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North Carolina Forestry Association’s Bob Slocum dies
Story Date: 10/17/2012
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Source: N.C. FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, 10/16/12
It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you that Bob Slocum, 62, the NCFA's Executive Vice President, passed away on October 16th, at UNC Rex Healthcare in Raleigh, NC, with his family at his side. For the past 24 years, Bob Slocum had been the face and the driving force behind the North Carolina Forestry Association (NCFA), which is an advocacy group that promotes healthy and diverse forests, a vibrant forest products industry and private property rights.
Under his guidance since 1988, the NCFA has grown into one of the top forestry associations in the nation with nearly 4,000 members throughout the state. Slocum personally directed the association’s legislative efforts both at the state and federal level. One of Slocum’s top achievements was the “Right to Practice Forestry” legislation that was passed in 2005. He personally guided several other key legislative initiatives through the law making process that made positive impacts on forest landowners and the forest products industry over his 24-year career. More importantly, Slocum was regarded as one of the most honest, sincere and professional lobbyist in Raleigh by the members of the North Carolina General Assembly.
Slocum also oversaw the development of a comprehensive training program for loggers, ProLogger, and a popular public education program. The NCFA’s ProLogger program has over 1,400 loggers enrolled in it and it is regarded as one of the model logger training programs in the southeast. The NCFA’s education effort includes special programs such as the Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Academies for school teachers and the Forestry and Environmental Camps designed for sixth grade students. In addition, the NCFA has developed a series of posters on forestry and “Goods from the Woods” boxes aimed at supplementing teaching supplies for environmental education.
Throughout his career, Slocum was a key participant on numerous state committees and task forces that were established to review the environment and/or forests. Most recently, he served on the North Carolina Agriculture and Forestry Awareness Study Commission, the Wetlands Task Force, the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Biofuels Center, the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund Advisory Committee and was a charter member of the National Council on Private Forests.
A graduate of North Carolina State University with a Forestry Management Degree, Slocum was an active supporter of the Wolfpack and contributed to the education of the next generation of foresters. Slocum was a former board member of the North Carolina State University Natural Resource Foundation, a current member of the Athletics Council at North Carolina State University, and an adjunct professor for the North Carolina State College of Natural Resources.
Slocum was also active in the town of Cary’s Parks and Recreation, coaching youth baseball for several years.
Prior to directing the NCFA, Slocum served as a vice president for forestry policy and research of the American Forest Council in Washington, DC. He started his career as a field forester for the state of Virginia.
Once funeral arrangements have been finalized, we will distribute them.
We appreciate all of the support our membership and friends have displayed for the Slocum family over the past year.
Sincerely,
Ashley Faircloth
NCFA President ‘12
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