping the people of South Carolina better understand and appreciate the natural world.

Timmerman held membership and served as a leader in many professional organizations during his career, including International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Atlantic Flyway Council, and Coastal States Organization; he served on the boards of directors of several groups, including S.C. Governor's Cup Billfishing Series, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and South Carolina Aquarium.

He was a member of the Presidential Transitional Team for President George Bush and was the U.S. Secretary of Commerce appointee to the Advisory Board of National Marine Fisheries Service.

Timmerman actively supported the administration of Clemson University and served on the university's Board of Visitors, its Cooperative Program Committee, and the School of Forest and Recreation Resources Advisory Committee, among others.

Timmerman's work in natural resources conservation earned him statewide and nationwide recognition. He received the Order of the Palmetto from the state of South Carolina, the 1997 Chuck Yeager Award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the 1996 Lifetime Achievement Award from the S.C. Wildlife Federation and the 1990 Seth Gordon Award from the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Federation.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Anne, three daughters and a son.