Post by galthatfishes on Feb 17, 2013 14:08:46 GMT -5
blog.pennlive.com/pa-sportsman/2013/02/central_pennsylvania_men_bring_home_top_honors_from_national_wild_turkey_federation.html
Central Pennsylvania men bring home top honors from National Wild Turkey Federation
By Marcus Schneck | mschneck@pennlive.com
on February 15, 2013 at 12:59 AM, updated February 15, 2013 at 1:07 AM
A pair of Central Pennsylvanian wild turkey pioneers will be bringing home two of the National Wild Turkey Federation's top honors from the federation's convention, which runs through Sunday, in Nashville, Tenn.
Don Heckman, who until his recent retirement lived in Camp Hill, was honored for nearly three decades of volunteer service to the NWTF with the Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon Award.
View full sizeDale Rohm, left, with Bob Fountain, National Wild Turkey Federation vice president and East Area manager.Contributed Photo
Dale Rohm, of Blain, was presented with the C.B. McLeod Award for a lifetime of service to wildlife, conservation and hunting heritage.
The NWTF is one of America's leading conservation organizations. Since its founding in 1973, the NWTF has helped to restore 17.3 million acres of wildlife habitat across the country, investing $412 million in the process. Over that same period, wild turkey numbers have increased from 1.3 million to 6.5 million.
This year's award was the third national NWTF award for Heckman, who previously received the Roger Latham Award for wildlife conservation by a volunteer in 1988 and the C.B. McLeod Award for wildlife conservation in 1998.
He also has received eight Pennsylvania NWTF awards.
While enthusiasm for turkey hunting is the entry point for most members of the NWTF, Heckman was a member of the NWTF Pennsylvania State Board of the Directors before he was a serious wild turkey hunter.
Attending an organizational meeting with a friend in 1975, Heckman was intrigued by the NWTF's focus on wildlife habitat management and the restoration of the wild turkey.
He later became an avid turkey hunter.
"Once the candle was lit, I really got involved in things," said Heckman. "It just became a passion, or as my wife would say, an '"obsession."'
He has held various offices for 31 of his 36 years on the NWTF Pennsylvania State Chapter Board and helped launch the Michaux-Yellow Breeches Chapter, of which he remains an active out-of-state board member. He's worked on numerous habitat management, outreach and education projects, many with his local chapter, and has been coordinator of the annual turkey calling contest at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show for many years.
But he's been especially active in the political process, serving on the Pennsylvania Sportsman's Coalition and serving for 25 years as legislative chairman of the state chapter of the NWTF.
Among the political changes that Heckman helped to shepherd to realization were the elimination of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's turkey game farms in favor of a more successful trap and transfer program and repeal of the state's hunter's orange requirement.
View full sizeDon HeckmanMarcus Schneck, The Patriot-news
"He's just a phenomenal volunteer," said close friend Vern Ross, the current NWTF vice president. "He lives, eats and dies NWTF. He's a very modest man - he just gets things done."
While Rohm's first turkey calling contest was also his last, that Perry County competition hooked the world-renown turkey caller designer.
"I won my only contest," said the 84-year-old. "After that I quit because it made me too nervous."
His sons, who were present for his first and only calling contest victory, also became well known call makers.
Rohm helped organize the first U.S. Open Turkey Calling Championship in Perry County, and helped start his home chapter, the Sherman Valley Strutters.
While his sons Terry, Robby and Jody (Putt) stacked up calling contest victories across the country, Rohm became a respected turkey calling judges, serving at all the major national competitions, including the NWTF's Grand National Calling Championships.
Rohm, whose Rohm Brothers Calls became a much-heralded leader in the call industry, has donated calls to the NWTF for more than three decades. The longtime NWTF Pennsylvania State board member has also conducted youth hunting training and turkey habitat programs on public game lands.
"When I joined the NWTF, I never dreamed how much it would change my life," said Rohm. "The NWTF has done so much for my family. Through the NWTF, I have met so many great people."
"Many NWTF National Board members call on Dale for support during elections," said Ross. "He is very respected by the turkey hunters in Pennsylvania and many other states.
Terry Rohm now heads the hunting division of Wellington Outdoor Sports. Robby owns and operates Rohm Brothers Calls. Putt manages Dale's private label, D & A Turkey Calls, the first-name initials of Dale and Lucinda.
Central Pennsylvania men bring home top honors from National Wild Turkey Federation
By Marcus Schneck | mschneck@pennlive.com
on February 15, 2013 at 12:59 AM, updated February 15, 2013 at 1:07 AM
A pair of Central Pennsylvanian wild turkey pioneers will be bringing home two of the National Wild Turkey Federation's top honors from the federation's convention, which runs through Sunday, in Nashville, Tenn.
Don Heckman, who until his recent retirement lived in Camp Hill, was honored for nearly three decades of volunteer service to the NWTF with the Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon Award.
View full sizeDale Rohm, left, with Bob Fountain, National Wild Turkey Federation vice president and East Area manager.Contributed Photo
Dale Rohm, of Blain, was presented with the C.B. McLeod Award for a lifetime of service to wildlife, conservation and hunting heritage.
The NWTF is one of America's leading conservation organizations. Since its founding in 1973, the NWTF has helped to restore 17.3 million acres of wildlife habitat across the country, investing $412 million in the process. Over that same period, wild turkey numbers have increased from 1.3 million to 6.5 million.
This year's award was the third national NWTF award for Heckman, who previously received the Roger Latham Award for wildlife conservation by a volunteer in 1988 and the C.B. McLeod Award for wildlife conservation in 1998.
He also has received eight Pennsylvania NWTF awards.
While enthusiasm for turkey hunting is the entry point for most members of the NWTF, Heckman was a member of the NWTF Pennsylvania State Board of the Directors before he was a serious wild turkey hunter.
Attending an organizational meeting with a friend in 1975, Heckman was intrigued by the NWTF's focus on wildlife habitat management and the restoration of the wild turkey.
He later became an avid turkey hunter.
"Once the candle was lit, I really got involved in things," said Heckman. "It just became a passion, or as my wife would say, an '"obsession."'
He has held various offices for 31 of his 36 years on the NWTF Pennsylvania State Chapter Board and helped launch the Michaux-Yellow Breeches Chapter, of which he remains an active out-of-state board member. He's worked on numerous habitat management, outreach and education projects, many with his local chapter, and has been coordinator of the annual turkey calling contest at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show for many years.
But he's been especially active in the political process, serving on the Pennsylvania Sportsman's Coalition and serving for 25 years as legislative chairman of the state chapter of the NWTF.
Among the political changes that Heckman helped to shepherd to realization were the elimination of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's turkey game farms in favor of a more successful trap and transfer program and repeal of the state's hunter's orange requirement.
View full sizeDon HeckmanMarcus Schneck, The Patriot-news
"He's just a phenomenal volunteer," said close friend Vern Ross, the current NWTF vice president. "He lives, eats and dies NWTF. He's a very modest man - he just gets things done."
While Rohm's first turkey calling contest was also his last, that Perry County competition hooked the world-renown turkey caller designer.
"I won my only contest," said the 84-year-old. "After that I quit because it made me too nervous."
His sons, who were present for his first and only calling contest victory, also became well known call makers.
Rohm helped organize the first U.S. Open Turkey Calling Championship in Perry County, and helped start his home chapter, the Sherman Valley Strutters.
While his sons Terry, Robby and Jody (Putt) stacked up calling contest victories across the country, Rohm became a respected turkey calling judges, serving at all the major national competitions, including the NWTF's Grand National Calling Championships.
Rohm, whose Rohm Brothers Calls became a much-heralded leader in the call industry, has donated calls to the NWTF for more than three decades. The longtime NWTF Pennsylvania State board member has also conducted youth hunting training and turkey habitat programs on public game lands.
"When I joined the NWTF, I never dreamed how much it would change my life," said Rohm. "The NWTF has done so much for my family. Through the NWTF, I have met so many great people."
"Many NWTF National Board members call on Dale for support during elections," said Ross. "He is very respected by the turkey hunters in Pennsylvania and many other states.
Terry Rohm now heads the hunting division of Wellington Outdoor Sports. Robby owns and operates Rohm Brothers Calls. Putt manages Dale's private label, D & A Turkey Calls, the first-name initials of Dale and Lucinda.
