NEHA Past President John M. Barry

Presidential Term: 1993–1994

John Barry is a native South Carolinian, born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He attended the University of South Carolina, Wofford College, Clemson University, and West Virginia University. After receiving his PhD from West Virginia University, he was an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina from 1971–1978.

In 1978 Dr. Barry moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was the director of the Department of Environmental Protection (1984–2003) and deputy director of the Land Use and Environmental Services Agency until his retirement in 2005.

NEHA Leadership

Dr. Barry was elected and served as NEHA Region 7 vice-president from 1987–1990. He was elected and served as a NEHA national officer from 1990–1995 and held the position of NEHA president from 1993–1994. He also was the technical editor of the Journal of Environmental Health from 1998–2010.

President's Message Columns From the Journal of Environmental Health

• July/August 1993: Food for Thought
• September 1993: Decide It on the Merits…
• October 1993: Vision, Risk Taking, and Personal Commitment ... Is There a Connection?
• November 1993: The Clinton Health Care Plan: What's in It for Environmental Health?
• December 1993: Regionalism ... A Niche for Environmental Health
• January/February 1994: Regional Commitment and Public Opinion: A Broader Perspective
• March 1994: Misoneism ... Say What?
• April 1994: Privatization and Environmental Health Service Delivery
• May 1994: You and NEHA's Strategic Planning Process
• June 1994: Parting Shot: A Good Year, But…

NEHA Awards

• 2008: Walter S. Mangold Award
• 2008: A Harry Bliss Editor's Award

Professional Activities

• Survey work, Natural and Historic Areas in South Carolina in conjunction with the South Carolina Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department and the University of South Carolina Department of Biology (1974)
• Member, State of South Carolina Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan exchange council in conjunction with the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, U.S. Department of the Interior (1974–1975)
• Contract Research and Consultation, South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department (1974–1976)
• Contract Research and Consultation, South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department in the Congaree Swamp in conjunction with the National Park Service and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1976)
• Co-organizer, South Carolina Conference on Endangered Species, cosponsored by the University of South Carolina and the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department (August 1976)
• Steering Committee (1981–1989) and Chairman (1982–1983), North Carolina Environmental Health State of the Practice Committee
• Board of Directors, Metrolina Region, American Lung Association (1984–1988)
• State Board of Directors, American Lung Association (1986–1988)
• Member, Environmental Education Center Committee for Charlotte YMCA (1987–1992)
• Executive Producer, Planet Earth–Save Me Now, Environmental Documentary from the Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Public Service and Information (1991)
• Environmental Consultant, City of Wroclaw, Poland, through Charlotte Sister Cities and Sister Cities International (1991–1995)
• Board of Directors (1997–1998) and Chairman (2000–2001), Charlotte Sister Cities organization
• Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Commission (2005–2007)
• Served on the Institutional Biosafety Committees for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Presbyterian Hospital Systems Corporation, and Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina

Lifetime Professional Associations

American Public Health Association

Association of Southeastern Biologists

National Environmental Health Association

North Carolina Public Health Association

Society of the Sigma Xi, National Research Society

Southern Appalachian Botanical Club

Publications

Barry, J.M. (1968). A survey of native vascular plants of the Baruch Plantation, Georgetown, South Carolina [Unpublished masters thesis]. University of South Carolina.

Barry, J.M. (1969). The vascular flora of the Baruch Plantation, Georgetown, South Carolina, in relation to soil types. Castanea, 34, 71–77.

Barry, J.M. (1971). A taxonomic and phylogenetic study of West Virginia Leguminosae. Dissertation Abstracts.

Barry, J.M. (1971). Leguminosae. In P.D. Strausbaugh & E.L. Core, Flora of West Virginia, part II (2nd ed.). West Virginia University.

Barry, J.M. (1972). Legumes of West Virginia. West Virginia Department of Agriculture.

Barry, J.M. (1977). Native vascular plants endangered, threatened, or otherwise in jeopardy, in South Carolina [Paper presentation]. South Carolina Academy of Science Annual Meeting

Barry, J.M. (1980). Natural vegetation of South Carolina. University of South Carolina Press.

Barry, J.M. (1990). Environmental awareness: How green must we be? Journal of Environmental Health, 53(2), 62. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44541345

Barry, J.M. (1992). Wroclaw, Poland: Efforts toward a sustainable future. Journal of Environmental Health, 54(6), 8–13. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44534043

Barry, J.M. (1994). The crash of USAir Flight 1016: Emergency preparedness. Journal of Environmental Health, 57(5), 8–11. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44534398