Chattanooga Volunteer Recognized with National Award for Service

Chattanooga resident, lawyer, and volunteer Allen McCallie, will be honored this evening by The Trust for Public Land with its highest honor, the Douglas P. Ferguson Award, for his outstanding service and extraordinary commitment to conserving land for people across America. The award is named for Doug Ferguson, a co-founder and emeritus board member of The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national land conservation organization based in San Francisco, with a Tennessee state office in Chattanooga.

For nearly 15 years Mr. McCallie has served on the Chattanooga Leadership Council of The Trust for Public Land. He has supported the development of many conservation projects in and near Chattanooga, including The Tennessee RiverWalk, South and North Chickamauga Creek Greenways, Aetna Mountain, Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park, Tennessee River Gorge, Stringer’s Ridge, and the Lula Lake trail system. 

An attorney since 1980 and member of Miller & Martin PLLC, Mr. McCallie concentrates his practice on real estate, nonprofit organizations, conservation law, and public and private nonprofit development ventures. He has represented unique public-private partnership ventures involving the RiverCity Co. and revitalization of downtown Chattanooga through projects such as the Tennessee Aquarium, RiverSet Apartments, Tennessee RiverPark, Majestic 12 Theater, CARTA’s downtown shuttle system, and various mixed-use facilities. 

“The Trust for Public Land relies on high caliber volunteer leadership and Allen McCallie’s enthusiasm, engagement, and professional advice know no limits,”” said Will Rogers, president, The Trust for Public Land.

“I am honored and humbled by this recognition from The Trust for Public Land,” said Allen McCallie. “I can only say that the things which Chattanooga has accomplished for itself over the past 25 years can only happen with large numbers of volunteers, strong leadership, and the remarkable generosity of Chattanooga’s charitable foundations and its citizens. The Trust for Public Land has invested more than 15 years and millions of dollars into ‘land for people’ in Chattanooga, and we all reap the benefit of their work here on a daily basis. We are blessed as a community with what we now take advantage of every day, but we also have lots more hard work to do to extend our RiverPark; finish our greenway links throughout the community; and establish a vibrant ‘ring of green’ that will sustain our community for the next 150 years.”

Mr. McCallie served for many years as a Trustee of the Lyndhurst Foundation, and also serves as a member on the Board of Directors of the Southern Environmental Law Center and Chattanooga Tumor Clinic.  He has previously served on the boards of the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, Chattanooga Nature Center, McCallie School, and the Tonya Memorial Foundation.

The Ferguson Award was established by The Trust for Public Land in 1998 to recognize the ever-increasing importance of the individual efforts of volunteers to achieving its mission. The award allows TPL’s national Board of Directors and staff to recognize those breakthrough efforts that underscore the significant role volunteers play in TPL’s ability and expertise to carry out its mission of land conservation for public enjoyment.