2009 Honorary Awards Recipients

During the OWAA Honorary Awards program held closing night of OWAA's annual conference, this year in Grand Rapids, Mich., several conference attendees received OWAA's highest honors. 2009 honorary award recipients include Bill Hilts Sr., Ham Brown Award; Jim Low, Jade of Chiefs Award; Jay Cassell, Excellence in Craft Award; Kay Richey, Jackie Pfeiffer Memorial Award; and Mark Taylor, Outstanding Board Member Award. Honorary award recipients are chosen annually, typically recognized at OWAA's annual conference.

2009 J. Hammond Brown Memorial Award

The J. Hammond Brown Memorial Award was initiated in 1966 as OWAA's most prestigious recognition of a member "for devoted past service to the organization over a period of continuous years." Ham Brown awardees are granted life membership. Past recipients constitute the selection committee. Before the final selection, the selection committee consults both the Awards Committee chair and the immediate past president.

Bill Hilts Sr., of Sanborn, N.Y., received the 2009 J. Hammond Brown Memorial Award. The award is OWAA's most prestigious recognition of a member "for devoted past service to the organization over a period of continuous years." Editor of Bear Journal, Hilts served as OWAA president in 1990-91 and is a Life Member, with his membership originating in 1961.

2009 Jade of Chiefs Award

The Jade of Chiefs Award was established in 1958 as OWAA's top conservation award. Though only OWAA members are eligible, the award is presented not by OWAA but by members of the current Circle of Chiefs. Before making a final selection, the selection committee consults with both the Awards Committee chair and the immediate past president. Tenure and position in or service to OWAA are not criteria for this award. The Jade of Chiefs Award represents an affirmation of OWAA adherence to and support of the principles of conservation. In 1963, the Circle of Chiefs was designated OWAA's Conservation Council. As such, it is OWAA's conservation policy spokesman. The award originally consisted of sterling silver cuff links set with New Zealand jade. A pewter belt buckle inlaid with jade or a jade pendant and a plaque are presently awarded.

Jim Low of Jefferson City, Mo., news services coordinator for the Missouri Department of Conservation, received OWAA's top conservation award. The Jade of Chiefs award represents an affirmation of OWAA adherence to and support of the principles of conservation. Low served as OWAA president in 2006-07. He holds degrees in journalism and wildlife management from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

2009 Excellence in Craft Award

The Excellence in Craft Award was initiated in 1971 to honor an OWAA member "for outstanding effort in upholding the OWAA Creed and continued excellence in craft." Recipients are selected by past Excellence in Craft Award recipients. Before making a final selection, the selection committee consults with both the Awards Committee chair and the immediate past president.

Jay Cassell, of Katonah, N.Y., received OWAA's Excellence in Craft Award. The award honors an OWAA member "for outstanding effort in upholding the OWAA Creed and continued excellence in craft." An OWAA member since 1977, Cassell is the deputy editor of Field & Stream Magazine. "Jay is the editor's editor," said Dave Richey, when presenting Cassell with the award. "Anyone who can survive working for all three of the Big Three is a brilliant editor."

2009 Jackie Pfeiffer Memorial Award

The Jackie Pfeiffer Memorial Award honors the special qualities Jackie brought to OWAA and into the personal lives of members. It encourages everyone to exhibit these qualities in their lives. Recipients exemplify Jackie's genuine warmth and radiance, goodwill, helpfulness, generosity and kindness to others, especially at conference. OWAA members and spouses are eligible. The selection committee consists of past recipients and Boyd Pfeiffer. Before making a final selection, the selection committee consults with both the Awards Committee chair and the immediate past president.

The recipient of the 2009 Jackie Pfeiffer Memorial Award is Kay Richey of Buckley, Mich. Recipients exemplify Pfeiffer's genuine warmth and radiance, goodwill, helpfulness, generosity and kindness to others, especially at conference. Richey is a book designer and publisher specializing in layout of outdoor books and newsletters.

2009 Outstanding Board Member Award

Mike Cramford, during his term on the board of directors, felt that outstanding board members should be recognized in a special way. In 1974 and 1975, he presented four board members with jade bolo ties as a memento of service to OWAA. The board continued the bolo tradition until 1985. Now, a plaque is presented. Fellow board members select recipients.

Mark Taylor, outdoors editor of The Roanoke (Va.) Times, was elected third vice president by the board of directors. The board also honored Taylor with the 2009 Outstanding Board Member Award, awarding the honor after Taylor's first year on the board.


Information about Excellence in Craft award winners can be found here.