LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Wildlife Federation on Friday announced the selection of the late Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director John Patrick "Pat" Fitts as its selection for this year's Harold Alexander Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award.
AWF President Clint Coleman presented the award to Fitt's wife, Alice Fitts, during a brief ceremony at the AGFC headquarters.
"This is the highest conservation achievement award the Arkansas Wildlife Federation presents," Coleman said. "And having worked alongside him throughout both our careers, I can think of no one whose life was more deserving of being honored than Pat."
Fitts served from 2018-2021 as the AGFC's 18th director, capping off a 32-year career with the agency that began in high school as a humble fisheries technician, mowing levees and dragging seines at the Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery in Lonoke. After earning his bachelor's degree in fish and wildlife management from Arkansas Tech University, he rejoined the agency as a fisheries biologist before transitioning to the Enforcement Division and working his way to the top seat of the AGFC staff.
Arkansas Speaker of the House Brian Evans reflected on some of his personal experiences with Fitts during his time as director.
"There is a reason why so many people are moving to the state of Arkansas, and one of those reasons is because of what we offer in the great outdoors, the conservation efforts we've had and the many things that have contributed to The Natural State," Evans said. "And I have to believe that from his 30-plus-year career, we owe a big part of that to Pat Fitts because of the sacrifices he made, the sacrifices he made for his spouse and family through those years and work efforts he put forth that contributed to where we are today."
Visit www.arwild.org for more information about the Arkansas Wildlife Federation and its conservation achievement award winners.