CONSERVATION CORNER
First Wildlife Refuge Named For An African American
by James L. Cummins

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, Marsha Barbour, First Lady of Mississippi, Sam Hamilton, Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Wildlife Mississippi recently dedicated a new National Wildlife Refuge near Hollandale, Mississippi, to the memory of Holt Collier. The 18,000-acre Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuge is the first ever to be named for an African-American. And it is

to Mississippi's credit.

In 1902, as Holt Collier, an expert marksman and a freed slave from Greenville Mississippi, guided President Theodore Roosevelt through the Mississippi Delta on his famous bear hunt, Collier could not have envisioned that both he and Roosevelt would leave such strong conservation legacies. Collier had captured a black bear that threatened one of his hunting dogs and tied it to a tree. When Roosevelt, a skilled sportsman in his own right, refused to shoot the bear, the incident drew lots of publicity, including two editorial cartoons on the front page of The Washington Post. Morris Michtom saw those cartoons and designed the Teddy Bear. During his presidency, Roosevelt established 52 national wildlife refuges. Collier was an ex-Confederate soldier and a well-known bear hunter and sportsman.

Today, just over a century later, Sen. Cochran (R-MS) and Rep. Thompson (D-MS), who sponsored legislation to establish the refuge, were among those present to honor the legacies of Collier and Roosevelt at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson. Wildlife Mississippi, the Museum, the Theodore Roosevelt Society and the Service sponsored the event. A refuge sign, honoring Collier, was unveiled.

Situated on Holt Collier's historic hunting grounds, the Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuge currently allows rabbit hunting and archery hunting for deer. More recreational activities are planned including wildlife observation facilities, fishing, expanded hunting opportunities, photography and environmental education.

The concept for the Holt Collier was developed by Wildlife Mississippi, a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.

According to Clarke Reed, Chairman of Wildlife Mississippi, "The new refuge will not only restore fish and wildlife habitat, but it will be a strong tourist attraction. President Theodore Roosevelt would be very proud of this new refuge as he had great respect for Holt Collier and maintained a long, personal friendship with him. This is also a tribute to him and his conservation legacy."

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.