Don't miss out! There is still time to reserve your spot to honor this year's inductees at the 25th annual Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame induction ceremony and banquet on Saturday, Aug. 19. The event will take place at The Wigwam Resort, 300 Wigwam Blvd., in Litchfield Park, Ariz. A social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by an auction, dinner and the awards ceremony.
To purchase banquet tickets, or for information on sponsorship opportunities, visit https://www.wildlifefortomorrow.org/halloffame and scroll down to the appropriate links.
The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation and respected outdoor journalist Craig Boddington will honor the 2023 class of inductees. The inductees are a diverse group of experts and advocates dedicated to preserving Arizona's natural heritage. These organizations and individuals have demonstrated passion and leadership in shaping the future of wildlife conservation in Arizona:
- Arizona Big Game Super Raffle. Now doing business as Conservation First USA, this organization was launched by volunteer sportsmen and sportswomen. It is annually granted one tag for each big game species (through the Arizona Game and Fish Commission’s Special Big Game Tag program) to be raffled off to raise funds to improve and restore wildlife habitat in the Southwest. Since the first Super Raffle in 2006, more than $10 million has been raised for wildlife.
- Eddy Corona. In 2007, long-time conservationist Eddy Corona (along with Chris Denham) founded Outdoor Experience 4 All (OE4A). The organization offers outdoor experiences to young people diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses, children of fallen heroes, and children with disabilities. From a small beginning (offering 10 hunts and two fishing trips in 2008), Eddy and the organization now arrange hundreds of hunts and trips annually.
- Kurt Davis. Kurt served on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission from 2011 to 2022, including two terms as chair. He built a stellar resume of success on behalf of Arizona's wildlife and citizens while maintaining the Commission's and Arizona's authority to manage its wildlife resources and making it easier for Arizonans to enjoy them. Kurt brought many qualities to the Commission, including passion, leadership, political acumen and vision.
- Arthur Pearce. A fourth-generation Phoenician from a family that has had ties to Arizona since the 1800s, Art developed a love for nature, hunting and fishing at a young age. Over the years, outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation activities evolved from hobbies into life-long passions to which he contributes time and money. Art continues to be involved with and supports multiple sportsmen’s/conservation organizations.
- Tice Supplee. During her 29-year career at the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), Vashti "Tice" Supplee served many roles, including Wildlife Manager and Game Branch Chief, becoming a pioneer for women in conservation in Arizona. After retiring from AZGFD in 2004, Tice joined Audubon Arizona (now Audubon Southwest), where she is the Director of Bird Conservation. She has been active with sportsmen’s/conservation organizations for decades.
- An Ark for Arizona’s Natural Heritage. Arizona has amazing ecological treasures, but some of these might have been lost forever if not for the foresight and leadership of three individuals — Former Governor Bruce Babbitt, Bill Roe and Terry Johnson — along with tens of thousands of other Arizonans who helped make their conservation vision a reality. The collaborative efforts began in the late 1970s when the paths of these three individuals intersected:
- Bruce Babbitt. As a two-term Governor of Arizona (1978-1987), a former presidential candidate (1988), and Secretary of the Interior (1993-2001), Bruce Babbitt distinguished himself as a skilled politician who deeply cares about conservation. As Governor, he instructed several state agencies to work with The Nature Conservancy and establish the Arizona Natural Heritage Program. After a pilot period from 1979 to 1983, the program was moved to AZGFD and served as the core of the agency's new nongame and endangered wildlife program.
- Bill Roe. Bill has been on the front line of conserving Arizona’s natural heritage for nearly 50 years. In 1978, he got to know Governor Bruce Babbitt and they saw the need to protect Arizona’s sky islands, riparian areas, and other special places. Bill has served in countless leadership roles in the conservation community. Many of his peers acknowledge that he has been perhaps the single most influential, behind-the-scenes force in modern natural resource conservation in Arizona.
- Terry Johnson. Terry got to know Bill Roe through collaborative conservation work in the late 1970s. In 1978, Terry was asked to lead Governor Babbitt’s statewide inventory of Arizona’s natural heritage. This led to him being hired in 1983 to lead AZGFD’s new Nongame Branch and threatened and endangered species program. During a long career at AZGFD (1979-2011), he had significant impacts on conservation of nongame and endangered wildlife, including thick-billed parrots, California condors, black-footed ferrets, and Mexican wolves, just to name a few.
All wildlife enthusiasts, conservationists, and members of the public are encouraged to honor and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our 25th year of inductees.
The Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame was developed in 1998 by the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation to recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to wildlife conservation in Arizona. Through their extraordinary dedication and efforts, they have played a vital role in preserving the state's natural heritage for future generations.
Previous inductees include the likes of Senator Barry Goldwater, Congressman Mo Udall, sports writer Ben Avery, outdoor writer Bob Hirsch, conservationist and former commissioner Beth Woodin, the Phoenix Herpetological Society, Senator John McCain, and many other men, women and organizations that have served selflessly and continuously worked for the success of conservation of Arizona’s precious wildlife resources.
Wildlife for Tomorrow is the official philanthropic partner of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The organization provides a way for people who are passionate about the outdoors and wildlife conservation to give back to the places that have given so much joy. Subscribe to Wildlife for Tomorrow to learn about the many ways you can contribute to conservation efforts.
This event is made possible by supporters of wildlife conservation. To sponsor this event, click here.
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