Lewiston, N.Y. — George Franke, of Norwich, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association’s M. Paul Keesler New York Outdoor Citizen Award for all that he has done to preserve the outdoor heritage.

Franke’s award was announced at the NYSOWA Spring Conference, held May 15-18 in the Niagara Falls region. 

Franke has devoted many years and much effort to involving others, especially youngsters, in the outdoor sports and an appreciation of the outdoors and sporting tradition. He has done a lot of these things quietly, without fanfare, and without seeking recognition, many people are not aware of his influence. 

A long-time active member of the Safari Club International, Franke channeled his efforts toward youth involvement in outdoors. He helped raise the money, and led the search to find deserving youngsters that were sent (all expenses paid) to the outdoor leadership school in Colorado.

On both the local club level in various Chenango County organizations, he has been instrumental in sending many kids to conservation camp. In these organizations he has also been an instructor in many outdoor skills from hunter safety, bowhunter education, and other skills that did not require certification.

“George is one of those guys that is always there to pick up and take things on,” NYSOWA President Deb Brosen said. “And he was always very, very interested in helping the youth. He’s kind of one of the ones that you would think is behind the scenes because he doesn’t make himself known. It’s wonderful that this is being awarded to George.”

Franke organized field days for the Chenango County Federation of Sportsmen where various organizations were able to show their involvement, projects, and activities to others, including the public at large. He also organized similar fund raising efforts and the search to find youngsters to send to conservation camp. 

If he failed to get the cooperation of others for fund-raising, Franke took it upon himself to pay for the kids going to camp.

“I know that if they didn’t raise enough money George paid for them himself,” NYSOWA board member Leo Maloney said of Franke. “His generosity extended beyond those things.”

Franke also conducted classes or seminars on hunter education or other skills, including taxidermy. He has been an instructor at Becoming an Outdoors Woman weekends. 

Franke has taken the lead in organizing many of the Youth Hunts that give youngsters who would not otherwise have the opportunity, a chance to learn the skills and to go afield hunting with experienced mentors. It should be noted that Franke was late and almost missed his own induction into the NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame because he was involved in a Youth Hunt for turkey that he had organized.

Franke has traveled throughout central New York as a speaker and proponent of Second Amendment rights and the NY Crossbow Coalition. He has been a guest at many community forums to speak or educate people on these issues. Again, he takes no money for these activities.

As an outdoor writer for several publications, including Empire Outdoor Journal and the Norwich Evening Sun, Franke has educated his readership about many opportunities for outdoor recreation, passed along skills to be successful, and made people aware of issues that involved or threatened outdoor sports.

As a member of NYSOWA, Franke served on several committees. 

Although his health has been an issue lately, he continues to remain as active as possible and takes an interest in NYSOWA affairs.

NYSOWA’s M. Paul Keesler New York Outdoor Citizen Award is presented to an individual or organization that has effectively raised the public’s awareness of outdoor recreational opportunities and conservation issues in New York State. The award was created to honor worthy individuals and organizations, at the same time perpetuating the name of the late M. Paul Keesler, founder of the New York Sportsman magazine. 

Franke was also the 2018 recipient of the NYSOWA Pass It On Award and is a member of the NYS Outdoorsman Hall of Fame. 

~From New York Outdoor News