Park Cities Quail to Honor Country Legend George Strait with T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award
OutdoorHub 08.20.13
Dallas-based nonprofit Park Cities Quail (PCQ) will present legendary entertainer, conservationist and avid sportsman George Strait with its T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award at the annual PCQ Dinner and Auction at the Frontiers of Flight Museum on March 6, 2014.
“We look forward to honoring George Strait, a true national treasure. In addition to his unparalleled career in the music industry, George is a respected third generation rancher, conservationist and humanitarian who generously shares his resources and influence to make this world a better place,” said PCQ Chairman Emeritus T. Boone Pickens. ”George is a lifelong hunter, fisherman and world-class roper. It is clear when you see the remarkable habitat at his ranches, and hear him speak of his love for the land, that he is a sportsman and conservationist with a tremendous knowledge of wildlife. George shares our passion and commitment to see the region’s wild quail population restored to historic levels and creating recreational opportunities for sportsmen.”
The T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award is presented annually to a sportsman distinguished by a life of adventure, who demonstrates love of the outdoors, respect for natural resources and a spirit of generosity that makes it possible for future generations to enjoy the sporting life.
“It’s such an honor for me to be given this award. As a lifelong hunter, I’ve grown to appreciate the fact that we have to take care of our wildlife. The quail population in South Texas, which is where I am from, has been in serious decline for quite a few years now. We have to be concerned about it and make their restoration a priority so that generations to come will continue to have them to enjoy,” said George Strait.
Park Cities Quail was founded in 2006 when a group of Dallas quail hunters concerned about quail decline formed the nonprofit to preserve, restore and maintain upland game, educate youth and improve hunting opportunities for area sportsmen. PCQ’s efforts are centered on this one night of fundraising each March, which features a seated dinner, raffle, silent and live auction and culminates in the presentation of the T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award. Dubbed by sporting industry writers as ‘Conservation’s Greatest Night,’ over the past seven years, the Park Cities Quail Dinner and Auction has resulted in over $3.4 million in direct donations to scientific research and educational efforts.
The announcement that George Strait will be honored by PCQ in 2014 was made at the check presentation party for 2013 beneficiaries, where over $770,000 in grant funds were distributed. Among the wide-ranging quail-related projects funded are studies of the role of pesticides and environmental toxicology, drug resistance, supplemental feeding, management programs for landowners throughout a designated “quail corridor,” national support for bobwhite quail conservation through Ag policy advocacy and programming and several other research studies.
George Strait is currently celebrating his 40th studio album release, Love Is Everything, which features his 60th #1 single, “Give It All We Got Tonight,” and his current single, “I Believe,” which he co-wrote with his son, Bubba Strait. To learn more about George Strait: www.georgestrait.com.
For more information about Park Cities Quail, its efforts, beneficiaries or more information about the PCQ 2014 Dinner and Auction (tickets available on a first-come/first-serve basis): www.parkcitiesquail.org.
