Commissioners
Bobby Martin
Commission Chairman | 2016-2023
Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Bobby L. Martin of Rogers to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on July 7, 2016.
“Bobby Martin is an avid outdoorsman, conservationist, and a strong advocate for youth in the outdoors,” Hutchinson said in a news release. “I admire his passion for waterfowl, deer hunting, and fishing. His deep knowledge and appreciation for the incredible natural resources of our state will make him a valuable asset to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, as they work to preserve Arkansas’s beautiful nature areas and wildlife to ensure that The Natural State remains true to its name for generations to come.”
Martin recently was chairman of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Board, which is the fundraising auxiliary of the AGFC. During his time with the Foundation, he helped develop the concept and plans for its highly successful shooting sports complex in Jacksonville.
“I know it’s tireless work and I look forward to the opportunity to come alongside the current commissioners,” Martin said. “I’ve had a long-standing respect for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. . . . It’s not by accident that we do have the public lands that so many states probably are jealous of us having.
“My pledge that I make to all the people of Arkansas is that I understand the guiding principles of doing the right thing. The right thing for the resource, the right thing for the people of Arkansas, and not ever compromising that.”
Martin is an operating partner of The Stephens Group and was chief executive officer and president of Walmart International, where he led the development of its international business from 1993 to 1999. He began his career at another Arkansas retailer, Dillard’s Department Stores, where he climbed the ladder from third-shift computer operations staff to many positions at the top of the organization’s technology services department.
Martin’s term will expire in 2023. He replaces Emon Mahony, whose term expired in June.
6 West Nottingham Lane, Rogers, AR 72758
479-640-5434 | Bobby.Martin@agfc.ar.gov
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Stan Jones
Commission Vice-Chairman | 2017-2024
Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Stan Jones of Clover Bend to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on July 11, 2017.
Jones is a farmer and avid outdoorsman who was born and raised in Clover Bend, Arkansas, where his family has farmed for five generations. Although rich in farming heritage, Jones has expanded his family’s original 80-acre farm into thousands of acres of rice and soybean fields as well as prime habitat for a variety of wildlife species. His passion for duck hunting led to his second career as a successful guide for more than 30 years, and the culmination of his dream in Stan Jones Mallard Lodge.
“To me, the appointment of a Game and Fish Commissioner is one of the most important appointments a governor can make,” Gov. Hutchinson said. “When I look for a (Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioner), I look for someone who values deep in their heart the hunting culture we have in Arkansas. They respect that culture, they want to preserve that culture and want to pass it along to the next generation. I also look for someone who understands the importance of protecting the habitat we have.”
Hutchinson said he has worked for the last two years, interviewing and getting to know Jones for the possibility of becoming a Commissioner.
“I’ve spent a lot of time around Stan in the last two years in the duck woods and around him,” Hutchinson said. “I’ve seen how he knows the habitat. He appreciates and works to protect it, and that is the essence of a Game and Fish Commissioner.”
Jones commented on the excellent work the AGFC had done in the past and thanked Hutchinson for the honor to serve on the Commission.
“I think the Game and Fish is doing something pretty good, and I’m in awe of what the Game and Fish has done in the past,” Jones said. “By that same token, I want to leave it better than I found it. My commitment to you is to leave this Commission and The Natural State better than I found it.”
Jones is an owner of Banded outdoor sporting apparel, Avery Outdoors and the Stan Jones Mallard Lodge. He is a graduate of Arkansas State University and serves on the Chancellor’s Cabinet. Jones was a member of ASU’s 1970 undefeated, untied National College Division Champion football team, which was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. He serves on the Red Wolves Foundation 500 Club and the Clover Bend Historical Society.
Jones’ term will expire in 2024. He replaces Fred Brown of Corning, whose term expired in June.
1185 Lawrence Rd. 547, Alicia, AR 72410
870-886-3000 | Stan.Jones@agfc.ar.gov
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Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed John David "J.D." Neeley of Camden to serve on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on July 2, 2018.
"J.D. loves the outdoors, he loves to hunt, and through his membership in a dozen boards, associations and his church, he has shown a commitment to serve others," Gov. Hutchinson said. "His experience as a businessman and his knowledge of the land as a forester, an appraiser and a realtor will make him a valuable member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and give him an appreciation of our state’s conservation efforts."
Neeley is president of Neeley Forestry Service and principal broker for United Country Neeley Forestry. He has served as a general appraiser, specializing in timberland, pasture land and recreational properties for 25 years. He also has worked as a licensed broker for the sale of timberland investment and recreational properties for 22 years.
"We are blessed in Arkansas to have such a rich, beautiful combination of landscapes, ecosystems and habitat, and an abundant assortment of wildlife," Neeley said. "I’m deeply honored and humbled to be able to serve the governor and the state to help manage the wildlife and continue to practice conservation."
Neeley, who is 54, and his wife, Beth, have a son and a daughter. His son, Daniel, works at the family’s firm; his daughter, Taylor, is studying pharmacy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Neeley’s term is set to expire July 1, 2025. He replaces Steve Cook, former chair of the AGFC, whose term expired July 1, 2018.
915 Pickett Street, Camden, AR 71701
870-836-5981 O | 870-818-4102 M | J.D.Neeley@agfc.ar.gov
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Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Anne Marie Doramus of Little Rock to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on June 26, 2019. She is the first woman appointed to a full term on the commission in the state’s history.
In addition to being a successful businesswoman, Doramus also is a life-long friend and advocate of the outdoors, Hutchinson says. “She is an avid duck hunter and bass angler, but most importantly, she is committed to the conservation of our natural resources,” Hutchinson added. “This appointment is significant not only because she is the first woman appointed to a full 7-year term, but she also brings a fresh perspective in terms of what it might take to connect a new generation to the Arkansas outdoors.”
"When I hold a news conference, not this many people come to see it," Hutchinson said. "They are here today because of the excitement of this moment."
Hutchinson said Doramus has the three qualities he looks for in a Game and Fish Commission candidate: a deep love for hunting and fishing, a commitment to conservation and a unique perspective.
"You're young, you're a woman, you're a hunter and fisherman," Hutchinson said. "You bring all the things I value to a commission. The Game and Fish Commission faces some challenges today, and I believe your perspective will add to the solutions, and that will be important that you all work through the coming years."
Doramus, is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and is vice president of special projects and sales for Arkansas Bolt Company, a fastener distributor and OEM supplier based in Little Rock. Anne Marie serves on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show and served on the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation. She is a founding member of the Arkansas Outdoor Society, a group for young adults who are passionate about conservation and outdoors in Arkansas and directly support the mission of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation and Commission.
In addition to duck hunting and bass fishing, her other hobbies include fly fishing, mountain biking, golf, tennis, and working with her retriever, Baron. Anne Marie and her husband, Joe, live in Little Rock.
Doramus' term is set to expire June 30, 2026. She replaces Ford Overton of Little Rock, whose term expired June 30, 2019.
2701 West Roosevelt Road, Little Rock, AR 72204
501-912-4355 | AnneMarie.Doramus@agfc.ar.gov
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Rob Finley
AGFC Commissioner | 2020-2027
Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Mountain Home businessman Rob Finley to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on June 26, 2020.
“Rob’s love of the outdoors is in his blood,” Governor Hutchinson said. “His grandfather owned a fishing and bait store on Portia Bay, and by the time he was four, Rob was fishing from his grandfather’s boat launch. Rob and his cousins spent hours with their grandfather learning about fishing and hunting. His love of the outdoors inspired a passion for conservation. He and his wife, Nicki, have been successful in a variety of businesses, including outdoor retreats and lodges. In Rob, I found the perfect mix of attributes that make him a logical pick to serve as a Game and Fish commissioner.”
Mr. Finley was born on Eaker Air Force Base in Mississippi County, graduated from Cotter High School in Baxter County, and followed in his father’s footsteps to join the U.S. Air Force. After his service, he returned to Mountain Home, where he worked in the banking industry and developed a credit-insurance program for financial institutions. They own Route 66 Warranty in Mountain Home and Cranor’s White River Lodge in Cotter.
“The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is a body of seven stewards of the people’s property,” Mr. Finley said. “I take that very seriously, and I will work diligently to protect it. If I could drop the gavel 84 months from now with an increase in hunter/fishing participation and youth involvement numbers on the rise, I would consider my term a success.”
He and Nicki live in Mountain Home and have a daughter and three sons.
Finley's term will expire in 2027. He replaces Ken Reeves of Harrison, whose term expired June 30, 2020.
PO Box 1300, Mountain Home, AR 72654
870-736-6700 | Rob.Finley@agfc.ar.gov
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Philip Tappan
AGFC Commissioner | 2021-2028
Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Little Rock businessman Philip Tappan to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on July 1, 2021.
“Philip Tappan’s business savvy, his love of the outdoors, and his commitment to conserve the beauty of the Natural State will serve Arkansas well as he assumes his position as a Game and Fish commissioner,” Governor Hutchinson said today. “Philip’s life experiences and quiet leadership are a perfect fit for the commission as the members work to promote and preserve Arkansas’s great outdoors.”
Mr. Tappan is the managing partner of Tappan Land & Water, which owns the majority interest in Quality Foods LLC (Purple Cow Restaurants). Mr. Tappan says his mother was a “fanatical birdwatcher” and his father was an avid duck hunter. His interest in conserving land is a natural outgrowth of his love for the outdoors and hunting, he says.
“With the human impact on our globe, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to participate in the stewardship of our state’s rich portfolio of properties,” Mr. Tappan said. “We can continue to turn the tide for re-habitation of our forests and restoration of wildlife in ways that will benefit our entire state.”
Tappan's term will expire in 2028. He replaces Andrew Parker whose term expired in June.
PO Box 7775, Little Rock, AR 72217
501-551-2201 | Philip.Tappan@agfc.ar.gov
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Bill Jones
AGFC Commissioner | 2022-2029
Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Bill Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Sissy’s Log Cabin in Pine Bluff, to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on July 6, 2022.
“Everyone knows Bill Jones as an entrepreneur and a successful businessman,” Governor Hutchinson said at a news conference today at the Witt Stephens Nature Center. “But Bill is much more. He’s passionate about the outdoors. He has a long history in conservation. He wants to ensure that we care for our natural resources so that everyone can enjoy our state – hunters, anglers, and people who simply appreciate the beauty of Arkansas. He is a father and grandfather who hopes his grandchildren love the outdoors as much as he does.”
Mr. Jones is a native Arkansan whose family settled in Arkansas in 1793. He is vice-chair of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation and past president of the Pine Bluff chapter of Ducks Unlimited. He has served as a member of the Jefferson Regional Medical Center board and as a Baptist Health Foundation trustee. He also has worked with the Arkansas Arts and Science Center; the Pine Bluff United Way; the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; and the Women and Children First Shelter.
“I’m an avid hunter, and through the years, I have learned valuable life lessons as I called ducks in the middle of a flooded rice field or scouted spring turkeys in dense cover. The beauty and fragility of Arkansas evokes reverence for our natural resources,” Mr. Jones said. “I’m humbled by the chance to join the other commissioners to conserve the natural beauty of our state and to promote the full enjoyment of it. Arkansas is written into my family’s legacy, and our care for the resources God has given us is part of that legacy. Arkansas is a jewel of rare price, and I am gratified for the opportunity to serve as one of the stewards of this gem.”
Mr. Jones’ term expires July 1, 2029. He is replacing Commissioner Bennie Westphal.
5201 South Hazel, Pine Bluff, AR 71603
870-489-5944 | Bill.Jones@agfc.ar.gov
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Dr. Evans-White is a Professor at the University of Arkansas. She is a community and ecosystem ecologist and much of her research is at the interface of these two ecological levels. One major area of her research examines the roles of animals in organic matter and nutrient dynamics; she often consider how anthropogenic factors such as pollutants may alter these roles by modifying organismal physiology and behavior or by modification of community structure. Another major area of her research focuses on the role of inland aquatic ecosystems in regional and global carbon budgets; I am particularly interested in how this role will change with landscape and climate change. She directs a Research Experience for Undergraduates Program focusing on Assessment and Sustainable Management of Ecosystem Services (EcoREU https://ecoreu.uark.edu). For more information please visit her laboratory website.
University of Arkansas, Science and Engineering Building, Room 601
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-575-4706 | Michelle.EvansWhite@agfc.ar.gov
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