Friends of Dacus Library

Rudy Mancke, a well-known Palmetto State naturalist, talked about his environmental career on April 14 at Winthrop. Sponsored by the Friends of Dacus Library, the 6 p.m. event was held at Dinkins Auditorium.

The Spartanburg, South Carolina native is best known for his long-running and award-winning ETV series “NatureScene.” Winthrop presented him an honorary degree in 1993 degree and he has since retired as Distinguished Lecturer in Natural History from the University of South Carolina’s School of the Environment in 2008. He continues to teach an S.C. natural history course for the university.

Mancke also is a former curator of natural history at the S.C. State Museum, director of science and nature programming at SC ETV, and founder of the S.C. Association of Naturalists.

His honors are numerous and have included:

• South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award (1992)
• Order of the Palmetto (1993)
• Margaret Douglas Award of The Garden Club of America (1995)
• South Carolina Hall of Science and Technology Inductee (1997)
• Best Friend of Libraries (1998)
• Lucy Hampton Bostick Award of Richland County Library (1999)
• Charles H. Townes Award (2000)
• S.C. Broadcasters Association Masters Award (2001)
• William C. Everhart Award (2001)
• Regional Director’s Conservation Award of US Fish and Wildlife Service (2003)

Mancke’s talk was eligible for Cultural Events and Global Learning Initiative credit for Winthrop students.  His presentation was free and open to the general public. See more detail in the April 17 Winthrop University News & Events story "S.C. Naturalist Rudy Mancke Delights Audience with His Artifacts".