As the first Elk Foundation chairman of the board and a dedicated conservationist, Wallace Fennell Pate exemplified the volunteer spirit that pervades the Elk Foundation. Perpetuating that spirit is what the Wallace Fennell Pate Wildlife Conservation Award is all about.

At this year’s 10th Anniversary Elk Camp and Exposition, the Elk Foundation awarded the first Wallace Fennell Pate award to all Elk Foundation volunteers. Bob Button, a long-time Foundation member and volunteer from Flagstaff, Arizona, accepted the award for his fellow volunteers.

“I’m deeply honored to be here on behalf of all the volunteers,” Button said. “The bad news is that they’re not all here. The good news is that they’re out there getting the donations and organizing banquets.”