Bill Schwerd, New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator, was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame, on April 25, 2009 at the NYSOHOF Annual Installation Banquet held in Canastota, NY.  Bill was presented this most distinguished award by NYS 4-H Shooting Sports key volunteer Mickey Elliott, who was inducted into the NYSOHOF in 2008.

Bill Schwerd has spent his lifetime promoting natural resource conservation, the shooting sports, sportsmen and hunter safety education and youth involvement.   Bill’s vast accomplishments include: administering the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Program and developing programs that have become a model for the rest of New York State and the nation; developing strong partnerships with the National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International and other national organizations to promote the safe and responsible use of firearms as well as hunting and conservation principles to countless youth; Coordinator of the Sportsman Education Annual Workshop, for 22 years, involving over 200 Department of Environmental Conservation Instructors yearly; longtime involvement with the Saratoga County Council of Fish and Games Clubs, DEC Youth Camps, Becoming and Outdoor Woman Program, youth fishing tournaments and other key conservation programs; active member of the Joint Trapping Initiative; Coordinator of the Saratoga County Conservation Field Days educational experience that involves more than 800 fifth-graders, annually, in Saratoga County; extensive involvement and leadership in invasive species education and management with outreach to diverse clientele such as Jakes Program, Quality Deer Management and Nuisance Wildlife Management; instrumental in the restoration of the Bluebird in Saratoga County, NY; increasing legislative involvement, through education, of the conservation movement through youth and 4-H; serving as Superintendent of the Conservation Department of the Saratoga County Fair, one of the very best Conservation Departments in New York State;  serving as a Director, and past President, of the American Wildlife Conservation Foundation, Inc., one of the first conservation based organizations in New York State as well as the country.

In addition to the above accomplishments, Bill has been the recipient of many awards including: Outstanding Conservationist by the New York Wildlife Society, Conservation Educator of the Year by the New York State Conservation Council, New York State Trappers Association Trapper of the Year and the Highest Recognition Award by the 4-H Shooting Sports Program.

The NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame was established in 1983 to honor individuals for what they give not what they take.   Other 2009 NYSOHOF inductees were: Dennis Aprill, Bernie Davies, Fred Evans, Dick Hazard, Bill Hollister, Keith Kappel, Sharon Pagel, Dan Tone and President Theodore Roosevelt.   Plaques for all recipients are on display at the Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame Museum inside Gander Mountain in Utica, NY.  To date, over 200 exceptional individuals have been recognized statewide. 

For a complete list of NYSOHOF inductees and other information about NYSOHOF please visit their website at: http://nysohof.org/index.htm

Mickey Elliott (l) and Bill Schwerd (r) at the 2009 NYSOHOF Induction Banquet

Bill Schwerd (l) with Greenfield Town Supervisor, Dick Rowland (c), and his wife, Joan Rowland (r), at the Induction Banquet

2009 Hall of Fame Inductees