Illinois Paddling Council awards Frese, Tyler

The Illinois Paddling Council (IPC) awarded Ralph Frese with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the organization's annual dinner on November 20. Above right, Marc Miller, former IPC board member and current director of the Illinois Department of Conservation, presented Frese with the award. Frese and his wife, Rita, accepted the plaque and honor.

Ralph Frese has received numerous awards over the years for his commitment to conservation, historic re-enactments and canoe building. He started the Chicagoland Canoe Base and Des Plaines River Canoe Marathon, and was named a Legend of Paddling by the American Canoe Association.

IPC also named Bob Tyler Paddler of the Year for his many paddling achievements, including authorship of his well-received book Canoeing Adventures in Northern Illinois. Tom Lindblade showed a brief video of Tyler's "lessons learned," which can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9166LGG_Tk.