Page 5 - 2020 November/December Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

Off the Beaten Path

DON P. BROWN/ODWC

HQ BUILDING NAMED IN HONOR OF JOHN D. GROENDYKE

Oct. 5 was a special day at the Oklahoma Department of Wild- board commissioner and quite
life Conservation’s recently renovated headquarters in Oklahoma possibly in the entire nation.
City. Employees, colleagues, state officials, friends, and family Last summer, he decided to DON P. BROWN/ODWC
members gathered to witness the official naming of the building step down from the Wildlife
as the John D. Groendyke Wildlife Conservation Building. Commission’s District 8 seat,
Groendyke, of Enid, was first appointed to the Oklahoma Wild- which is now held by D. Chad
life Conservation Commission by Gov. David Boren in 1976, where Dillingham of Enid.
he served 44 years, making him the longest-serving Oklahoma Department Director J.D.
Strong lauded Groendyke’s
accomplishments during his
introduction. He said the for-
mer commissioner leaves a last-
ing legacy. He's been involved
in negotiating and acquiring
more than 200,000 acres of John Groendyke smiles as he’s
Oklahoma’s 1.5 million acres introduced.
of public land. He also spent years as the chairman of the finance
and retirement committee. Strong said Groendyke is leaving the
Department on a high note. It’s in strong financial standing, and
it’s also seen a big jump in hunting and fishing license sales.
Groendyke said he’s honored the Commission voted to put
his name the building, but he gives Department employees
credit for success over the years.
“We’re one of the few states that has a growing number of people
that are participating in outdoor activities,” he said. “I think the
Department has done an excellent job with youth programs, the
fishing programs, the shotgun in the schools program, the STEP
program, and other programs that gives everybody the opportu-
nity to learn about the outdoors and enjoy it. I’m proud of that.
“This has been one of my true loves in life, conservation and
the Wildlife Department. And I'm pleased and have a lot of pride
in the work they have done over the years, and the passion the
employees have shown toward the projects we have had and all.
And it's just been a great, great experience,” he said.
Groendyke will still remain close to the Wildlife Department,
as he will continue to serve on the board of directors of the new
Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation.

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