A wild time
State honors six for natural resources conservation work
About 1,800 outdoor enthusiasts from across the state gathered to honor six Arkansans on Sept. 6 for their support of the state’s wildlife and natural resources. The six were honored at the 22nd annual Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame induction banquet held at the Statehouse Convention Center.
Inducted were David Snowden Sr. and his son, David Snowden Jr., both former chairmen of the Arkansas Nature Conservancy; Mike Freeze of England, a fisheries biologist and former commissioner of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; and Randy Wilbourn, a founding board member of the Arkansas Nature Conservancy as well as a former chairman of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission.
The Legacy Award was presented to fishing icons Jerry McKinnis and Forrest L. Wood, who were recognized for the achievements and significant contributions to conservation efforts in the state.
McKinnis began the popular fishing show The Fishin’ Hole and later developed and produced outdoor programming at ESPN. He recently bought the fishing organization, B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society).
Wood founded Ranger Boats in Flippin and the FLW Outdoors series of fishing tournaments.
The banquet benefited the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation and included barbecue, a silent auction and a live auction which offered everything from a Louisiana alligator hunt to a jewelry package offered by Sissy’s Log Cabin.