Page 10 - Outdoor Oklahoma July/Aug 2021

KENNY LAWSON SELECTED ’21 GAME WARDEN OF YEAR

Game Warden Kenny Lawson was selected
as the 2021 Oklahoma Game Warden of the
Year. Lawson has served all of his 32-year career
with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation’s Law Enforcement Division in
McCurtain County.
Lawson is the epitome of a game warden
and dedicated officer, said Lt. Col. Wade Far-
rar, Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement for
ODWC. He has dedicated his career to appre-
hending illegal fish shockers, netters, road
hunters, and seemingly countless spotlighters.
He takes pride in the fact that he continues to
protect the wildlife and natural resources for
the younger generations.
The veteran Game Warden was the 2020
National Wild Turkey Federation Game War-
den of the Year and has been recognized many
times from various organizations for his dedica-
tion to protecting natural resources.
“Kenny has proudly served the hunters, fish-
ers, and wildlife resources of Oklahoma as a
Game Warden for 32 years,” Farrar said. “In
those years, he has acquired a vast knowledge
of patrol and arrest procedures. He has been
instrumental in making countless first hunting
or fishing trips a success.
“Kenny’s skills involving public outreach
are excellent, conducting wildlife-related pro-
grams with the intention of recruiting our next
generation of sportsmen. Kenny has shown
throughout his career the positive outcomes
of wildlife law enforcement and what can truly Game Warden Kenny Lawson
be accomplished by one officer with both hard
work and dedication.” deer, working cases, and the humorous occurrences that he
Lawson has numerous stories to tell of the many long nights has encountered on the backroads of southeastern Oklahoma.
and early mornings spent catching poachers with a decoy Anyone who gets an opportunity to visit with Lawson will
better understand why he was selected by his peers as the 2021
Oklahoma Game Warden of the Year.
Game Warden Stephen Paul,
based in Noble County, was select-
ed 2021 runner-up. He exemplifies
the knowledge, dedication, profes-
sionalism, and positive attitude,
making him very deserving of the
runner-up honor.
Other Game Wardens nominated
for 2021 Game Warden of the Year
by their Law District colleagues
were Austin Jackson (Craig Coun-
ty), Allen Couch (Haskell County),
Brad Magby (Creek County), Emily Game Warden Stephen Paul
Long (Payne County), Michael Zimmerman (Grady County),
and Tucker Blackburn (Roger Mills County).

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