Awards Spotlight

Lawrence Taylor is named Arkansas Conservation Communicator of the Year.

The Arkansas Wildlife Federation (AWF) named Lawrence Taylor, outdoor writer and public relations director for PRADCO-Fishing in Fort Smith, Ark., 2010 Arkansas Conservation Communicator of the Year at the 73rd Annual Governor"s Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet in August. Each year, as part of the Governor"s Conservation Achievement Awards, the AWF selects an individual or organization that has provided outstanding media coverage that keeps the general public informed of environmental issues and needs impacting Arkansas, The Natural State.

"In years past, this Conservation Communicator of the Year Award has been bestowed upon such notable conservationists as Griffin Smith, executive editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; TV personality Steve R. "Wildman" Wilson; and long-time outdoor writer Trey Reid," said Keith Sutton, noted outdoor writer, executive director for the Future Fisherman Foundation and a former winner of the Conservation Communicator of the Year award. "The award is one of the highest honors that can be received by an Arkansas journalist, and this recognition of Lawrence Taylor is certainly fitting because of the many thousands of words he"s written to keep the public informed about environmental issues in Arkansas."

Taylor is the Outdoors columnist forEntertainment Fort Smith magazine, providing news and local outdoor opportunities to thousands of readers each month. He also writes for a number of national publications and Websites, as well as the PRADCO-Fishing Website.

As public relations director for PRADCO-Fishing, Taylor supports numerous events throughout the state with product donations and volunteer time, especially when kids are involved. "Kids are most important to me. I support every kids event that I can," said Taylor. "I am incredibly honored by this award, especially when I look at some of the legendary past winners like Wade Bourne, Jim Spencer and Keith Sutton. Those guys truly are legends."