Wisconsin DNR’s Lawhern Inducted Into International Hunter Education Association Hall of Fame
OutdoorHub 05.07.13
Tim Lawhern, who since 2011 has served as administrator of the Department of Natural Resources Division of Enforcement and Science, was inducted into the International Hunter Education Association Professional Hall of Fame at an awards ceremony last month.
“He (Lawhern) believes in the mission of the IHEA and has served hunting, hunters, volunteer instructors, the IHEA and the future of hunting with great passion and leadership,” Dr. Charles Bruckerhoff of Connecticut wrote in his Hall of Fame nomination, noting volunteer hunter education instructors and association leaders already have noted Lawhern’s service and leadership. “I know of no other person that is active in the IHEA today that has done so much to help promote its mission and that has served in so many capacities in that effort.”
Lawhern, also the only person in the history of the association to serve twice as its president, called the induction a true honor. “I’m just an average man blessed with more opportunities than most and living an extraordinary life.” Lawhern said.
A Wisconsin transplant from his native Tennessee, Lawhern grew up hunting. “I don’t like to hunt. I love to hunt.
“It is one of life’s most valuable disciplines – and it takes some patience! I believe I am better at everything I do because I have learned about myself through becoming a safe, knowledgeable and responsible hunter.”
Lawhern earned his degree in education from Tennessee Tech University and then studied Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He joined the Wisconsin DNR about 24 years ago as a conservation warden, and spent 17 of those years as the administrator of the Hunter Education Program managing more than 5,600 volunteer instructors.
“Hunting in Wisconsin has continued to get safer and safer in recent decades. And with the outstanding work of our volunteer hunter education instructors, I was able to build upon our program in an application that can be replicated across this country and into other countries,” Lawhern said, adding Wisconsin has the largest corps of volunteer instructors nationwide.
