The forestry community recently lost a forester, friend, and leader. Charles “Randy” Dye, died unexpectedly July 3. He was 73.
During his tenure as Director and State Forester of the West Virginia Division of Forestry, he was an energetic and dynamic advocate for forestry, foresters, loggers, and landowners.
Randy was born in Wood County, WV, on May 16, 1951. He exceled in his studies at WVU making the Dean’s list and being inducted into Xi Sigma Pi, the honor society for Forestry. Randy completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry (BSF) from West Virginia University in 1974.
His first job took him to Lumberton, NC, as a forester for Federal Paper Board Company and as an instructor for Robeson Technical Institute. In 1978, Randy joined Georgia-Pacific Corporation in Whiteville, NC as a forester in Land Management. In 1989, he became Forest Manager in Brunswick, GA and in 1991, he was promoted to Timber Department Manager. He moved to Brookneal, VA to serve as GP’s Area Procurement Manager. In 1999, Randy shifted his career and was appointed to serve as the Director of the WV Division of Forestry by Cecil H. Underwood.
Randy served for 18 years as West Virginia’s State Forester, working under four different Governors that period. He was an active member of the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and served two consecutive terms as the Association’s President. He was the first West Virginia State Forester to serve in this capacity and only the second NASF President to have served two consecutive terms in their 91-year existence.
While President of the NASF, he testified before numerous Congressional Committees regarding forestry issues of national importance, including invasive species and the 2012 Farm Bill. Randy received the 2010 “Two Chief’s Partnership Award,” presented by the Chiefs of the U.S. Forest Service (USDA FS) and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in recognition of his agency’s collaborative efforts to protect and manage West Virginia’s forest resources on both private and public land.
As State Forester, Randy always made an effort to spend time in the field with other foresters. When NASF visited West Virginia for their annual National Conference, he arranged all the attendees to experience an ATV ride on the Hatfield and McCoy Trail, as well as a visit to forest restoration areas on reclaimed strip-mine land. It was an experience that many other State Foresters bring up as the perfect showcase for our state. Randy was also a longtime member of the Society of American Foresters in WV and in chapters in NC and VA. Randy was West Virginia Registered Forester #440.
In addition to his active forestry career, Randy had a passion for his many John Deere tractors, collecting guns and knives, gardening, reading, hiking, fishing, and staying at West Virginia State Parks. We’ll miss you, Randy!
