Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame Founder - Garry Mason Announces Bill Cooper is in to the 2024 Induction Lineup May 8, 2024 – SPRINGVILLE, TN – Founder of the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame, Garry Mason, has announced that Bill Cooper will be inducted at this year’s Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Ceremony. Bill Cooper, is definitely a well-deserving recipient. He has a 54-year outdoor communications career with credits in numerous forms of media, has authored the Outdoor Celebrities Cookbook, (He is known as the Gravel Bar Gourmet), editor of the Fly Rod Journals, owner of Outside Again Adventures and host of Living the Dream Outdoors Podcast found on Stitcher, Spotify, Audioboom, Apple, PodcastAddict and many other social media platforms. He is also co-host of Cowtown USA Outdoors Radio. He has served for 15 years in the Yucatan of Mexico, three years as a tourism consultant to the Campeche State Tourism Commission, and 12 years as a conservation consultant to TanKab Outfitters. Cooper has acted as a facilitator and presenter of outdoor programs and seminars for schools, churches, scouts, Department of Natural Resources, Conservation Federation, James Foundation, Land Learning Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation - Becoming an Outdoors Woman, Bass Pro’s Wonders of Wildlife, St. Louis County Parks and Recreation, Sports Shows and more for over 50 years. He’s a regular speaker at wild game dinners. Cooper is also a life member of the Missouri Outdoor Communicators and the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers. He joined the ranks of Ernst Hemingway and Teddy Roosevelt when he was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2018 as a Legendary Outdoor Communicator.The Conservation Federation of Missouri recognized him as the Conservation Educator of the Year in 2000 and the Conservation Communicator of the Year in 2008. The Missouri House of Representatives made a proclamation in 2016 recognizing Cooper for 45 years of outstanding outdoors communications efforts promoting hunting, fishing, outdoor education and tourism in Missouri. He was recently nominated for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame as an outdoor communicator. The following are also in the 2024 Legends of the Outdoors Induction Class: Murry Crowe, creator of the MOJO Mallard and the direct drive device for the spinning wing duck decoy; Bobby Hart, Award winning long range marksman and hunting specialist and, world-renowned gunsmith and gun builder; Bill Jordan, Realtree designer and President; Mike Pentecost, Founder and Owner of WoodHaven Custom Game Calls; Will Primos, Founder of Primos Humting Calls; Kent Driscoll, Pro Staff Manager for BnM Pole Company, pro staff for Driftmaster, Crappie Magnet and Silent Stalker, and former tournament fisherman; and Bill Carson, Field Marketing Manager in the Fishing Group at Johnson Outdoors (Humminbird, Minn Kota, Cannon, and LakeMaster). We are thrilled to be returning to Springfield, MO and again holding the event at the John A. & Genny Morris Conservation Center. Come join us Saturday, August 17th. Doors will open at 9am and the event will start at 10:30. There will be a luncheon and entertainment included. More information concerning additional award recipients will be released as it becomes confirmed. The event is open to the public. Sponsorship information and individual ticket reservations may be obtained by calling 731-593-0171 or 731-693-7770. Reservations must be made and purchased before July 31, 2024.