The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)
Established in 1909
The Commission Bios
District 1 - Ottawa, Delaware, Craig, Mayes, Nowata, Rogers, Washington, Tulsa, Pawnee, and Osage counties.
M. David Riggs -
Sand Springs, Oklahoma
Gov. Brad Henry appointed M. David Riggs to the Wildlife Conservation Commission where he will serve as the District 1 Commissioner. Riggs's term will expire in 2013.
A lifelong resident of Sand Springs, Riggs is a partner in one of the state's largest law firms - Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis. Riggs also served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1971 to 1987 and in the Oklahoma Senate from 1987 to 1988.
Riggs is active in a number of local conservation organizations including serving on the board of trustees of The Nature Conservancy and serves as the chairman of the board of directors for the Sutton Avian Research Center.
He graduated from Phillips University in Enid in 1959, received a Masters of Arts form the University of Oklahoma in 1962 and graduated first in his class at the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1968.
District 2 - Adair, Sequoyah, Cherokee, Wagoner, Muskogee, Haskell, McIntosh and Okmulgee counties.
Bruce R. Mabrey -
Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Gov. Brad Henry appointed Bruce R. Mabrey to the Wildlife Conservation Commission in 2006. Mabrey's term will run through 2014.
A lifelong resident of Okmulgee, Mabrey has been the executive officer of a family owned bank holding company with ownership in several eastern Oklahoma banks. He is currently the executive vice president of Citizens Security Bank in Okmulgee.
District 3 - LeFlore, Latimer, Pittsburg, Atoka, Pushmataha, McCurtain, Choctaw, Bryan, Marshall, Carter and Love counties.
Mike Bloodworth
Hugo, Oklahoma
Mike Bloodworth of Hugo, was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry in 2007 to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Commission. Bloodworth's term will run through 2015.
A lifelong resident of Hugo, Bloodworth founded an independent insurance agency in that Choctaw County community after serving as a sixth-grade teacher and elementary school principal for 10 years. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant. He is also an active duck and goose hunter. In addition to his outdoor pursuits, he serves as a board member for the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma, the local school board and the Oklahoma State School Board Association.
Bloodworth and wife Martha had two children, a son, Chad, who is deceased, and a daughter, Misty, who lives in Paris, Texas. The Bloodworth's have two grandchildren, grandson Ryan and granddaughter Laci.
District 4 - Creek, Lincoln, Okfuskee, Seminole, Pottawatomie, Pontotoc, Hughes, Johnston, and Coal counties.
Harland Stonecipher
Centrahoma, Oklahoma
Harland Stonecipher, who has served on the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Commission since 1993. His current term expires 2016.
An avid sportsman and hunting dog enthusiast, Stonecipher is also the founder and chief executive officer of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., a company that is listed on the New York Stock exchange.
District 5 - Logan, Oklahoma, Cleveland, McClain, Garvin, Murray and Payne counties.
Ed Abel
Oklahoma City, OK
Ed Abel was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry in 2009 to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Abel's term will run through 2017. Abel also served as a Wildlife Commissioner from 1994 to 2002.
Abel himself is a lifelong sportsman. His father introduced him to the outdoors at a young age through activities like squirrel hunting.
Abel is the founder and senior partner of what is now Abel Law Firm, founded in 1976. He has served as chairman and member in many law association committees and organizations, including the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, American Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma County Bar Association and others. He was active in the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990 and has been the recipient of several awards for outstanding legal contributions.
Abel received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1963 and his Juris Doctor Degree from The University of Oklahoma Law School in 1966.
Abel and his wife have four children — three daughters and a son — as well as three grandsons.
District 6 - Blaine, Kingfisher, Canadian, Caddo, Grady, Comanche, Stephens, Jefferson and Cotton counties.
John P. Zelbst
Lawton, Oklahoma
John P. Zelbst, was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry in 2010 to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Commission until 2018.
“Wildlife is the peoples’ treasure and I’m committed to helping ensure sportsmen and other outdoor enthusiasts have access to their wildlife resources,” Zelbst said. “I come from a long ranching background. In fact, my son will be a fifth generation rancher, so I know the importance and value of being connected to the outdoors and environment.
“A concern of mine is that our young people aren’t as connected to the outdoors as they used to be and many know very little about the environment. Outdoor recreation and activity leads to a higher quality of life, so it’s important we work on getting children involved in the outdoors.”
Zelbst has 30 years experience as a trial lawyer and is the managing partner at Zelbst, Holmes & Butler law firm. The firm serves Oklahoma City, Lawton, Edmond, Norman and with the assistance of local counsel, all of the United States. Zelbst’ legal career has focused solely on representing people who have been injured, wronged, falsely accused and mistreated.
A member of the Oklahoma Association for Justice (formerly the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association), he served as the Association’s President in 2000. He also holds the distinction of having secured $24 million in the largest known personal injury verdict in state history.
Along with other professional memberships, recognition and awards, he was awarded the title of Oklahoma Super Lawyer for the years 2006-2010, Superlawyers.com; and is a member of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, 92nd Edition, Martindale Hubbell and is also Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Zelbst received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Cameron University in Lawton in 1976 and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa, College of Law, in 1980. He is a graduate of and a board and faculty member of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College, DuBois, Wyo.
Zelbst and his wife, Cindy, own and reside on the U2 Ranch in Meers. They have a son, Clay, and are actively involved in cattle operations on the ranch. He also supports numerous civic and community development programs, and currently chairs both the Comanche County Board of Trustees and the Comanche County Memorial Hospital Trust.
District 7 - Ellis, Dewey, Roger Mills, Custer, Beckham, Washita, Kiowa, Greer, Jackson, Harmon and Tillman counties.
Danny Robbins
Altus, OK
Robert Dan Robbins of Altus, was appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin in 2011 to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Commission until 2019.
Born and raised in Altus, Robbins is a fourth generation farmer and rancher whose great-grandfather arrived to the area in 1901. He graduated from Altus High School in 1982 and attended Oklahoma State University. Together with his wife of 22 years, Zina, Robbins farms cotton and wheat on 2,600 acres as well as helps manage several thousand acres of cotton and wheat on family farmland. They also raise Angus cross cattle along the north fork of the Red River. Robbins has two children — Rachael and Daniel — and a grandson named Axel.
Robbins is an avid sportsman. In the late 1980s, Robbins was introduced to deer hunting by his father-in-law and has enjoyed the sport ever since. After years of deer management efforts on his own land, Robbins was able to harvest a Cy-Curtis Award qualifying buck in 2009. Robbins also enjoys hunting turkeys and doves as well as fishing. He once caught a hybrid striped bass that weighed over 20 lbs.
Robbins is a member of Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, North American Hunting Club, North American Fishing Club and the National Rifle Association. He is also a board member of the Oklahoma Wildlife Management Association and currently serves as chairman of the Oklahoma Cotton Council and Oklahoma Delegate of the National Cotton Council, chairman of American Cotton Producers for Oklahoma, board member of the Producer Cooperative Oil Mill and alternate board member for Oklahoma for Cotton Incorporated. Additionally, Robbins was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Universal Cotton Standards by Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Ed Schafer and has served as chairman of the Altus Chamber of Commerce..
District 8 - Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woodward, Woods,
Major, Alfalfa, Grant, Garfield, Kay and Noble counties.
John D. Groendyke -
Enid, Oklahoma
John Groendyke, who has served on the Commission since 1976, was reappointed by Gov. Mary Fallin in 2012 to serve an additional eight-year term.
Groendyke is chairman of the board for Groendyke Transport, Inc. Founded by his father, H.C. Groendyke in 1932, it is one of the nation's largest motor carriers of bulk commodities serving the continental United States, Canada and Mexico.
John graduated from Wentworth Military Academy where he attended high school and junior college. He received his bachelor of science degree in business from Oklahoma State University.