NWTF member from Pennsylvania honored for distinguished leadership

NWTF member from Pennsylvania honored for distinguished leadership.

Don Heckman of Camp Hill, Pa. received the 1998 C. B. McLeod Distinguished Service Award for dedicated service and distinguished leadership from the National Wild Turkey Federation. The presentation came during the NWTF’s 22^nd Annual Convention and Sports Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, Feb. 27 - March 1, 1998.

The C. B. McLeod Distinguished Service Award is presented to Don Heckman in recognition of a long history of volunteer leadership, dedicated service and support to the NWTF, and his active role in the affairs of his state chapter, local chapter, and national programs. His personal commitment to wild turkey conservation and management, his outstanding leadership role in achieving state chapter and local chapter goals and objectives, 23 years of continuous service on the Pennsylvania State Chapter Board of Directors, and 16 years of continuous service on the Michaux-Yellow Breeches Local Chapter Board of Directors, highlights a successful volunteer career with the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Pennsylvania State Chapter.

"It gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment to work for a resource that I love dearly. Working for the National Wild Turkey Federation, The Pennsylvania State Chapter, the Michaux-Yellow Breeches Local Chapter and wildlife conservation these

past 23 years has been a thrill, and this award is a great honor."

Mr. Heckman’s service for wildlife began in 1975, when he helped charter the Pennsylvania State Chapter of the NWTF, and became one of its original board members. Heckman currently serves as Treasurer and Director of the Pennsylvania State Chapter.

In 1982 he co-founded the Michaux-Yellow Breeches Local Chapter and has served the local chapter continuously ever since, including a three year term (1994-1997) as local chapter president.

Always active in NWTF programs, Mr. Heckman has worked as an instructor for hunter education courses, coordinated wild turkey calling competitions, contributing to the Local Chapter, State Chapter and NWTF newsletters, served as chairman for three state chapter conventions, and has chaired several local chapter membership and super fund banquets.

He is the author of the Pennsylvania State Chapter’s web site and home page.

Mr. Heckman belongs to and is active in local sportsmen’s organizations. He is a past Vice-President, Membership Secretary, and Newsletter Chairman of Mechanicsburg Sportsmen’s Club. Currently, he is the Game and Legislative Committee chairman for the sportsmen’s organization. Mr. Heckman is very active in his local area on Legislative issues for wildlife conservation, sportsmen, and gun owner rights.

As a volunteer conservationist, Mr. Heckman has assisted the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) with its wild turkey restoration program. He was key in the development of the Michaux-Yellow Breeches Tree Nursery and Habitat Plantings program. Founded in 1982, the one acre nursery started on State Game Lands, has since moved to Bureau of Forestry land on the Michaux State Forest. Trees from the nursery are transplanted for habitat enhancement on State Forest Land by chapter members, state foresters, and on PGC State Game Lands. Other state-wide conservation organizations use trees to transplant on their habitat enhancement projects. Since its development, nearly 25,000 trees have been transplanted from the nursery to state land around the Keystone State.

Mr. Heckman is also very involved with other conservation and sportsmen’s organizations, including, among others, the National Rifle Association, the Mechanicsburg Sportsmen’s Club, Pennsylvania Forestry Association., Wildlands Conservancy, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Ned Smith Center, Cumberland County Sportsmen’s and Conservationist Association, and the State Chapter delegate to the Pennsylvania Sportsmen’s Coalition.

This work as wildlife conservation volunteer has earned Mr. Heckman prior awards, including the Dr. Roger M. Latham - Director of the Year Award, Dr. David Wanless - Service Award, Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Hunter’s Hall of Fame Award, Frank Piper Hunting Safety Award, and the Loyal Order of Silver Spurs Award from the Pennsylvania State Chapter. Mr. Heckman has received the Michaux-Yellow Breeches Conservationist of the Year Award. NWTF has presented Mr. Heckman the Dr. Roger M. Latham Award for volunteer service efforts to the NWTF.

In 1996 Mr. Heckman was appointed to the Governor’s Sportsmen’s Advisory Council by Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Ridge, a position he still holds.