DATE:       3/21/01
CONTACT:    Dr. Webb Smathers, (864) 656-6764
WRITER:     Giles Singleton, (864) 656-3876; gsngltn@clemson.edu

Clemson University professor 
wins national 4-H award

     CLEMSON - A Clemson University professor has won a national 
award for his work in 4-H. 
     Webb Smathers, an associate professor in the Department of
Agricultural and Applied Economics, received the award in Washington,
D.C. March 18 at the 66th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources
Conference. This conference was for all state fish and game
departments, agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. 
Forest Service. 
     "The 4-H Wildlife and Fisheries Program Volunteer Leaders 
National Recognition Award is given to six people a year from all 
over the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii and the territories," said 
Jim Terry, spokesperson for Cooperative States Research, Education 
and Extension Service (CSREES) and program analyst at the national 
4-H center in Washington. 
     Terry said these volunteer leaders from the 2000 National 
4-H Wildlife and Fisheries Program have given great service to 
4-H natural resources programs and to 4-H'ers in their home states.
     "We are delighted that Dr. Smathers has been recognized 
nationally for his volunteer leadership in developing 4-H programs
related to natural resources," said Dan Smith, director of the 
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service.
     The 2000 4-H Wildlife and Fisheries Program Volunteer Leaders
National Recognition Award is sponsored by CSREES and the U. S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service.
     "This is the 21st year we have had this recognition program,"
Terry said.
     "It is my hope that through 4-H, I can continue to help 
others enjoy the outdoors and teach another generation the importance
of natural resources, conservation and management," Smathers said. 
"I am honored to receive this award."
     Smathers has worked to make 4-H a key player among the natural
resource programs for youths in South Carolina. To promote gun 
safety, he relates his personal experience of being shot while 
hunting. He has also worked to get 4-H youth developmental 
curriculum incorporated into several statewide natural resource
programs.
     Currently, Smathers is a member of the S. C. Department of 
Natural Resources Land, Water and Conservation advisory board and
co-chair of the National 4-H Shooting Sports committee. He is 
chairman of The Wildlife Economics working group of The Wildlife
Society, an international organization.
     As an ex-officio member of the National 4-H Shooting Sports
Foundation, he has solicited funds that he expects will be more 
than $2.5 million. Other boards on which he has served include 
the Southern Natural Resource Economics research group, the 
Wildlife and Fisheries committee of the S.C. Wildlife Federation 
and the S.C. Sportsmen's Coalition.
                              END