RAPID CITY, SD (August 20, 2024) – The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) Executive Director Marilyn Bentz and 2005 Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame inductee attended the 2024 Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies August 17th at the John A. & Genny Morris Conservation Center in Springfield, MO. The Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame was established to recognize those outdoor sportsmen and sportswomen who, through countless hours of hard work and devotion to the outdoors, in both hunting and fishing, have played an integral part in setting the standards and guidelines for the rest of the outdoor world to follow.

The 2024 Inductees were: Bill Carson, Field Marketing Manager in the Fishing Group at Johnson Outdoors (Humminbird, Minn Kota, Cannon and LakeMaster); Bobby Hart, Award winning long range marksman and hunting specialist and, world-renowned gunsmith and gun builder; Bill Jordan, Realtree designer and President; Mike Pentecost, Founder and Owner of WoodHaven Custom Game Calls; Bill Cooper, Legendary Outdoor Communicator, outdoor program facilitator and presenter, author, radio host, and conservation consultant; Will Primos, Founder of Primos Hunting Calls; Kent Driscoll, Pro Staff Manager for BnM Pole Company, pro staff for Driftmaster, Crappie Magnet and Silent Stalker, and former tournament fisherman; and Murry Crowe, creator of the MOJO Mallard and the direct drive device for the spinning wing duck decoy.

Awards were presented to American Legendary Location – Triple H Outfitters; American Outdoor Legacy Award – Tyler Jordan; Legends of the Outdoors American Artist of the Year – Jim Tostrud; American Outdoor Sportsman of the Year – Larry Rencken; and Wade Bourne Lifetime Achievement in Outdoor Communications and Media – Tes Jolly.

“It’s important to recognize the outstanding efforts of individuals who are devoted to the outdoors,” explained Marilyn Bentz, NBEF Executive Director. “I am so humbled to be a part of this group of individuals who have made such a significant impact on the outdoor industry and so appreciate Garry Mason’s efforts to recognize their accomplishments.”

Bentz’s outdoor business career started through an association with the legendary entrepreneur and industrialist, Chuck Saunders. From the succeeding positions of National Sales Manager and Director of Marketing for Saunders Archery, she progressed through assignments as Director of Sales and Marketing and Vice President, National Sales for such industry pacesetters and leaders as McKenzie Targets, Knight and Hale/Code Blue-PRADCO and Golden Eagle/Satellite Archery/Bear Archery/North American Archery. A former two-term board member of the Archery Trade Associations Board of Directors, Marilyn currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, the worldwide curriculum based nonprofit organization for educating bowhunters. She also served on its Board of Directors since 1996. Her peers have recognized Marilyn’s accomplishments. She is also a recipient of the Fred Bear Achievement Award. The award is named in honor of the most renowned of the founders of the modern target archery and bowhunting industry.
NBEF helps bowhunters learn to be safe, successful and stewards of the sport. NBEF offers bowhunting instructional items, books, videos, 3-D models, apparel and more at nbef.org.

About NBEF
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation offers instructional content and tools for bowhunter education and hunter education. Helping bowhunters become safe and successful hunters and stewards of the sport are important NBEF missions. NBEF provides the bowhunter certification curriculum and class content that some states and certain circumstances require to bow hunt. NBEF provides instructor training and certification.
NBEF oversees the International Bowhunter Education Program and works with the International Hunter Education Association and state agencies to coordinate a unified program. States may have additional requirements. Europe and other countries offer full reciprocity for the NBEF (IBEP) certification and conduct classes.

NBEF also oversees the International Crossbow Education Program and works with state agencies responsible for crossbow education to develop comprehensive online crossbow safety courses that teach students important laws and regulations, game identification, and safe, responsible handling of crossbow equipment.
NBEF is a 501(c)3 corporation that isn’t a membership-based organization. Tax-deductible donations to support this non-profit are welcome.

Learn more at nbef.org.
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PICTURED: NBEF Executive Director Marilyn Bentz and Legends of the Outdoors Founder Garry Mason
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kim Emery, Firefly Publicity, kim@fireflypublicity.com