ACTWS History

The Alabama Chapter of The Wildlife Society was founded on September 8, 1978, at its first annual meeting, with 75 charter members drawn from wildlife and natural resource agencies, universities, and conservation organizations across the state. Jim Davis served as the chapter’s first president.

ACTWS exists to serve Alabama’s wildlife profession. As stated in the chapter’s bylaws, our objectives are to establish and maintain the highest professional standards; to encourage management of wildlife species along sound biological principles; to establish and maintain good communication and cooperation among the individuals, groups, and agencies working on wildlife issues in Alabama; and to promote public awareness of the value of wildlife species and their habitats.

In the decades since, ACTWS has continued that work: holding an annual meeting that brings together professionals from state and federal agencies, universities, and the private sector; supporting student leadership through its awards; recognizing outstanding wildlife professionals through the Biologist of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards; and keeping Alabama’s wildlife community connected through a chapter website and the volunteer efforts of its elected leadership, year after year.

Chapter Presidents, 1978–present

1978–1979 — Jim Davis
1980 — Dan Gardner †
1981 — Mickey Easley
1982 — Robert Waters
1983 — Larry Hedrick †
1984 — Doug Williams
1985–1986 — Ralph Mirarchi
1987–1988 — Keith Guyse
1989–1990 — Rhett Johnson
1991–1992 — George Horton
1993–1994 — Lee Stribling
1995–1996 — Frank Boyd
1997–1998 — Tommy Counts
1999–2000 — Jim Armstrong
2001–2002 — Keith Causey
2003–2004 — Gary Moody
2005–2006 — Dagmar Thurmond
2007–2008 — Mark Bailey
2009–2010 — Claude Jenkins
2011 — Mark Smith
2012–2013 — Elizabeth Johnson
2014–2015 — Wes Stone
2016–2017 — Amy Silvano
2018–2019 — Barry Grand
2020 — Ray Metzler
2021 — Ray Metzler
2022–2023 — Allison Cochran
2024–2025 — Mercedes Maddox
2026 — Mark Bailey

† Chapter records disagree on who held this office. If you can help confirm it, email us.