A professional forester and a former state senator have received the Washington State University Alumni Achievement Award.

Richard I. Woods (’58 Forestry Mgmt.), a 44-year veteran of timber harvesting, marketing, and appraising, was recognized at a surprise 70th-birthday party at the Kelso-Longview Elks Club October 6, 2002. Since 1981, Woods has owned and operated 4S Tree/Northwest, Inc. in Kelso.

Eugene Prince received the award November 2 at the WSU Dad’s Weekend breakfast. He has committed more than 40 years to public service to the state, much of it as a legislator.

“His [Woods’s] goal has been to maximize income from forest land, but still leave resources for the next generation,” according to Charles J. Chambers, alumni director from Shelton.

Woods has held positions with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, WSU Cooperative Extension Service, and the Federal Land Bank. Prior to founding his own company, he spent a decade as a consulting forester with the Woodland Management Co. He served two three-year terms on the Washington State Forest Practices Board and was president of the Association of Consulting Foresters of America, 1990-92, and the Washington Farm Forestry Association, 1973-74.

Following 18 years on the Kelso City Council 1974-92, he was mayor for eight years.

Prince graduated from WSU in 1952 (Agri. Engr.). After two years as an Air Force officer, he returned to Whitman County and the family farm at Thornton. He served as president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers and commissioner of the Washington Wheat Commission.

Prince was elected to the House in 1980 and served for 12 years, the last six as Republican caucus chair. In 1992, he was elected to the Senate, where he served from 1993 to1999. He sat on the state transportation and higher education committees, representing Eastern Washington and helping promote the needs of higher education, including WSU.

Following his retirement from the Senate in 1999, he was appointed by Governor Gary Locke to chair the Washington State Liquor Control Board through January 2005.

Three former WSU Alumni Association presidents also have received the Alumni Achievement Award.

Melvin Pettichord (’43 Industrial Arts), Olympia, alumni president in 1962-63, spent his 36 years in education at Battle Ground High School. He was hired in 1941. Through 1961 he taught mechanical drawing and physical education and coached sports. He was principal from 1964 to 1971 and served as a guidance counselor before and after his tenure as principal. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Oregon in 1962, and retired in 1977.

Thomas Copeland (x’51), Olympia, was alumni president in 1973-74. He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star during World War II, preceding his studies at WSU in 1946 and 1947. He left WSU to manage the family farm in Walla Walla. Later he served in the Washington State Legislature for 16 years. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1956 and held many leadership positions, including speaker of the House. Following his political career, he was in charge of legislative relations for the state Department of Employment Security. He also was a founding member of the Washington Wheat Growers Association.

Mike Worthy (’77 Bus. Adm.), Vancouver, alumni president in 1990-91, was honored at the November 23 meeting of the Alumni Association Past Presidents in the Lewis Alumni Centre.

He is president and CEO of the Bank of Clark County in Vancouver. He began his career in banking in 1977. At 24 he was among the youngest branch managers of Pacific National Bank, which became First Interstate Bank. He was promoted to vice president of the Bothell branch at 28 and became vice president and manager of the University District branch in 1984. When Wells Fargo bought out First Interstate in 1996, he was made senior vice president. He left the company in 1997 and has been in his present position since 1998.

Worthy, a trustee of the WSU Foundation since 1990, served as chair of the national gifts committee during Campaign WSU, which raised more than $275 million in private donations.