Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 20, 2001
For more information:  Chuck Schlueter, 773-3904

TONY DEAN RECEIVES TOP CONSERVATION AWARD

PIERRE -- Tony Dean, a Pierre, S.D. broadcaster, TV show host and writer, was recently selected as the 2001 recipient of the Jade of Chief’s award, the top conservation honor given by the Outdoor Writer’s Association of America (OWAA) at their annual meeting in June.

Last year’s recipient, Michael Furtman of Duluth, MN said, "One old friend and mentor of mine was not on the list of recipients, and was even conspicuous by his absence. That was rectified when not just one…but three…current Chiefs, nominated him for this year’s award."

Tony Dean writes regularly for Dakota Country, Dakota Outdoors and Minnesota Outdoor News. 

Although a skilled writer, Tony Dean is perhaps best known for his radio and television work, for which he has won numerous OWAA awards. His television series airs across the upper Midwest and his Dakota Backroads radio show airs across both Dakotas. Over the past 14 years, his radio and television productions have won 87 major regional and national programming awards. He has also won numerous conservation awards and was inducted as a "Legendary Angler" into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 1993.

Tony and his wife of 40 years, live along the Missouri River at Pierre, SD. They have four children. Together, they operate Tony Dean Outdoors, Inc.

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