Wildlife Management Area memorializes Dick Yancey

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries formally honored Richard K. Yancey on Friday, Nov. 8 with the unveiling of the new headquarters sign at the Concordia Parish wildlife management area that now bears his name.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a resolution in May to rename the Red River-Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area in honor of Yancey, a distinguished conservationist and LDWF administrator for many years.

"All who enjoy state wildlife management areas should be thankful for the service provided to this agency during his tenure,” said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham as he addressed present and former department employees and members of the Yancey family. “He saw the need for preserving land as habitat for our native fish and wildlife species and public outdoor recreation access, as well.”

Yancey, who passed away in March at age 88, was a former assistant secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) whose career at the department spanned 31 years between 1948 and 1979.

Yancey began as a field biologist and progressed to project leader, becoming the LDWF’s first Waterfowl Study Leader. He was promoted to chief of the Fur and Refuge Division, assistant director of Wildlife and then assistant secretary of the Office of Wildlife.

Over the length of his career, which included service as executive director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Conservation, Yancey served on the Executive Committee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (State, Provencial and Federal Agencies of Canada, the US and Mexico), as chairman of International Treaties Committee and Migratory Wildlife Committee, as chairman of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions and president of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

He also served as chairman of the Mississippi Flyway Council Regulations Committee and Technical Committee and Flyway Council, and was co-chairman of the Tensas Conservancy Coalition, instrumental in the establishment of the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge and Big Lake Wildlife Management Area, to be preserved in perpetuity.

Yancey was also the recipient of many international, national and state awards including National Wildlife Federation’s 1980 Wildlife Conservationist of the Year in the U.S. for outstanding contributions to the wise use and management of the Nation's natural resources, the Ducks Unlimited Outstanding Service Award in 1970, the La. Outdoor Writers Conservationist of the Year in 1969, the LSU Forestry Alumni of the Year Award in 1969, and the 1963 Governor's Award for Outstanding Professional in Louisiana presented by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. Visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF