Californian of the Year
FISH AND GAME PRESIDENT JAMES KELLOGG was selected by the Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC) as its Californian of the Year 2012. Kellogg has been a 10-year member of the California Fish & Game Commission and has consistently displayed a balanced sense of fair play regarding the environment, conservation and preservation of California’s resources.
Kellogg has presided over many controversial topics. He has also served as the International Representative to the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, a position he has held since 1992. He serves on the Executive Board of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and is a former member of the California Transportation Commission. He is a member of California Waterfowl Association, Outdoor Sportsmen’s Coalition of California, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, California Deer Association, and Ducks Unlimited.
Past winners of the Californian of the Year award include: Congressman George Miller of Martinez; science teacher Tom Furrer of Petaluma; fishery biologist Tom Hampson; Inland Fisheries President Rod Browning, all Californians who have worked to educate our citizens and enhance our outdoor recreation opportunities.
OWAC’s Californian of the Year award is given to the person who has contributed most significantly to the promotion of outdoor recreation or preservation of nature, who exemplifies the spirit of the outdoors through contributions above and beyond the call of duty.
In 1990, in the context of OWAC’s first craft awards program, OWAC gave its first Californian of the Year award to Dick Weaver, a Department of Fish & Game wildlife specialist. Few changes have been made to the program since its inception. Active members are urged to nominate candidates deserving of recognition, keeping in mind that the nomination essay is crucial in determining a winner. OWAC headquarters distributes the ballots by mail. Members in good standing cast their ballots for their choice among the candidates nominated. Headquarters staff count the returned votes, and the award is presented to the winner in a banquet ceremony at OWAC’s fall conference.
Past winners have included teachers and activists, politicians and game wardens, biologists and everyday citizens who have taken up a cause. OWAC members are not eligible. Among the most recent honorees are: Carroll Thomas (2010), Leon Lesicka (2009), Cliff McDonald (2008), State Senator Dave Cogdill (2007), Bob Franko (2006), and Congressman Mike Thompson (2003).