Clarence W. Watson Award

The C.W. Watson Award is the most prestigious award given in the southeast and is presented to the career individual who, in the opinion of the C.W. Watson Award Committee, has made the greatest contribution to wildlife or fish conservation during the previous year or years. 

Consideration includes research, administration, law enforcement, information and education, wildlife management, fish management, and includes teachers, professionals, and students. 

This award is presented jointly by the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society, the Southeastern Section of The Wildlife Society, and the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. 

Recipients
2023
Robert Warren
Georgia
University of Georgia
(news article)
2022
Dennis Krusac
USDA - U.S. Forest Service
(news article)
2021
Robert W. “Bob” Duncan
Virginia
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
(news article)
2020
Dr. L. E. "Steve" Miranda
Mississippi
USGS Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
(news article)
2019
Alvin A. Taylor
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
(news article)
2018
Karl V. Miller
Georgia
University of Georgia
(news article)
2017
Cindy Dohner
US Fish and Wildlife Service
(news article)
2016
John Fischer
Georgia
University of Georgia
(news article)
2015
Herman Todd Holbrook
Georgia
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
(news article)
2014
Fred A. Harris
North Carolina
North Carolina Wildlife Federation
2013
Richard M. Kaminski
Mississippi
Mississippi State University
2012
David Whitehurst
Virginia
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
2011
James L. Byford
Tennessee
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
2010
Sam Hamilton
US Fish and Wildlife Service
2009
J. Whitfield Gibbons
Georgia
2008
Charles Baxter
Mississippi
2007
Louie P. (Pete) Heard
Mississippi
2006
Robert M. Brantly
Florida
2005
Kenneth M. Babcock
Missouri
2004
David Waller
Georgia
2003
James E. “Jim” Miller
Mississippi
2002
Gary T. Myers
Tennessee
2001
John E. Frampton
South Carolina
2000
Steve Wilson
Arkansas
1999
Joe L. Herring
Louisiana
1998
Wilmer A. Rogers
Alabama
1997
James Earl Kennamer
South Carolina
1996
James A. Timmerman
South Carolina
1995
A. Sydney Johnson
Georgia
1994
Daniel W. Speake
Alabama
1993
Robert Jenkins
Arkansas
1992
Lowell K. Halls
Texas
1991
Charles D. Kelley
Arkansas
1990
Carl R. Sullivan
Washington, D.C.
1989
Gary C. Matlock
Texas
1988
Herman L. Holbrook
South Carolina
1987
Larry R. Gales
Missouri
1986
James “Ted” Joanen
Louisiana
1985
Dale H. Arner
Mississippi
1984
Robert J. Kemp
Texas
1983
Harold E. Alexander
Arkansas
1982
Chester McConnell
Washington, D.C.
1981
Don W. Hayne
North Carolina
1980
Frank Hayes
Georgia
1979
Leonard Foote
Georgia
1978
Jack Crockford
Georgia
1977
Earl Frye, Jr.
Florida
1976
Carroll J. Perkins
Mississippi
1975
William Turcotte
Mississippi
1974
Verlon Carter
Georgia
1973
Harold Warvel
Tennessee
1972
Trusten Holder
Arkansas
1971
Chester Phelps
Virginia
1970
Forst Kellog
Georgia
1969
Fred Fish
North Carolina
1968
John Crumb
Virginia
1967
Ten Kistner
Georgia
1966
Price Williams
Tennessee
1965
Bob Stevens
South Carolina
1964
Clarence W. Watson