Syracuse.com - New York State Sportsmen Hall of Fame 2014 inductees includes five Central NY residents

[HuntingNY-News]

This year's slate of inductees will be honored at a banquet set for April 26 at the Rusty Nail in Canastota.

The New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame recently announced its class of inductees for 2014, which includes five individuals from Central New York.

This year's slate of inductees, which number nine, will be honored April 26 at the Hall of Fame's annual banquet at the Rusty Nail restaurant in Canastota.

Among those being honored:

Tom Lenweaver. Lenweaver, of Syracuse, is a well-known wildlife artist. He has used his talent to help promote many sportsmen's and conservation organizations. Donations of his paintings have helped raise many thousands of dollars for organizations such as CNY Wildfowlers, Friends of Carpenters Brook, Pheasants Unlimited, Onondaga County Federation, and others. He currently is on the board of directors for the Great Swamp Conservancy in Lenox.

Rick McDermottPeter Chen | [email protected] 

Rick McDermott. McDermott, of Pulaski, has been involved for years with sportsmen's organizations and youth activities such as the joint Onondaga-Oswego Counties Youth Pheasant Hunt. As founder of the Crossbow Coalition, he has spent hundreds of hours and logged countless miles speaking and working to get the crossbow approved as a legal hunting instrument in this state.

Fran Verdoliva with a nice steelhead.Oswego County Tourism Office 

Fran Verdoliva. Verdoliva is the state Department of Environmental Conservation's special assistant to the Salmon River. He works at the DEC's hatchery in Altmar. He has long championed the ethical fishing for salmon and steelhead. He helped lead the efforts to end snagging, and helped publicize methods that could be used to catch salmon legally. His many appearances on behalf of the Salmon River fishery and the Salmon River Days with its open house at the hatchery and related conservation demonstrations have helped create awareness and respect for the fishery and its resources.

Paul Miller, right, checks a map to show volunteers from the Fish Creek Atlantic Salmon Club where they'll be stocking Atlantic Salmon in the creek.Dave Lassman |[email protected] 

Paul Miller. Miller, of Sylvan Beach, has been involved in many sportsmen's causes including Trout in the Classroom. His main efforts and success involve the Fish Creek Atlantic Salmon Club. As an officer, leader, and active volunteer he has helped raise moneyd and recruited volunteers for the club, which now raises Atlantic salmon and stocks them in Fish Creek and its tributaries.

George Franke. Franke, of Norwich in Chenango County, has been active in many organizations including the N.Y.S. Conservation Council, Safari Club International, Chenango County Federation of Sportsmen, and Crossbow Coalition. A major focus of Franke has been getting youth into the outdoors. He has helped organize numerous fund-raising efforts to help send youngsters to leadership or conservation camps.

The New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame is an organization dedicated to honoring sportsmen who have made significant achievements in outdoors-related fields, and for their long-time service in preserving this state's outdoor heritage and helping others experience it. The Hall is also involved in programs such as kids fishing clinics, youth hunts, seminars, and similar activities.

For more information or to make a reservation for the April 26 banquet, call (315) 363-3896 or (315) 829-3588. RSVP by April 19.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog