A resurgence of Arkansas state parks was a legacy of his two terms as governor. Channeling vital lands into public ownership came with his years in the U.S. Senate, with national forests and national wildlife refuges getting major additions.

A Greene County farmer who enjoyed fishing, he won the BASS Masters Classic in his first season as an angling professional. He developed an outdoors television program, with the teaching of fishing to young people a priority.

A longtime leader of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation and a staff member of the National Wildlife Federation, he has promoted wise uses of natural resources since the 1950s.

A wildlife biologist, he was a hands-on participant in the restoration of Arkansas’s deer, bear and turkey populations. He pushed for acquisition of critical lands for state management areas as the Game and Fish Commission’s wildlife chief.

He grew up at a fishing resort, learning the need for more and better equipment and especially the knowledge of using it. His first lures were assembled at a kitchen table, then his company became a major lure manufacturer.

Part of Bill Clinton’s first gubernatorial team as a young law student, she spearheaded the creation of the Arkansas Nature Conservancy. Environmental and conservation activities continue in her work with a major utility corporation.

Queen of Arkansas duck calling since her teen years, she won every available title in the Stuttgart championships, including their beauty title. Her civic endeavors are numerous, and she was the first woman to serve on the Game and Fish Commission.

A Yell County farm boy, he learned manufacturing at a school bus factory then branched into fishing lures. He rode the crest of bass tournament fishing by sponsoring early stars of the game and constantly seeking new and better lures and techniques.

Chemistry is his field, and water quality is his focus. A longtime professor at Ouachita Baptist University, he later became a key figure in the investigation into the mysterious dieoff of bald eagles in southwest Arkansas.

A railroad worker who liked to fish, he worked his way up from local bass tournaments to twice capture the prestigious BASS Masters Classic. Duck hunting is a passion, too, but a strong suit is the teaching outdoor pursuits to young people.