Maggie Justice Conservation Legacy Award

By Bob Meuleugracht

February 2008

On January 21st, Mule Deer Foundation member and supporter Maggie Justice lost her battle with cancer. Maggie was a true conservationist. She chaired her local MDF chapter along with her husband George. Prior to MDF they had been extensively involved with the local Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation chapter. She was also a hunter education instructor and loved training our youth. Maggie had become a fixture behind the scenes at the National Convention since 2004 and will be greatly missed by those that knew her and called her friend.

According to Regional Director, Ron Knapp, Maggie was the type of volunteer that every RD dreams of having in their region. Ron would show up on Sunday after the banquet and Maggie would have the financial package completed and the MDF checks waiting. A few years ago Ron had two banquets on the same night in two different states (Idaho and Washington). As we were short staffed Ron asked Maggie and his wife, Judy, to cover the event in Spokane and Ron would head to St. Anthony, Idaho. Ron had no doubt that everything would go well in Spokane with Maggie and Judy there. Maggie was the type of volunteer that you could call and ask for support, and she would drop everything to help.

In 2004 Maggie and George attended the MDF National Convention in Reno, Nev. As many of you know we were short staffed. Maggie and George had no intentions of “sitting on the sidelines” – they had come to work. They jumped in and really gave us a boost. Maggie worked diligently on the computer – getting the financial package ready for the auctions, creating signs, filling in auction receipts, etc. She made the comment to then office manager Shawna Huckabey, “Don’t you worry I’ll make sure it gets done,” and it did! Maggie and George have been to every convention since and have continued to provide as much help as anyone could ask for.

The day before her death, Maggie and George helped Ron Knapp with a booth at a sportsman’s show in Tri-Cities, Wash. On the way home George expected Maggie to sleep as he knew that her health had deteriorated and that the day had been hard on her. But, according to George, Maggie was so “hyped-up” after the show that all the way home all she could do was talk about helping Ron, selling memberships and informing people about MDF. Maggie was a true conservationist!

After Maggie’s death the MDF staff was so moved that we wanted to do something special to remember Maggie. On February 8th at the National Convention during the Volunteer Recognition Reception we awarded the first ever Maggie Justice Conservation Legacy Award. The first recipient, of course, Maggie Justice. The award will become an annual award and be given to someone that exemplifies Maggie’s commitment to conservation.