If you’re well connected in the outdoors world and have been around playing this game for a number of years…you know who Bill Stevens of Federal Cartridge fame was.
On the other hand, if you’re into the outdoors and a relative new-comer unfamiliar with the so-called movers and shakers of the conservation world…well, then, perhaps you never knew Bill Stevens. Still, you were likely aware of his work even without putting a face or a name to those efforts.
Bill Stevens passed away yesterday after a year-long battle with cancer that prematurely stole his life. As the Conservation Program Manager for Federal Cartridge for more than 40 years up until retiring a few years back, Bill’s career established him as one of conservation’s preeminant supporters.
I first got to know Bill back in the late 80s through his work with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. As often was the case, when a conservation group needed some stimulus in terms of money or project publicity, Bill, representing Federal Cartridge, would be there to help out.
In fact, whether it was Ducks Unlimited, The National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation or a host of other conservation groups…Bill Stevens was always that “favorite Uncle,” so to speak, who would lend a helping hand.
Truth be known, Bill Stevens worked among a small group of other outdoors individuals in a corporate liaison capacity to forge critical partnerships with the conservation world. Bill was the point man for how many of us connected with the corporate side of things…and he did his job exceedingly well.
I once asked Bill just how much traveling he did and the subsequent response shocked me. Out of 52 weeks in a year…Bill told me he was away from home at least 45 of them. Nights, weekends…it didn’t matter. At any given moment in time you could have found Bill working a booth on some convention floor not only explaining Federal’s ammunition product line-up, but also promoting the conservation cause in general.
Indeed, what I will remember most about Bill Stevens was his tireless promotion of the conservation cause. He may have worked for one of the largest corporations in the outdoors industry, but his heart and passion for all things conservation drove his generous spirit.
Back in the early 90s Bill asked if I would edit and rewrite Federal’s waterfowl identification booklet. To be honest, I was honored to have that opportunity and did not want to disappoint Bill with the trust he had shown in me.
Weeks later after taking on the project, I found myself in Houston at the SHOT Show having a late night meal with a bunch of the guys. Bill happened to be one of those guys.
Now, I had never fancied myself as an adventurous eater and suddenly I found myself immersed in a world filled with exotic foods my Norwegian heritage palate had never before experienced. That was about to change thanks to the gentle persuasion of Bill Stevens.
Bill had ordered up an appetizer platter of foods one doesn’t often find north of the Mason Dixon Line. Try as a I might to graciously decline on the offerings, Bill proclaimed to me…”Braaten, if you don’t try this alligator I will refuse to sign Federal’s check owed to you on that waterfowl booklet.”
Wow…he had me over a barrel. It was bad enough I didn’t want to appear as a gastronomic wimp, but now my pocketbook was being taunted by the man who held the purse-strings to my recent writing project.
That’s what I sorely miss about Bill Stevens. In so many ways he was an unassuming man, yet he had a persuasive way about him that effectively got the job done. He was a gentle giant…still his caring nature for most things outdoors kept things in proper perspective.
In a world filled with inflated egos and self-promoting outdoors personalities tooting their own horns, Bill accomplished more for conservation than most of these folks combined. He didn’t just talk a good game, his actions were always filled with results that people could observe.
And while a new generation of hunting and conservation enthusiasts may never fully appreciate how Bill committed a lifetime to the conservation cause…there is no doubt in my mind that when the history of conservation is someday written Bill Stevens’ name will become legendary. Indeed, his contributions to the cause deserve such a lofty recognition.
Funeral arrangements are still pending and will be announced on Bill’s CaringBridge website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/billstevens
©2011 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.
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