WVDNR Announces Outdoors Awards for 2008 

The 2008 Sportsperson of the Year Award and the Sportsman’s Organization of the Year Award were announced by West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Frank Jezioro on September 27 at West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days at Stonewall Resort State Park.

The 2008 Sportsperson of the Year Award was given to John Drangmeister of Hurricane – a long-standing member of the West Virginia Bowhunters Association.  Drangmeister, an avid outdoorsman, has exposed many people to the pleasures of archery and bowhunting.  “He is a patient and enthusiastic archery instructor, and his students enjoy learning to shoot bows under his guidance,” Jezioro said.  “John immensely enjoys seeing a young person hit a target, and his own excitement and enthusiasm rub off on other children. He is the type of person who likes to see things get done. He is often the first to volunteer to help make things happen and never seeks any kind of personal recognition. His contribution to countless outreach events have ensured they successfully exposed as many people as possible to the joys of archery and other outdoor pursuits.”

Over the years, Drangmeister has volunteered his time and skills in numerous ways.  He served as the archery instructor for Becoming an Outdoor Woman classes for the past six years and helped run the Youth Archery Alley at National Hunting and Fishing Days, reaching hundreds of youth each year. Drangmeister has mentored young archers at after-school programs, National Wild Turkey Federation (NYTF) JAKES Days, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Trailblazer Days, and numerous 4-H Camps, churches, and other facilities, and has volunteered at all Archery in the Schools State Tournaments – even pulling arrows in 2006 with a broken arm in a cast!   “I sincerely appreciate the efforts of volunteers like John who expose others, especially young people, to the outdoors and outdoor pursuits,” said DNR Director Jezioro.

The 2008 Sportsman’s Organization of the Year Award was given to the West Virginia Bowhunters Association. “The Association is an enthusiastic, but diverse, group of avid sportsmen,” Jezioro said. “They come from every corner of the state, and when not helping with state youth, can be found pursuing trout in the winter, turkey in the spring, bass in the summer and bear in the fall. They have been a staunch ally of DNR’s wildlife management activities and its charitable work, such as the Hunters Helping the Hungry Program. They also were involved from the beginning with West Virginia’s Archery in the Schools Program by purchasing the first training kit.”

The West Virginia Bowhunters Association has established an Archery in the Schools matching grant for new schools entering the program. They have mentored young archers at after-school programs, NWTF Jakes Days, US Sportsmen’s Alliance Trailblazer Days, and numerous 4-H Camps, churches, and other facilities, and administered the Youth Archery Alley at National Hunting and Fishing Days for hundreds of youths. They have shown their generous spirit through donations to the Hunters Helping the Hungry Program and the DNR’s bear study by purchasing radio telemetry equipment.  “It has been a pleasure working with a private organization such as the West Virginia Bowhunters Association, which has made a commitment to encourage our youth to discover the outdoors and outdoor pursuits,” said DNR Director Jezioro. 

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