(Columbus, OH) – The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s (USSAF) prestigious 2011 William L. Searle Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded to Helen K. Groves of Baird, Texas. Mrs. Groves has been a stalwart supporter and advocate for sportsmen and women across the country.She is also a lifetime rancher, hunter, mounted foxhunter, and is actively involved in medical and scientific research for the betterment of lives for humans and animals. The USSAF created the award in 2006 to honor William L. Searle, a long standing board member dedicated to protecting outdoor sports, including hunting, fishing, and trapping. The William L. Searle Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon those individuals that possess exceptional leadership and dedication qualities, and who have used these attributes to ensure that our nation’s outdoor heritage is secured for generations to come. “Helen has been a staunch USSAF supporter for more than 25 years,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSAF president and CEO. “She has been a steadfast advocate, recruiting her family and friends to join in supporting the work that USSA Foundation has done on behalf of sportsmen and women across the country.” The award was recently presented at a reception in San Antonio, Texas. “I am honored to receive this award from the premier organization preserving our great American tradition of hunting,” she said. “As a community, we need to do more to support the efforts of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and their quest to protect and advance our nation’s outdoor traditions including hunting and fishing.” Mrs. Groves has also encouraged several foundations to support the USSA Foundation efforts and its nationwide Trailblazer Adventure Program to make it possible to stage grand scale events nationwide to encourage youth and parents to engage in outdoor activities.
