Wallace Fennell Pate, the Elk Foundation’s first president and chairman of the board, dedicated his time, energy and financial resources to the betterment of wildlife in North America. Because of his lifetime commitment, Pate has become a national role model for what groups or individuals can do to conserve natural resources. Few hunters or fishers have influenced more deeply such a wide array of wildlife concerns or more enthusiastically supported conservation efforts.
The Wallace Fennell Pate Wildlife Conservation Award is presented to those who, in the estimation of the Elk Foundation’s Board of Directors, have made a contribution of lasting significance to the benefit of elk, other wildlife and their habitat across North America.
The award targets nominees who have made contributions of their time, talents or financial resources above and beyond their professional responsibility.* This award is given to those that support the Elk Foundation specifically.
*Outstanding wildlife or natural resources management professionals may be nominated for the Elk Foundation’s Olaus J. Murie Award.