| 2011-12 Commissioners |
George Dunklin Jr.
DeWitt, Arkansas
Chairman (2005-2012)
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Gov. Mike Huckabee named George Dunklin Jr., an Arkansas County farmer, to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Dunklin replaced Forrest L. Wood of Flippin.
Dunklin is a 1980 graduate of the University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in business. He has been a member of the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board and manages several family-owned companies.
"George is one of the finest conservationists I know," Huckabee said. "His goal is to leave his land in better shape than he found it. He has spent a large amount of money planting thousands of hardwood trees in Arkansas County in an effort to restore the bottomland hardwoods of east Arkansas. There's a sense of responsibility there to give something back. He's making sure he leaves behind a positive legacy for his children and his grandchildren. George will bring that same sense of responsibility to the AGFC. He loves this state and its people. And he cherishes the natural resources God has provided for Arkansans. I cannot think of anyone who will do a better job of protecting those resources."
Dunklin's term expires July 1, 2012.
620 E. 22nd, Suite 206, Stuttgart, AR 72160
870-673-1110 | gdunklin@agfc.state.ar.us
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Ronald Pierce
Mountain Home, Arkansas
Vice Chairman (2006-2013)
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Gov. Mike Huckabee appointed Ron Pierce to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Pierce replaced Mike Freeze of England.
Pierce is CEO/owner of Challenger, Inc. Bass Cat Boats in Mountain Home. Previously, he was employed with Baxter/Travenol Laboratories as Plastics Superintendent in Mountain Home.
"I've known the Pierce family for many years pre-dating my time as Governor, and Ron's love of the outdoors, his knowledge of protecting and preserving our resources, and his strong business acumen will be a great asset to the Game and Fish Commission," Gov. Huckabee said.
Pierce has been involved in fishing, boating and water conservation for many years. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Bass Research Foundation. Pierce served as Mayor of Mountain Home from 1976 through 1986.
Pierce's term expires July 1, 2013.
1453 CR11, Mountain Home, AR 72653
870-481-5135 | rpierce@agfc.state.ar.us
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Rick Watkins
Little Rock, Arkansas
(2007-2014)
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Governor Mike Beebe named Rick Watkins of Little Rock to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
“Rick has long been a champion for educating our youth about the outdoor opportunities that Arkansas provides us all,” Beebe said. “He understands and values education as a vital component of the services that Game and Fish provides Arkansans of all ages.”
Watkins has spent the past five years as a board member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, which supports conservation- and outdoors-education efforts throughout the state. He also has spent most of his life actively involved in the Boy Scouts of America, as both an Eagle Scout in his youth and as an adult volunteer. Watkins received national recognition as a recipient of the Silver Antelope Award, which is presented for outstanding volunteer service to the Scouts.
Born and raised in Little Rock, Watkins graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a degree in Business Administration. He is the owner and president of the Watkins Company, a regional printing and advertising-distribution company. He also serves on the board of Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Watkins' term expires July 1, 2014.
P.O. Box 32050, Little Rock, AR 72260
501-217-7503 | RTWatkins@agfc.state.ar.us
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Ron Duncan
Springdale, Arkansas
(2008-2015)
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Governor Mike Beebe named Ron Duncan of Springdale to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Duncan started a fishing club in 1982 at Springdale Central Junior High School, where he was a civics teacher. Based on the simple idea of introducing kids to fishing, the club inspired a national initiative known as the “Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs” program. That program has produced thousands of similar clubs nationwide. HOFNOD, as the program is known, also is administered by AGFC.
Inducted into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame in 2004, Duncan has twice been honored as the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society Man of the Year and was the National Wildlife Federation Educator of the Year in 1999. Through the fishing clubs he’s championed, Duncan has worked closely with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s education and fisheries divisions.
A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Duncan joined the Springdale School District in 1974.
Duncan’s term expires July 1, 2015.
2001 Stout Drive, Springdale, AR 72762
479-466-1825 | rduncan@agfc.state.ar.us
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Emon Mahony
El Dorado, Arkansas
(2009-2016)
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Governor Mike Beebe named Emon Mahony of El Dorado to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
"Emon is a true conservationist, the result of being a lifetime outdoor sportsman," Beebe said. "He understands both the environmental protection and economic opportunities that good stewardship can foster."
Mahony has been a trustee for the Arkansas Nature Conservancy since 2007. Governor Pryor previously appointed him to the Arkansas Soil and Water Commission in 1978, where he served for seven years, including one as chairman.
Mahony was one of the advocates who helped establish the 1/8-Cent Conservation Sales Tax for the AGFC and still works to create conservation easements to protect local ecosystems.
Since 1996, Mahony has been president of an oil and gas business in Union County. He spent the 20 years before that with the Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation, serving most of that time as the company's president. He also worked for U.S. Senator John McClellan and as a private attorney.
Mahony’s term will expire June 30, 2016.
106 W. Main, Suite 406, El Dorado, AR 71730
870-862-6464 | emahony@agfc.state.ar.us
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Fred Brown
Corning, Arkansas
(2010-2017)
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Gov. Mike Beebe appointed Fred Brown of Corning to Commission on July 1, 2010.
"Freddie has always been a level-headed man who understands the interests of the everyday sportsman," Beebe said. "He has lengthy experience as both a fisherman and a conservationist, and will honorably serve northeast Arkansas on the Commission."
Brown, 63, is the first Clay County resident ever appointed to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. He is the first northeast Arkansas member of the Commission since 1991. Raised in Corning, Brown is a graduate of Arkansas State University and has farmed in Clay County for 40 years. He served six years with the Arkansas National Guard in the 875th Engineering Battalion.
A member of the Clay County Soil and Water Board, Brown also worked with a conservation group to prevent digging that would have disturbed fishing and hunting around the Little Black River.
Brown, whose term will expire June 30, 2017, replaces Brett Morgan of Little Rock.
1009 W 5th St., Corning, AR 72422
870-276-5517 | fbrown@agfc.state.ar.us
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Steve Cook
Malvern, Arkansas
(2011-2018)
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Governor Mike Beebe appointed Steve Cook of Malvern to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission July 29, 2011.
“Steve was imbued with a philosophy of conservation as a young man, and has never wavered from his dedication to that cause,” Governor Beebe said. “I am confident that the will work to protect fish and wildlife and their habitats for both current and future generations.”
Cook, 49, was born and raised in Hot Spring County, and grew up learning to hunt and fish along the Ouachita River. He has been involved with Ducks Unlimited for more than 30 years, serving previously as the Arkansas state chairman. Currently, he is a regional vice-president for the national organization. Cook is a member of the Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, and other conservation causes.
In addition, Cook has served on the executive committee of the Arkansas State Police Foundation and as a longtime commander of the Hot Spring County Sheriff’s Office’s Reserve Deputies.
Cook, whose term will expire July 1, 2018, replaced Craig Campbell of Little Rock.
19638 Hwy. 51, Malvern, AR 72104
501-626-5975 | scook@agfc.state.ar.us
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Dr. Frederick W. Spiegel
Fayetteville, Arkansas
(Ex-Officio)
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Dr. Frederick W. Spiegel became a Commissioner (ex officio) in July 2008. He replaced Dr. Kimberly Smith, who had served on the Commission for four years. Dr. Spiegel is Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
University of Arkansas, Science and Engineering Building, Room 603
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-575-4248 | fspiegel@agfc.state.ar.us
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