Maury Johnson of Monroe County is “Hometown Hero” says WV Can’t Wait

WV CAN’T WAIT AWARD of $2000 to Maury Johnson

From the Article by Roseanna Sacco and Michael Barrick, Appalachian Chronicle, March 13, 2022

GREENVILLE, W.Va. – Maury Johnson, a Monroe County advocate, landowner and activist, was recently awarded a WV Can’t Wait Hometown Hero award. The presentation was made at Cook’s Old Mill, in the company of more than a dozen local friends, allies, and community leaders.

Johnson was selected for his work as a water, land, native species and people protector in Monroe County and beyond. Johnson deflected praise for himself, saying, “All I have to say is that this award would not have been possible without the help and support from a large group of ‘Hometown Heroes’ from across the region, state and nation that has supported me every step of the way.”

PHOTO IN ARTICLE ~ Maury Johnson, center, listens to remarks by Stephen Smith, right, of WV Can’t Wait as Ashby Berkley of Sweet Springs Resort Park looks on. Photo Credit: Paula Mann

West Virginia Can’t Wait Co-Chair Stephen Smith was on-hand to present Johnson with a $2,000 cash award as part of the recognition. He shared a few quotes from Johnson’s nominations:

“Maury Johnson has made it his life’s work to speak up, and stand up for what he believes in – our right to live and breathe clean air, drink pure water, and grow food untouched by poisons. He has led the way in our county, working hard every day at what has now become his more than full-time unpaid job.”

“Maury is a 5th generation West Virginian, who was raised on his family farm where he currently lives. He has been a lifelong farmer who believes it is his job to be a steward of the land and to pass it down to next generations in as good or better condition than it was when he received it. He is a devoted father of two adult children.”

“Maury Johnson is a perfect example of someone who is not afraid to rock the boat. He actively, gently, seeks what is not right and when he spots it…it comes naturally to him to stand up and speak out.”

Smith shared, “We want to change what the word ‘hero’ means. Our heroes aren’t millionaires or celebrities. We don’t care how much money or fame you’ve accumulated. Our heroes are the people who are too busy helping people at the bottom to give a damn what the people at the top think.”

Maury Johnson is well known in the effort to stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Not waiting for top-down solutions for local problems defines him. For years he has been actively involved in organizing people to identify and redress grievances and environmental injustices. He is a fifth-generation West Virginian and farmer who believes it is his job to be a steward of the earth and pass his portion of it down to further generations in as good or better condition than it was when he received it.

PHOTO IN ARTICLE ~ Muddy water coming down from the MVP washing into a resident’s pond and killing the fish that he had recently stocked it with. It is monitoring these types of violations that helps keep Maury Johnson busy. Photo Credit: Paula Mann

As an ongoing Water Protector, he monitors erosion and sedimentation issues affecting key streams and water resources in Monroe County and helps raise funding for local watershed organizations. He is also known for being involved with tracking endangered species and monitoring disruptions to their habitat, for providing aid and various services to local residents and for organizing beautification drives such as the 35-person volunteer flower-and-tree planting initiative of the Sweet Springs Resort Park. Primarily though, Johnson is known for his ability to respectfully stand up to power with onsite documentation backed by evidence-based science.

A video of the event made by Paula Mann of Mountain Media Productions is available on YouTube here.