Sagamore Hill Award — Distinguished Devotion

William I. "Bill" Spencer was presented the Sagamore Hill Award at a ceremony held at the Club's Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch in June 1993. Spencer is noted for his vision and determination to revitalize the Club in the 1980s. He spearheaded the Club's efforts to recapture its legacy of conservation leadership in America with the purchase of the TRM Ranch, and helped establish the Club's first endowed professorship in wildlife conservation at the University of Montana.

The Sagamore Hill Medal is given by the Roosevelt family in memory of Theodore Roosevelt (Founder and first President of the Boone and Crockett Club), Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., and Kermit Roosevelt. It was created in 1948. It may be awarded by the Big Game Final Awards Judges’ Panel, if in their opinion there is an outstanding trophy worthy of great distinction. Only one may be given in any Big Game Awards Program. A special award may also be presented by the Sagamore Hill Committee of the Boone and Crockett Club for distinguished devotion to the objectives of the Club. The Sagamore Hill Medal is the highest award given by the Boone and Crockett Club.

Below is a list of all the recipients of the Special Sagamore Hill Award:

1952 - DEFOREST GRANT

“For long and distinguished service to conservation.”

1968 - RICHARD KING MELLON

“For devoted and dedicated service to the conservation of our North American wildlife heritage.”

1977 - ROBERT MUNRO FERGUSON

“For unswerving loyalty to his heritage, his principles and his friends.”

1987 - C.R. “PINK” GUTERMUTH

“For life-long conservation service to the nation and for achievement of the Boone and Crockett Club’s goals.”

1992 - WILLIAM I. SPENCER 

“For tenacious focus on the vision of the Club’s founders and absolute insistence on the perpetuation of their original mission.”

1996 - PHILIP L. WRIGHT 

“For lifelong commitment to conservation; For dedication to the principles of fair chase and scientific integrity with the records program.”

1997 - GEORGE C. HIXON 

“For steadfast devotion to the preservation of the Club's rich traditions and its historical legacy of wildlife conservation.”

2007 - JACK S. PARKER

“For steadfast leadership during a critical time in the Club's history. For always providing quiet, forceful, dependable counsel to Club leaders in the years since."

2013 - ROBERT MODEL

"For perseverance in perpetuating the historic vision and mission of the Club’s founders. For restoring the Club’s historic legacy of national conservation leadership."

2021 - DANIEL A. PEDROTTI

“For inspiring the creation of what has become known as the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, which was a significant milestone in the history of conservation."

In addition to the special awards given above, the Club has presented 17 Sagamore Hill Awards for outstanding trophies worthy of great distinction. Click here for details.