The Bass Pro Shops MBNA Atlanta 500 NASCAR race on Sunday, October 31, was dedicated to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Steve Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the federal agency responsible for managing the wildlife refuges, presented a massive commemorative trophy to race winner Jimmie Johnson.
"The National Wildlife Refuge System is one of our country's greatest conservation successes, offering premier outdoor recreation opportunities to all Americans. With the presentation of this trophy, Bass Pro Shops and MBNA are helping us share wildlife refuges with racing fans," said Williams.
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris commissioned the eight feet tall trophy as a tribute to the creator of the National Wildlife Refuge System, President Theodore Roosevelt. President Roosevelt established the first wildlife refuge, a tiny three-acre on the east coast of Florida, more than 100 years ago to conserve the nation's natural resources. Today, there is a wildlife refuge in every state and many territories, often within a one hour drive of major cities. Wildlife refuges offer quality recreation opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts including photography, fishing, wildlife watching, and hunting.
According to Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, "Dedicating this race to the Refuge System honors the commitment of sportsmen and women to conservation."
The trophy was created by Idaho wildlife artist Mike Curtis. The trophy features two dramatic bronze bald eagles, each with a 42" wingspan, tussling over a wild trout. The bronze eagles perch atop a walnut base inlaid with U.S. Mint bronze medallions commemorating the National Wildlife Refuge System and a plaque of President Roosevelt.
Bass Pro Shops is a popular outdoor retailer known for not only their commitment to the outdoors but also for its award-winning, mega-size outdoor stores that combine retail with entertainment, conservation, and outdoor education. Their current 21 destination retail stores across America attract almost 60 million visitors a year.Bass Pro Shops, also a major internet and catalog retailer, is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
