Communicator of the Year

By BOB WHITEHEAD

"Congratulations. You have been chosen the Consercation Federation Communicator of the Year for 2009."

My eyes raced across the words set upon official Federation stationery.

The massive was from Federation executive director, Dave Murphy. He had sent me a copy of the letter, which also had been mailed to my great friend and colleague, Ray Eye.

Just a few short weeks ago I had sent a letter of nomination to the Federation asking they consider Eye for this award.

And even before I had entered Eye's name to the mix, Outdoor Guide specialty editor, Bill Cooper, and last year's CFM 2010 award recipient, had nominated him as well.

Following are excerpts from our letters written on Eye's behalf:

Cooper starts off by writing:

"Mr. Ray Eye, of Dittmer, Missouri, has long been referred to by admiring outdoorsmen as a "Living Outdoor Legend." Born into a hunting family in the Missouri Ozarks, Eye took to the outdoors like a duck to water. It was the natural thing to do. His untold hours spent in the forested hills of eastern Missouri fostered a deep love and appreciation in him for our wild Missouri outdoors.

"Blessed with the friendly disposition of Red Skelton, the outgoing personality of Phyllis Diller, the looks of Burl Ives and the witty charm of John Wayne, Eye quickly became an enamoring communicating ambassador for hunting and conservation issues in Missouri and across the United States."

Cooper continues by illustrating Ray's beginnings as an amateur turkey caller and hunter, and how his young career exploded culminating into becoming known as the best turkey caller/killer there ever was.

"Eye has proven himself again and againg to be one of our most effective outdoor communicators with kids. He has sponsored dozens of hunts for young hunters. Many of the resulting TV shows have appeared on ESPN, the Outdoor Channel, Versus, TNN, the Sportsman's Channel and Fox Sports. Hundreds of his interviews with youngsters have rocked the radio airwaves across the nation.

"Ray Eye is a conservation communications giant. His accomlishments could fill volumes. He has generated and created an awareness of our great outdoors and the issues surrounding them in millions of Americans. Few individuals in the history of the conservation movement have generated the quantity and quality of outdoor related media materials over a span of several decades than out own Missouri, home-grown, Ozarks maountain-loving, giant of a man Mr. Ray Eye.

"No one is more deserving of the Conservation Federation of Missouri Conservation Communicator of the Year Award - 2009 than Mr. Ray Eye."

Following were some of my thoughts passed on to the Federation on Eye's behalf:

"I have known Eye for almost twenty years. He is my colleague, my mentor, my friend, my blood brother.

"We have been partners in business, Outdoor Guide Magazine sponsors his radio show, and more importantly, we've shared many camps and trails over these past years.

"In my opinion, Eye easily could be named Communicator of the Decade.

"Early in the year, his travels take him all across America where he preaches the conservation message. His outdoor seminars are seen by thousands of people, many of whom are youngsters just getting started in the great outdoors.

"He never misses a Youth Season whether it be turkey or deer, and it would be impossible to list the number of times he has been responsible for a person's first deer or turkey harvest.

"All year long, Eye is at the forefront and on the cutting edge when it comes to outdoor communications. His message reaches more folks than perhaps any other other Missouri Communicator, and we have a bunch.

"Eye has become one of the premier cameramen in America. His archive of film footage rivals that of National Geographic. His expert woodsmanship, along with national-championship calling skills put him at the top of his profession.

"Eye is incessant, constantly fighting for sportsmen's rights. He is vigilant about our Second Amendment rights. and each week, on his long-running and award-winning radio show, there is that constant theme of conservation.

"Eye often describes the hunt as an event where the kill is, many times, the least important aspect.

"He talks about the camaraderie of the camp, the friendship, learning about the outdoors, experiencing the beauty and natural wonders of our great state and nation, and he is adamant when it comes to being safe.

"One outdoor writer told me recently, 'Ray Eye is a national treasure.' And, he had been called a 'Living Legend' by Outdoor Life Magazine.

"More than that, Eye, a big man, has a bigger heart. He cannot say no to anyone. That is why you'll find him talking to a group of folks about conservation and the great outdoors in a dusty barn, or on a stage in front of thousands.

"Eye has no manager, no entourage. Yet his influence in out state and upon our nation rivals that of most anyone in out business.

"We would be hard-pressedd to find anyone who has had more impact on conservation and the outdoors public, than Ray Eye."

Congratulations, my brother.