Former President George H.W. Bush honored for his commitment to conservation
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine 
[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ast week, conservation leaders from around the country gathered in Kennebunkport, Maine to honor former president George H. W. Bush for his commitment to conservation.
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris led the delegation and presented Bush with the Bass Pro Shops Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award. “President Bush is a remarkable man who has had an immeasurably profound and positive impact on our nation’s fish and wildlife resources,” Morris said. “He is a longtime and passionate fisherman and sportsman and that well-known love of fishing has made him one of the best ambassadors the sport of fishing has ever had. Most people don’t realize all that President Bush has done for conservation. During his presidency, he established 56 new wildlife refuges, more than even President Theodore Roosevelt who established 50 refuges. . . All of us at Bass Pro Shops are proud to pay tribute to him for everything he has done to uphold our hunting and fishing traditions as well as for his work on behalf of restoring and enhancing wildlife and fisheries habitat.”
During the celebration, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust president Matt Connolly presented a framed Monroe County Resolution and letter of support from Florida Governor Rick Scott to rename Islamorada’s “Little Basin” Flat to “Two George Flat.” BTT advocated renaming of the flat in honor of President Bush and his long time friend, fishing buddy, and legendary Florida Keys fishing guide, the late George Hommell, Jr. Hommell, who was a founding member of Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, was remembered last April with a sunset celebration at World Wide Sportsman where $205k was raised for the BTT George Hommell Florida Keys Habitat Fund. The two men shared a love of flats fishing and they were both deeply passionate about the conservation of the Florida Keys fisheries.
Mr. Connolly commented, “It was my great honor, on behalf of BTT, to present President George HW Bush with copies of the official actions of Monroe County and the state of Florida to re-name Little Basin Flat to “Two George Flat.” It stands as a living tribute to the late George Hommell and his long time fishing partner President George HW Bush as it was their favorite fishing hole. Their partnership is emblematic of BTT’s long tradition of working together with like minded partners and it is BTT’s goal to return the flats of the Keys to the bountiful vigor that first greeted these two American icons; one a committed citizen conservationist and the other a visionary conservationist president.”
In addition to receiving honors from Bass Pro Shops and BTT, former President Bush was also recognized by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the American Sportfishing Association and Ducks Unlimited.
About Bonefish and Tarpon Trust
BTT is a fisheries conservation organization dedicated to enhancing global bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries and habitats through stewardship, research, education and advocacy. If you would like to learn more about Bonefish and Tarpon Trust’s efforts in the Keys, please contact Dan Dow at 845.239.6051 or dan@bonefishtarpontrust.org or visit BTT website . . .
NOTE: Become a member of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, help conserve and enhance the global fisheries and habitats of bonefish, tarpon and permit through stewardship, research, education and advocacy. BTT is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)3, and your membership donation is tax-deductible. Click here to view joining or to make a donation . . .
