LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -From books about hunting wild turkeys to fly fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains to telling the life stories of outdoor legends Archibald Rutledge, Robert Ruark and many others, Jim Casada has been sharing outdoor tips, tactics and tales for much of his professional career.
During the annual Southeastern Annual Press Association (SEOPA) conference, Oct. 3 to Oct. 6, in Little Rock, Ark., Casada was presented with the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Communicator of the Year Award.
“Jim has been a friend to the NWTF and to the outdoor community for many years and through his articles has shared a lifetime of outdoor adventures,” said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO. “He has helped us put a white hat on hunters and has grabbed our attention over and over to keep us excited about the outdoors. He is very deserving of this prestigious award.”
Each year, the NWTF recognizes a communicator who answers the call to promote wild turkey hunting and embraces the preservation of North America’s hunting heritage, both important to the Federation’s mission.
Casada, a communicator from Rock Hill, S.C., is probably one of the best-known outdoor writers, having written for nearly every major outdoor magazine and been involved with numerous books related to the outdoors.
Growing up in Bryson City, N.C., Casada made his way fishing the rivers and hunting the hills of the Smokies. He has dedicated his life to hunting, the enjoyment of the outdoors and sharing stories of his experiences.
Casada began his career as a history professor at Winthrop University in Rock Hill. While at Winthrop, he was recognized as the 1983 Distinguished Professor.
Through the years, Casada has received other numerous awards:
- Southeastern Outdoor Press Association’s Tom Rollins Award
- Outdoor Writer’s Association of America’s J. Hammond Brown Memorial Award
- Recognized by the S.C. Wildlife Federation as the state’s outstanding conservation communicator
- Winner of more than 125 state, regional and national awards for writing and photography
It’s not uncommon to see Casada’s name under article titles in many of the NWTF’s magazines, such as Turkey Call or Get in the Game, as well as other turkey hunting publications. As an avid turkey hunter, he has seen and killed many turkeys. To remember each hunt, he writes a short story on a piece of paper and sticks it in each spent shell.
Thirty years ago, when wild turkey populations were just beginning to rebound, you would have had a hard time finding an article about turkey hunting. Thanks to communicators like Casada, today, you don’t have to look very hard to find articles, magazines, books and television shows devoted specifically to the sport. Hunters by the millions have taken to the fields and forests to pursue North America’s grandest game bird.
Past NWTF Communicator of the Year Award recipients include; Tom Fegely (2002), Ron Schara (2003), J. Wayne Fears (2004), Grits Gresham (2005) and Jim Zumbo (2006).
To learn more about Jim Casada and his accomplishments, visit www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com .
