The C.W. Watson Award is the most prestigious award given in the Southeast and is presented to the career individual who, in the opinion of the Award Committee, has made the greatest contribution to wildlife or fish conservation during the previous year or years. Consideration includes research, administration, law enforcement, I&E, wildlife management, fish management, and includes teachers, professionals, and students. This award is presented jointly by the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society, the Southeastern Section of the Wildlife Society, and the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
For more information about the award please visit the C.W. Watson Award Committee page.
2020 Dr. L. E. "Steve" Miranda , Mississippi
2019 Alvin A. Taylor, South Carolina
2018 Karl V. Miller, Georgia
2017 Cindy Dohner, Georgia
2016 John Fischer, Georgia
2015 Herman Todd Holbrook, Georgia
2014 Fred A. Harris, North Carolina
2013 Richard M. Kaminski, Mississippi
2012 David Whitehurst, Virginia
2011 James L. Byford, Tennessee
2010 Sam Hamilton, Georgia
2009 J. Whitfield Gibbons, Georgia
2008 Charles Baxter, Mississippi
2007 Louie P. (Pete) Heard, Mississippi
2006 Robert M. Brantly, Florida
2005 Kenneth M. Babcock, Missouri
2004 David Waller, Georgia
2003 James E. “Jim” Miller, Mississippi
2002 Gary T. Myers, Tennessee
2001 John E. Frampton, South Carolina
2000 Steve Wilson, Arkansas
1999 Joe L. Herring, Louisiana
1998 Wilmer A. Rogers, Alabama
1997 James Earl Kennamer, South Carolina
1996 James A. Timmerman, South Carolina
1995 A. Sydney Johnson, Georgia
1994 Daniel W. Speake, Alabama
1993 Robert Jenkins, Arkansas
1992 Lowell K. Halls, Texas
1991 Charles D. Kelley, Arkansas
1990 Carl R. Sullivan, Washington, D.C.
1989 Gary C. Matlock, Texas
1988 Herman L. Holbrook, South Carolina
1987 Larry R. Gales, Missouri
1986 James “Ted” Joanen, Louisiana
1985 Dale H. Arner, Mississippi
1984 Robert J. Kemp, Texas
1983 Harold E. Alexander, Arkansas
1982 Chester McConnell, Washington, D.C.
1981 Don W. Hayne, North Carolina
1980 Frank Hayes, Georgia
1979 Leonard Foote, Georgia
1978 Jack Crockford, Georgia
1977 Earl Frye, Jr., Florida
1976 Carroll J. Perkins, Mississippi
1975 William Turcotte, Mississippi
1974 Verlon Carter, Georgia
1973 Harold Warvel, Tennessee
1972 Trusten Holder, Arkansas
1971 Chester Phelps, Virginia
1970 Forst Kellog, Georgia
1969 Fred Fish, North Carolina
1968 John Crumb, Virginia
1967 Ten Kistner, Georgia
1966 Price Williams, Tennessee
1965 Bob Stevens, South Carolina
1964 Clarence W. Watson