Wyoming Game Wardens Association

AWARDS, TRANSFERS, RETIREMENTS

GAME AND FISH DEPUTY DIRECTOR GREGG ARTHUR RETIRES AFTER 35 YEARS OF SERVICE

Gregg enjoying a float-tube which has replaced his administrative chair

Gregg Arthur, Deputy Director for Internal Operations, recently retired after more than 35 years of service with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Gregg Arthur started his WGFD career directly out of college as an assistant at the Downar Bird Farm near Yoder where he served for three years. Most of his career was spent in various wildlife law enforcement positions beginning with game warden trainee positions in Jackson and Newcastle in 1977. He was promoted to the Jeffrey City district in April 1978 and transferred to Greybull in September 1979. In July 1984, he was named the wildlife investigator in Laramie and in March 1995 promoted to Laramie Region supervisor. He was promoted to deputy director in June 2001. While in Laramie, he was recipient of the Shikar-Safari Wildlife Officer of the Year award for the State of Wyoming.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director Steve Ferrell said Arthur will be missed. “As a Director, I could not effectively have carried out my daily duties and responsibilities without Gregg assuring that the Department was dotting all the necessary “I’s” and crossing the “T’s” that are absolutely essential to having an effective agency and productive workforce,” Ferrell said. “Gregg’s support, encouragement, and advice were extremely valuable to me. He truly was the glue that held the many pieces of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department together. He taught each of us the true meaning of “Conserving Wildlife - Serving People”.

Wyoming Game Warden Dustin Shorma will be honored by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for his efforts in conserving America's wildlife. Shorma, of Newcastle, will be recognized as the NWTF's Wyoming Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year during its 33rd annual Convention. Game Warden Shorma is pictured here with a Mtn. Lion kitten

Chris Teter, Sundance game warden, 2009 Shikar Safari Club
International Wildlife Officer of the year

Duane Kerr (left) recipient of the 2009 Wyoming Game Wardens Association Officer of the year.

Ryan Kenneda, Jackson Game Warden Trainee, is the 2008 Wyoming Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in recognition of his professionalism in watercraft law enforcement and his personal commitment to ensuring safe recreational boating. Lately, Ryan performs much of his work on the deck of his horse.

Daniel Beach is the Wyoming North American Wildlife Enforcement Officer Association 2008 recipient of the "Torch Award". The award is given to young officers who demonstrate exceptional ability and initiative in the performance of their duties. Daniel is pictured here with a sage grouse.

Colonel William D. Pickett Pickett ranched near Greybull, Wyoming and was vice-president of the Boone & Crocket Club. Inducted in 2009.

Pickett was a Greybull, Wyoming area rancher in the late 1800's. He served on the Wyoming legislature for three years and was one of the earliest members of the Boone & Crockett Club the group Theodore Roosevelt created in 1887 “to work for the preservation of large game in this country” and “to promote inquiry into, and to record observations on, the habits and natural history of various wild animals.” Pickett served as the organization’s vice president in 1897.

Terry Cleveland Cleveland was named as the Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in 2003 and served until 2008. Cleveland is a charter member of the Wyoming Game Wardens Association and past president. Inducted in 2009.

Cleveland served the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for 39 years, dealing with high-profile issues involving sensitive species, and worked with the Wyoming legislature to obtain funding for the agency. He has received many awards, including the Phillip W. Schneider Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest recognition the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies can bestow.

Olin D. Sims Sims was a Wyomng native and was known as one of the most conservation-minded, progressive ranchers in Wyoming. Inducted in 2009.

Sims planned many of the family ranch’s conservation projects, including the reconstruction of a dam to improve wetlands, fencing and cross-fencing pastures, developing water sources for livestock and wildlife, and adopting state-of-the-art approaches to grazing management. The ranch developed an intensive range-monitoring program to better track changes in forage due to their management.

Nominated by any member of the Association, although each Regional Director is asked to provide at least one name and a writeup of the individual.

Winner is selected by the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the previous two years winners. In case of a tie, the Executive Officer casts a vote. Winner is announced at the WGWA banquet at the annual meeting.

Winner is offered an expenses paid trip to the annual NAWEOA meeting in the summer. Winner also receives an engraved plaque.

Letters of nomination are sent to the Chief Game Warden for inclusion in their respective personnel files.

1987 – Barry Floyd, Sundance Game Warden
1988 – Tim Fagan, Cody Damage Control Warden
1989 – John Demaree, Laramie Damage Control Warden
1990 – Scott Talbott, Newcastle Game Warden
1991 – Mark Bruscino, Lovell Game Warden
1992 – Russ Pollard, Statewide Law Enforcement Coordinator
1993 – Dave Hays, Douglas Game Warden
1994 – Neil Hymas, Cokeville Game Warden
1995 – Jim Oudin, Cody Wildlife Investigator
1996 – Ron Iversen, Baggs Game Warden
1997 – Fred Herbel, Jackson Wildlife Investigator
1998 – Bruce Scigliano, North Gillette Game Warden
1999 – Lin Bashford, Cody Wildlife Investigator
2000 – Mac Black, Powell Game Warden
2001 – Duane Hyde, Afton Game Warden
2002 – Joe Gilbert, Torrington Game Warden
2003 – Terry Cram, Sheridan Game Warden
2004 – Dennis Almquist, Pinedale Game Warden
2005 – Alan Osterland, Dayton Game Warden
2006 – Brad Hovinga, Big Piney Game Warden
2007 – Tim Fuchs, South Jackson Game Warden
2008 - Brian Nesvik, South Pinedale Game warden
2009 - Duane Kerr, Green River Game Warden

Initiated in 1994, to honor a non-law enforcement person for the previous year's service to Wyoming wildlife law enforcement.

Nominated by any member of the Association, although each Regional Director is asked to provide at least one name and a writeup of the individual.

Winner is selected by the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and in case of a tie, the Executive Officer. Winner is announced at the WGWA banquet during the annual meeting.

Winner is offered an expenses paid trip to the annual WGWA meeting to receive the award. Winner also receives an engraved plaque. Other nominees receive a certificate of appreciation.

Letters of nomination are forwarded to the Chief Game Warden for inclusion in their respective personnel files.

1994 - Kevin Hurley, Thermopolis Biologist
1995 - Ron Lockwood, Kemmerer Biologist
1996 - Tom Stoker, SALECS Operator
1997 - Ron Arnold, WGFD Attorney General
1998 - Olin Oedekoven, Gillette Biologist
1999 - Dr. Beth Williams, Wyoming State Vet Lab
2000 - Nancey Leibert, Cody Office Manager
2001 – Bart Kroger, Douglas Biologist
2002 - Judge Scott Cole, Platte County
2003 – WGFD Forensic Lab (Tom Moore, Dee Dee Hawk, Kim Sargeant, Scott Sharpe)
2004 – Judge Frank Zebre, Sublette County
2005 – Ralph Boynton, Sublette County Attorney
2006 – Jeff Obrecht, WGFD I&E Specialist - Cheyenne
2007 – Bea Pepper, Wildlife Division Program Manager - Cheyenne
2008 – Levi Martin, Senior Assistant Attorney General
2009 – Stephanie Bomar, Sheridan Region clerical specialist

This yearly award is sponsored by the Safari Club International. Each recipient receives an engraved plaque and a $500 donation is made in their name to the Wildlife Officers Memorial Fund. The WGFD allows the officer to attend an out-of-state training conference of their choice. Officers are nominated by their peers and selected by the WGFD administration. The award is presented annually at the Hunting and Fishing Heritage Exposition Banquet.

1968 – Bill Morris, Cody Supervisor
1969 – Dewey Henderson, Laramie Supervisor
1970 – Max Long, Rock Springs Game Warden
1971 – Darwin Creek, Pinedale Game Warden
1972 – Paul Breed, Sheridan Game Warden
1973 – Dave Bragonier, Cody Game Warden
1974 – Jim Bradley, Green River Enforcement Specialist
1975 – Ray Arzy, Laramie Game Warden
1976 – George Carson, Green River Game Warden
1977 – Allen Round, Rock Springs Game Warden
1978 – Dennis Smith, Rawlins Game Warden
1979 – Bob Sexton, Laramie Enforcement Specialist
1980 – Rick Pallister, Gillette Game Warden
1981 – Russ Pollard, Douglas Enforcement Specialist
1982 – Craig Sax, Mountain View Game Warden
1983 – Terry Cleveland, Casper Supervisor
1984 – Gary Brown, Saratoga Game Warden
1985 – Tim Fuchs, Lusk Game Warden
1986 – Gregg Arthur, Laramie Enforcement Specialist
1987 – Barry Floyd, Sundance Game Warden
1988 – Biff Burton, Gillette Game Warden
1989 – Kay Bowles, Dubois Game Warden
1990 – Scott Norelius, Sundance Game Warden
1991 – Scott Talbott, Newcastle Game Warden
1992 – Terry Cram, Sheridan Game Warden
1993 – Dave Avey, Casper Game Warden
1994 – Jim Oudin, Cody Wildlife Investigator
1995 – Joe Gilbert, Torrington Game Warden
1996 – Cole Thompson, Dubois Game Warden
1997 – Scott Edberg, Glenrock Game Warden
1998 – Gary Shorma, Sheridan Supervisor
1999 – Tim Fagan, Cody Game Warden
2000 – Bruce Scigliano, Gillette Game Warden
2001 – Alan Osterland, Dayton Game Warden
2002 – Dennis Almquist, Pinedale Game Warden
2003 – John Demaree, Laramie Wildlife Investigator
2004 – Bob Trebelcock, Lander Game Warden
2005 – Fred Herbel, Jackson Wildlife Investigator
2006 – Rod Lebert, Douglas Game Warden
2007 – Brian Nesvik, Pinedale Game Warden
2008 - John Lund
2009 - Chris Teter

Matt Withroder – Cheyenne Wildlife Technician, formerly Saratoga Wildlife Technician

Dave Avey – Casper Game Warden, 2008, 37 yrs service, now enjoying the quiet retirement life, bird hunting and skeet shooting.

John Hyde - 37 years with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (33 years as a game warden). John spent the last 15 years as the Lovell game warden; John continues to enjoy life in Wyoming's Big Horn Basin.

Chris Reynolds - Green River Wildlife Technician
Todd Kittel - Cheyenne Wildlife Technician