Robert Fechner (1876-1939) received the Pugsley Gold Medal in 1939. He was a director of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) (1933-39), which played such a central role in the development of state and national parks in the U. S Fechner was born in Chattanooga. Tennessee on March 22, 1876. He was educated in the public schools of Macon and Griffin, Georgia was a student for a few months at Georgia Institute of Technology and at the age of 16 learned the machinist's trade in Augusta, Georgia. In 1905 he returned to Savannah, Georgia as an employee of the Central Georgia railroad.In 1914, he was elected a member of the executive board of the International Association of Machinists and in 1925 he became general vice-president and he held the office until his death. He resided in Boston from 1914-1933 and was active in the city's affairs and in civic and progressive movements.
In April 1933, Fechner who was a Democrat, was appointed by the President Roosevelt as director of Emergency Conservation Work program inaugurated by the Federal government to reduce unemployment. Under Fechner's guidance, more than 2.4 billion in federal funds was used to rehabilitate almost 2.4 million youths made idle by the Depression. So well did he perform this Herculean task that widespread praise came from Congressional leaders, regardless of party affiliations. Fechner remained as director until the time of his death.