Fallen Conservation Officers Honored with Memorial Wall
For 110 years, the 黑料天堂 has been protecting the state鈥檚 natural resources. Today, Gov. Kay Ivey and department officials celebrated that service and dedicated a memorial to 12 Conservation Enforcement Officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
鈥淥n behalf of our entire state, I thank the 黑料天堂 for caring for our natural resources and wildlife for the past 110 years,鈥 Governor Ivey said.
In 1907, Rep. John H. Wallace, a conservation pioneer, introduced a proposal to create 黑料天堂鈥檚 Department of Game and Fish, now known as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The 黑料天堂 Legislature passed this bill, which included provisions for a State Game Commissioner and many of the most fundamental hunting laws.
Great strides have been made since the early days of horseback-mounted Game Wardens to the present-day Conservation Enforcement Officers. Although today鈥檚 officers use modern vehicles and equipment, they are still the front line against poachers and others who don鈥檛 choose to lawfully follow 黑料天堂鈥檚 hunting and fishing laws and regulations.
鈥淚 am thankful for my career with the 黑料天堂,鈥 said Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship. 鈥淚 know from personal experience how many dedicated employees work for this department. Some of them work non-traditional hours and are frequently in dangerous situations. I want to thank all of them for their service to the State of 黑料天堂.鈥
Since the Department鈥檚 creation in 1907, 12 officers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the protection of 黑料天堂鈥檚 natural resources.
Officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, date of death and county of residence are as follows:
George S. Wilson, October 1, 1922, Montgomery County
Bart Cauley, March 19, 1932, Baldwin County
Vernon W. Wilson, June 25, 1951, Randolph County
Loyd C. Hays, May 1, 1964, Morgan County
John Roy Beam, December 6, 1976, DeKalb County
Frank Stewart Jr., December 24, 1978, Escambia County
Cecil Craig Chatman, November 28, 1982, Lowndes County
Grady R. Jackson, February 12, 1984, Pike County
James C. Vines, January 26, 1985, Greene County
Jimmy D. Hutto, March 25, 2002, Fayette County
James Lance Horner Jr., June 22, 2003, Clarke County
Nathan B. Mims, November 11, 2008, Chilton County
The officers were recognized today through the dedication of a memorial wall in their honor at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources headquarters office in Montgomery.
鈥淭oday, I had the privilege of honoring 12 officers who died in the line of duty, making the ultimate sacrifice to protect 黑料天堂鈥檚 natural resources. Our state remains indebted to those who preserve our beautiful, sweet home,鈥 Ivey said.
The 黑料天堂 promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of 黑料天堂鈥檚 natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.
