Allen T. Edmunds (1902-1985) received the national level Pugsley Medal in 1961. He was a native of Michigan and a 1924 graduate of Michigan State University, where he was a varsity football player. After receiving his degree, he devoted the greater portion of his career to conservation and park and recreation planning. From 1928 to 1936, he served as superintendent of parks and recreation in Amsterdam, New York, during which time the groundwork was laid for a sound municipal park system, and a well-rounded recreation program was initiated.In June 1936, Congress passed legislation to launch park planning studies in each state, with the NPS providing field representatives to liaise with the state boards. Edmunds’ work in Amsterdam had received widespread recognition, so he was offered a six-month appointment as one of those new representatives, and he accepted the position.
He received a six-month leave of absence from his duties at the NPS. The production of state planning reports took much longer than expected, so Edmunds was asked to remain in the NPS on a permanent basis.He cooperated with and assisted other federal agencies and state and county agencies throughout the southern and eastern part of the United States in planning and development of park systems and assisted in the evaluation and selection of new areas for additions to the various systems.In 1941, a study of the Cumberland and Tennessee River Basin was authorized and Edmunds was selected to direct it. With the onset of World War II, Edmunds joined the U.S. Navy, attaining the rank of commander while specializing in organizing recreation and welfare programs for the servicemen.Upon his return to the NPS in 1945, he was persuaded by the NPS regional director in Richmond to join their office. From this base, he undertook the important study of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast shoreline.