William E. Carson (1870-1942) received the Pugsley, Silver Medal for creating from nothing an extensive and varied state park system in Virginia for helping to establish the Colonial National Monument and Richmond Butterfly Park and for furthering the Shenandoah National Park project on Blue Ridge. He was appointed as Virginia's first chairman of the state's Conservation and Development Commission in 1926. CArson was born in Enniskillen, Ireland on October 8th 1970 to Samuel and Anne Lougheed Carson. The family eventually moved to Riverton, Virginia where Samuel established the Riverton Lime and Stone Company on the western outskirts of the town of Front Royal.
Beginning in 1910, Will Carson became involved in politics and for the next 30 years was chairman of Virginia's Seventh Congressional District's Democratic Committe, retirng in 1940. In 1925, he successfully managed Harry E.Byrd's bid for state governor. After the election, Governor Bryd appointed Carson as chairman of the newly created Virginia Conservation and Development Commission from 1926-1934. Carson was a primary influence in establishing the Colonial National Historic Monument embracing Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown. Carson retired from the Virginia Commission in 1934 during a reorganization that decreased the number of board members and made the chairmanship a paid position. He died in 1942.