Tallgrass preserve gets new name

PAWHUSKA, Okla. (AP) – A 40,000-acre preserved tract of native tallgrass prairie north of Pawhuska has been renamed in honor of the man credited with its creation.

The Tulsa World (http://bit.ly/1M1ZI3b ) reports The Nature Conservancy on Sunday celebrated renaming the preserve Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve and the 26th anniversary of the purchase of the 26,000-acre Barnard Ranch.

Tallgrass Preserve advocate and its first director Harvey Payne says Williams galvanized the national board of directors to get the $15 million needed to purchase the ranch and make the preserve a reality.

Williams was presented with a woolen robe with bison designs by Osage Nation Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear on behalf of those in attendance.

Williams, who now lives in South Carolina, is a former chairman of the Oklahoma Board of Trustees and the National Board of Governors for The Nature Conservancy.