Featured photo by Glynn Harris
During my more than half a century of writing, broadcasting and being involved in events involving the outdoors, there is one in which I was involved that stands at the forefront of my memory, the Sportsman’s Jamboree.
I remember meeting with a group of Ruston folks who got together to discuss a problem and to see if we could do something about it. We discussed the fact that we needed to do more to respect the landowners who allowed us to hunt on their land as well as to do a better job of behavior as outdoorsmen and women. We decided to hold a public meeting to discuss theseand other things related to the outdoors. Thus, in October, 1980, our first event was held under the heading “Respect the Landowner.” Our state representative at the time, William Sumlin, was successful in having that logo added to special auto license plates that year.
That first get-together was the genesis of what would become the Sportsman’s Jamboree, an annual event that was held each fall for the next 34 years with the final Jamboree held in 2014. Our group outgrew the Ruston Civic Center to the point we moved the event, which grew in numbers each year to the Thomas Assembly Center at LA Tech.
Throughout the tenure, there were several who kept it going and planned for the event each fall. Once Willamette Industrieswhich later transitioned to Weyerhaeuser Co. came on board as our main sponsor, Willamette’s wildlife biologist, Luke Lewis was a ring leader in promoting and planning each event. I was fortunate not only to be involved in the promotion and planning as were many others but I was also master of ceremonies at each event.
Some of the highlights during the 34 years the Sportsman’s Jamboree was alive included our giving scholarships to two students every year and allowing local vendors to show what they had to offer as displays were set up around the perimeter of the Assembly Center. Scores of businesses contributed materials for door prizes.
We were fortunate to attract an array of speakers, many of which were known nationwide. These included whitetail deer expert Dr. James Kroll, who was guest speaker at least three times over the years. Well-known turkey call manufacturers such as Preston Pittman, Ray Eye, Ben Rodgers Lee, David Hale and Harold Knight along with outdoor writers/photographers such as Grits Gresham, Bob Dennie, Paul Brown and Tes and Ron Jolly came to entertain and educate the crowds that came each year.
One of the most memorable and sobering events we had was on September 11, 2001, the day terrorists flew planes into the trade centers and Pentagon. Our guest speaker scheduled for that night was stranded and unable to fly in. We met anyhow and spent our time in prayer for our nation and playing a song that we used as an intro for every meeting that followed, LeeGreenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
It has now been over 10 years since the last Sportsman’s Jamboree was held and even today, I hear comments from folks who lament on how special these events were and how itsdemise has left a void. We decided after the final event in 2014 to have to call a halt to future events for several reasons. Our bank account was drying up, we were not receiving funds necessary to keep it going and vendors felt they needed to put their focus elsewhere.
Even so, for as long as I live I will be proud to have been a part of something so special for our outdoorsmen and women. Long live the memory of the Sportsman’s Jamboree.