George Bird Grinnell—the acknowledged “Father of American Conservation”—was remarkably diverse in lending his time, foresight, and talents to the causes of wildlife protection and management, habitat restoration, and wildlands preservation. He was the consummate sportsman and conservation mentor to Theodore Roosevelt. Through his writings, his “Forest and Stream” magazine, his political activism and, by nature of his low-key, persuasive personality, he helped ensure that conservation emerged as a permanent part of the national agenda.

This year’s Grinnell recipient reflects, in many ways, the nature and dedication of the award’s namesake. Much like Grinnell, this year’s recipient is a long-practiced observer, perhaps at this very conference, settled in the back corner of a room, sitting quietly and listening, taking everything in, missing nothing. But, beneath this placid exterior lies a razor-sharp wit, and a storyteller with an incredible feel for both humor and drama.

This year’s recipient has spent considerable time in the arena and with such time spent, has amassed significant achievements that would too easily identify them if too hastily revealed. The more subtle and nuanced accomplishments of this icon are the real matters of interest.

This year’s recipient is quite possibly the most interesting person you will ever meet, the Dos Equis character notwithstanding. Don’t believe me? Then who do you know, dear listeners, whose life tales could outshine those of our recipient’s, such as helping a poor songwriter named Willie Nelson get his feet on the ground and then performing with him as they toured through the South in Willie’s car with the likes of Richard Childress. Or the time our recipient pioneered sheep surveys in the Himalayas with the Red Army. Or the time he was caught in towering stormwaters among the Aleutians, ended up stranded, and was declared missing.

But aside from these spectaculars, he has accomplished the amazing in conservation. In the early 2000s, he led the effort to purchase the last remaining private parcel of land adjacent to Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch and he has often been credited with coining the ranch’s colloquialism, the “cradle of conservation.”

But to WMI, and I suspect to most of you in this room, what matters most, is that our recipient is a person of incredible character, and whose loyalty to his friends and colleagues is legendary. To his friends, he is treasured as an amazing human being who is always there. To his colleagues, he is revered as one who can be relied upon to bestow keen insights on the needs of conservation and stand firm in fighting for what’s right. As one of his colleague’s described him, “He’s always looking to do something good for America.” True to the credo of TR, which hangs on the wall of his collection of edged-weapons and armor, he believes “Aggressive fighting for the right is the noblest sport the world affords.”

His personal and professional sacrifice and dedication to conservation are unparalleled. I could literally speak on accomplishments, achievements, and accolades for hours.

Among his many other projects, he is assembling a book about the importance of George Bird Grinnell to the conservation movement. An interesting side note about George Bird Grinnell is that his most celebrated achievement of his entire legacy was when he was made, by the Blackfeet themselves, an honorary Blackfeet chief in 1890 after becoming fluent in their language and spending years studying their culture and advocating for their way of life. Although not rising to the magnitude of Grinnell’s honor of being named an honorary chief, I would offer that this year’s recipient, although not a biologist by training, spent years doing the work of and advocating for biologists while studying their culture and is therefore similarly worthy as an honorary biologist. He embodies the prestige and values of the award itself as well as the self-sacrificing nature of the award’s namesake. His tireless dedication, unrivaled accomplishments, and prolific achievement, all capture and reflect the principles that cement the bedrock of our profession. What’s more? It was done pro bono.

To add to his extensive collection of 19th century bronzes in the downstairs of his house, which he refers to as his Crusaders’ Court, the Wildlife Management Institute is pleased and proud to congratulate the recipient of the 2025 George Bird Grinnell Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Natural Resource Conservation, Lowell Baier.