In the picture are: (On the left): Vincent R. Pombo - Vice President, Sales and Marketing Allentown Caging; (Middle): William (Bill) Heckt - Sierra Nevada Branch/Reno -Winner; (On the right): Brian Anderson - West Coast representative, Allentown Caging.

The Ron Orta Humanitarian Award was created after Ron’s death, November of 2007 of ARDS (acute respiratory disease). Ron was a sales representative with Allentown for many years of his illustrious career in laboratory animal science. He was revered by all those who knew him. Subsequently, the District 8 Council in conjunction with Allentown created an award in his honor for the members of the District 8 of AALAS. It is meant to represent his compassion, dedication, friendship, and humility to persons in the lab animal community. The Ron Orta Humanitarian Award is given in his memory. Application deadline is early March and the award is presented at the annual District 8 meeting. The criteria for this prestigious award is exhibiting extraordinary compassion towards peers, displaying a spirit of cooperation and involvement in the activities of the local community, and participating in continuing education, either as an educator or student in the field of laboratory animal science.  To date, we have had three recipients: Grace Aranda, Debra Hickman, and Bill Heckt.

Bill L. Heckt, MS, LATG, an AALAS member for more than 30 years, was named the recipient of the 2010 Ron Orta Humanitarian Award. After reading the many letters of recommendation for this award, there was one detail that stuck out more than anything— Bill’s knack for creating new programs and curriculums. From the conception of LAMA and ILAM, Bill has been a supporter, a volunteer, and a committee member. If you hear rumors of another program or organization in the works at AALAS, I wouldn’t doubt if Bill is there in the thick of things. Colleagues have described Bill as always tactful, respectful, and resourceful, even when dealing with difficult issues. Bill is a charter member of both the Central Illinois and the Sierra Nevada AALAS branches, and has taken on leadership roles during his tenure in both organizations.

Bill is now retired and reaping the awards of his hard work. He worked at the University of Illinois as supervisor of the laboratory animal facilities in the College of Agriculture in the late seventies until he joined the staff at the University of Nevada in 1994 as Director of the Department of Laboratory Animal Care Services until his retirement in 2008.

In addition to his professional and AALAS life, Bill is also active in his community. He is a member of the Lions International Club serving as an Officer and participating in many fundraisers. The club is responsible for building a play ground for children of all abilities in California, fed 60,000 people in a township in South Africa, and sent a team of eye surgeons to Honduras to treat more than 100 adults and children. Bill also has volunteered his time as a ski instructor for a non-profit ski and snowboard program for children of low income families in the Reno area. He has judged and also recruited judges for a science and engineering fair. He was also a founding member of his church.

Continuing education is one of Bill’s passions. He established a training program for his staff and organized and supported hands-on wet labs for several conferences. He was a member of the advisory committee for the Veterinary Technology Program and provided input to the curriculum, and occasionally volunteered his time as an instructor.

The award was presented to Bill, May 6th at the Mission Palms Hotel in Tempe, Arizona at the 2010 District 8 Conference.