Richard Lieber (1869-1944) received the Puglsey Gold Medal in 1931. At the time of his death, he was the most powerful and influential figure in the cause of conservartion of natural resources in the United States. He was the father of the Indiana's conservation and state park system and also an inspirational and influential man whose impact extended far beyond the boundaries of Indiana. Two experiences awakened in young Lieber a desire to work for the preservation on Indian's natiral beauty in1900. He made a six week trip to California which included a visit to Yosemite. He returned to Indiana with a new view of his adopted homeland. In 1904, Lieber and four other prominent Indianapolis citizens led a 45-day hunting, fishing and exploring expedition into wilderness areas in the Idaho and Montana Rockies. These trips made a lasting impression and were the foundation for his subsequent interest in conservation.
In 1908,Lieber was a delegate to the conference at the White House organized by President Theodore Roosevelt to discuss the nation's natural resources. He began to write articles and make speeches on behalf of these conservation objectives. Lieber became a prominent figure in civic affaires in Indianapolis and publicly advocated that Indiana should acquire some state parks. In the history of the Department of Conservation from 1919 to 1933 is the story of its director's fight to check the needless waste of the Indiana's natural resources. Lieber became its first director.