Arkansas Sportsman

'Wildman' ends his celebrity career with AGFC

Three time world champion duck caller Brad Allen of Searcy with Steve "Wildman" Wilson, right.
Three time world champion duck caller Brad Allen of Searcy with Steve "Wildman" Wilson, right.

A small gesture at a public meeting seven or eight years ago exemplified Steve "Wildman" Wilson's intangible value to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

The purpose was to get public input about that year's slate of proposed hunting regulations. Hardly anybody ever came to those meetings, but a couple of hot-button issues drew a crowd to this one. Many people signed up to make public comments, which always meant that the mood could turn rowdy, and it was well on its way.

When it came time for one elderly gentleman to take his turn at the mic, Wildman helped him out of his seat, escorted him to the podium and introduced him by name, deed and reputation. It was a powerful way of showing the crowd that man had something to say worth hearing, and that he deserved a respectful audience.

It was also a subtle way to regain control over a deteriorating situation.

Everyone suddenly remembered his manners, and I remember thinking, "That's how a pro does it right there."

As the face and voice of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission since 2000, Wildman has earned that kind of respect from our state's hunters and anglers. But after 37 years with the agency, he's retiring this month.

To celebrate his career, Ducks Unlimited will hold a Steve "Wildman" Wilson Roast and Toast Retirement Banquet on April 29 at the iHeartRadio Complex at 10800 Colonel Glenn Rd., in Little Rock. Tickets cost $20, and sponsor tables are also available. Wilson said that 28 sponsor tables have been sold.

Proceeds from the banquet will benefit Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry.

"I've made so many acquaintances over the last 37 years, but I probably worked with these four organizations more than any others," Wildman said, "from emceeing their events to serving on their boards. I'm still on the board of Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry, so I thought it would be nice to do something for them."

Before we continue, I make a motion to temporarily suspend the journalistic rule of referring to a subject by his last name. Everyone knows him as "Wildman," a name he adopted to distinguish himself from passel of other Steve Wilsons that worked for the AGFC at one time. One was Steve N. Wilson, who was director for nearly three decades. Steve R. became "Wildman," and the name stuck.

I grew up in an era when the late George Purvis was the face and voice of the Game and Fish Commission. He was one of the biggest celebrities in the state, but Wildman is everywhere, from his Call of the Wild radio program to the Talkin' Outdoors television program. If he's not emceeing a banquet somewhere, he's speaking at a church or to a Rotary Club.

It all came about over a squabble with former assistant director Scott Henderson when Wildman was chief of the information and education division. Wildman said that Henderson gave Wildman a slightly less-than-stellar performance evaluation, and Wildman said he deserved better.

"That was the year we passed the one-eighth cent sales tax," Wildman said. "When the time came for my annual evaluation, it was favorable, but not favorable enough to get any money with it."

Wildman said he spent about 50 percent of his time working on promoting the sales tax, but the evaluation did not reflect it. Wildman said he rewrote the document and sent it back to Henderson, and it went back and forth until Henderson finally demanded he sign the thing.

Wildman refused and met with former director Steve N. Wilson to resolve the standoff.

"Steve asked me, 'What do you want to do?' " Wildman recalled.

Wildman said he could serve the agency better in a public relations role.

"Steve said, 'You write up your job description,' and that's how I got this job," Wildman said.

Henderson became director shortly after, but Wildman said there were never any hard feelings.

Wildman said he's excited about entering a new phase in life, but he's also apprehensive.

"I have the same feeling I had right before I got married," he said. "I knew I wanted to do it. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm scared of the unknown. Thirty-seven and a half years going into the office with some of the greatest people. That's going to end.

"I'll stay busy, but I'll be busy on my own time."

Sports on 04/10/2016

Upcoming Events