Page 13 - 2018 SEPT/OCT Outdoor Oklahoma

STATE COLLECTS MANY AWARDS AT WILDLIFE CONFERENCE

Oklahoma’s efforts in wildlife conservation were recognized on tific data, population modeling and angler input. Because of
an international scale, as the state amassed fully half of the major Schooley’s efforts, the Oklahoma Paddlefish Research Center
awards at a recent conference of western wildlife associations. is known to anglers and scientists worldwide as a valuable asset
Longtime Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commissioner to science-based paddlefish management.
John D. Groendyke of Enid won the Phillip W. Schneider Life- Tony Rodger and Matt Skoog of the Oklahoma Wildlife
time Achievement Award, the most prestigious award given by the Department’s Fisheries Division received a Special Achieve-
Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). ment Award for their work to implement a new streams man-
Additionally, four employees of the Oklahoma Department agement program in Oklahoma.
of Wildlife Conservation, along with the McAlester Army Wildlife biologist Jeff Tibbits of the Oklahoma Wildlife
Ammunition Plant, were honored Department received a WAFWA 2018 Special Recognition
with major WAFWA awards com- Award. He was honored for his efforts to kick-start and man-
mending their work to conserve age the Oklahoma Land Access Program, which provides
fish and wildlife resources. public access for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-related
The awards were announced recreation on private lands.
July 16 at WAFWA’s annual WAFWA honors the conservation efforts of federal partners
conference in Eugene, Ore. with the Federal Conservation Partner of the Year Award. This
“All of these awards are an year’s recipient was the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in
incredible endorsement for Oklahoma, which was honored for its commitment to natural
what’s going on in Oklaho- resource conservation.
ma for our wildlife and nat- (Sources: WAFWA and ODWC)
ural resources,” said Wildlife
Department Director J.D.
Strong. “It’s another reminder WAFWA
of how blessed we are to have
the best and brightest Okla-
homa Department of Wildlife
Conservation staff and Commissioners, not to mention con-
servation partners.”
Groendyke was honored for his more than four decades of
leadership on the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commis-
sion. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin reappointed Groendyke to
the Commission for a historic fifth term in 2012 and stated how
remarkable it is that he has continuously served under seven
governors from both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Oklahoma Wildlife Department fisheries biologist Jason
Schooley was among two people honored with WAFWA’s 2018
Professional of the Year Award for his contributions in man- Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commissioner John D. Groendyke receives
aging Oklahoma’s paddlefish resource based on sound scien- a Lifetime Achievement Award from WAFWA Director Curt Melcher.

WAFWA WAFWA

Jeff Tibbits receives his award from WAFWA Director Curt Melcher. Jason Schooley receives his award from WAFWA Director Curt Melcher.

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