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Each issue of our magazine we will nominate one of our partners to be
our MVP. We will feature them for the industry leaders that they are. |
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SUMMER 2008
THIS COULD BE YOU!
Each issue of MVP Outdoors nominates one of our Most Valued People, Places, or Properties to be spotlighted for the outstanding influence that they make on the industry.
This award is not like any award, it is extraordinary because it is for the glory of the great outdoors.
CLICK HERE TO NOMINTATE SOMEONE >> |
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SPRING 2008
Little Jake is a book series that will be coming out in June of this year. The visionary behind Little Jake is Robert H. Jacobs, Jr. I sat with Robert and listened to his most interesting stories about the inspiration of the Little Jake series. Robert was training to be a school teacher and enjoys spending time with his family. Being a hunter Rob wanted to read stories to his children about the positive joys and pleasures of hunting and fishing. Rob thought that he would get on the internet and find a list of all the hunting children’s books that he would be able to read to his children. As the quite large list began to print, Rob was shocked and disappointed because there was not one positive book on hunting available. They were all anti-hunting, unbalanced, tree hugging distortions of truth.
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TED DAVISON |
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FEBRUARY 2008
Ted Davison Celebrating his 84th year as:
A Great Steward to Our Outdoors, Husband,
Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather!
We are happy to award the MVP Award of Excellence to Ted Davison for his 84th year as a active wildlife enthusiast. Ted has been an active hunter, fisher and entrepenuer of The Great Outdoors, and continues to actively hunt and fish while passing his knowledge and traditions to his family and friends. Ted is a wildlife steward of his own making.
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Steve Friedrich
Doug Starr
Tom Cassel |
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JANUARY 2008
Illinois Bass 25 Club was conceived in the spring of 2000 in the minds of Tony Lynn and Doug Starr as they drove to and from Lake Sangchris near Springfield, IL where these two anglers fished buddy tournaments put on by the Sangchris
Bass Club.
Lynn and Starr talked a lot about the idea of a club being close to home that would be profitable to anglers, well organized, firm, fair and consistent.
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Sam Klement and Rhett Akins
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NOVEMBER 2007
Country Goes Huntin’ was started in 2001 by these two lifelong friends in order to bring awareness and dollars to real needs. Since its inception, the event keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. Huntin’ and singing; it doesn’t get any better than that!
Because of the selfless passion and concern for those in need, Country Goes Huntin’, Rhett Akins and Sam Klement are nominated for the MVP Award of Excellence. Thank you guys and keep the good work, we’re proud of you!
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BILL LOVE
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SEPTEMBER 2007
Our world is blessed with many who could be considered Outdoor MVPs. There are those who search the world for trophy animals that most of us can only read about. There are also those whose adventures are shown every week on television catching huge marlin, monster tarpon or even trophy-sized largemouth bass. After reading their stories or watching these exciting programs, what sportsman would not hold at least some admiration for these high-profile outdoor personalities. Still, there are also those often overlooked individuals that devote their lives to the outdoors, never seeking publicity for their efforts. These folks, in fact, have likely produced a greater impact on our outdoor world than all the TV stars and big game hunters combined. Most times, these low-profile MVPs are the real stars in this outdoor world. They are the people working in the trenches to keep the outdoor traditions alive. They indeed are the real heroes of our sport. Unfortunately for all of us, our outdoor world lost one of these heroes this summer. William “Bill” Love, 60, of Mapleton, Ill., passed away suddenly following complications from surgery.
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VICKIE GARDNER
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JULY 2007
In a small mountain village in the San Gabriel Mountain Range lived a grandmother who had been born into a non-hunting, tree hugging California family. Her concept of guns was “Guns are frightening and we can get killed or badly hurt if we come in close contact with one. ” That’s what she and everyone she knew was raised to believe. She accepted that commonly held doctrine without question, for she had other pressing factors to deal with.
This was the mind-set of Vickie Gardner, “Vice President of very important stuff.” Vickie and her husband Tim own Alpen Optics. Alpen started out catering to the bird watching crowd, but providence was slowly leading them down wider paths. There was some resistance in Vickie’s heart towards the company growing in a different direction.
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KEITH WAHLIG
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MAY 2007
It was sixteen months ago that a young man approached me at a sports show that I was working at and handed me his business card. He said, “If there is any thing I can do for you, just let me know.” As fast as he appeared he was gone. I just stood there speechless and dumb founded. My quick wit was lost in space as I read his card. The card was a high gloss card stating that he was a Knight & Hale Pro Staffer named Keith Wahlig. Unsure of what he meant by his comment just plagued my every thought. That was the beginning of a life changing experience. In any good relationship, both parties should grow and each person should be better for it, I know I am. Each one of us began sharing our knowledge of the industry. Now I don’t claim to be responsible for the rapid success in Keith’s career, but I am sure proud of him.
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ALLEN HAMM SR.
A.A.D. Custom Boats
& Welding
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MARCH 2007
In the little river town of Bartonville, Illinois is a small family boat building business called AAD Welding by Allen Hamm Sr. Allen Jr., and David Hamm. The roots of these entrepreneurial innovators started with Allen senior’s uncle Dallas a wooden boat builder at the tail end of the market hunting days. At this point in time the aluminum boats were coming on to the scene and the wooden boats were slowly taking the back seat. The Hamm family has been a river fishing and hunting family for generations. At the time wood boats were slowing up and aluminums were taking the lead the need to get back into the shallows was the driving force as the tunnel boat design became big. The Hamm boys brought hands on engineering to the tunnel boat industry setting the standards for travel in the back waters. Every time a new need surfaced they put their hearts into solving the problems whether it was a cat fishing boat rescue boat, clamming boat or what ever, they build it.
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