Donations: Olen Sharron - Warren Mays Memorial Fund

Olen Sharron retired from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) after 30 years of service. He began IV Tree Care in 1998 in Giles County. His specialty was treating hemlocks by injecting insecticide into the trunk to control the hemlock woolly adelgid. Olen passed away on August 29, 2007.

After working with Olen you soon knew that he was someone special. He had a real love for hemlock trees. His work ethics were unmatched. When treating trees he was extremely careful and followed all the proper procedures to prevent any contamination with the insecticide. He treated each tree to give it its best chance of survival. Olen was always open to learning new things about hemlocks and to new ways to save them. He had a keen interest in nature and always enjoyed learning more.

Despite the trials he had with cancer he was always upbeat and ready to work. It was always a pleasure talking and working with Olen. Olen treated hemlocks at Mt. Lake from 2002 to 2004. He is personally responsible for saving many of the hemlocks around Mt. Lake and along Pond Drain. Olen may be gone but the hemlocks he saved stand as a testament to his dedication and love of these majestic trees.

The last time Olen and I treated trees at Mt. Lake was in June, 2004. We were treating trees at the north end of the Lake when the sky began getting dark. A big storm was brewing above us. We were just finishing up when the lighting began. Lighting bolts began striking the ridges above us. We decide to take off for the boat dock shelter. Soon after we stared walking back hail began pelting us, wind began blowing relentlessly, and we starting running. The lighting, hail, and wind did not let up until we made it to the shelter. Olen and I could not remember experiencing a more frightening storm in our lives. Both of us were soaked and freezing. The buckets we were carrying had about two inches of hail and water in them. Olen told me when he got home that it took him an hour in a hot bath tub to finally warm up. Weather just like the scenery is always extreme at Mt. Lake.
- Tom McAvoy

On April 3, 2007 we lost another person dedicated to the preservation of hemlocks - Warren Mays. Warren worked for the Entomology Department at Virginia Tech for 30 years. He began working on the hemlock woolly adelgid problem in 1995. In 2001 he began working with the program to control hemlock woolly adelgid at Mt. Lake. Warren was a quiet and humble person who had a great love and knowledge of nature and the history of southwest Virginia.

One of his favorite places was Mt. Lake. He spent many days sampling and treating hemlock trees at Mt. Lake from 2001 to 2007. He knew nearly every plant and bird species seen or heard at Mt. Lake. Warren and Olen spent many hours working together at Mt. Lake. Both are sorely missed by their family and coworkers.

The Olen Sharron - Warren Mays Memorial Fund
This fund was established after Olen's passing on August 29th, 2007 in an effort to sustain both Olen's and Warren's memory and the hemlocks that they so loved. Your generous donations to this fund will help us continue their efforts to save the "patients".

Further information can be obtained by contacting The Mountain Lake Conservancy by:

Telephone: 540.626.7121 x 444
Fax: 540.626.7172
Email: MLC@MountainLakeHotel.com