02/27/2008
Baton Rouge's John Barton, Sr. Presented NWTF's Top Honor
 John Barton, Sr. Click image for print quality version |
The Five-Star Award is the NWTF's highest volunteer recognition, named for the military five-star rank, the highest rank of general, which is given infrequently by Congress to individuals of outstanding ability, achievement and leadership. The NWTF's Five-Star Award is not given every year and, in fact, only two other outstanding volunteers have received it.
"When Webster wrote the definition for the word "gentleman" it was simply, John Barton," said NWTF CEO Rob Keck. "He embodies the very best when it comes to business, conservation, humanitarian efforts. John Barton is and has been a mentor to me as he is to so many people from all walks of life - young or old, male or female, rich or poor."
Barton had a huge impact on the NWTF from the very beginnings of the organization. He moved the Federation from being in the conservation business to the business of conservation.
"It's a great privilege to have been a part of the NWTF for all of these years," Barton said up accepting the award. "I can not think of a happier moment than seeing all of the people who support the greatest conservation organization in the world. Thank you all so much."
John Barton Sr., a lifelong outdoorsman, was involved in the initial wild turkey restocking efforts in Louisiana.
"There are many turkeys gobbling on ridges and in swamps - where they were gone for more than 100 years - John Barton had a hand in that great restoration story." said Keck. "He was critical in providing the NWTF with the financial assistance it needed to truly get its wings and has involved people from all walks of life in hunting and conservation and is truly a rock on which the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded."
Barton has received other prestigious awards including Baton Rouge's Outstanding Philanthropist Award and honors from Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy's Trustee Emeritus Award.
He has served on the boards of several local and statewide fundraising foundations, and has been honored for his fundraising efforts and donations by such diverse groups as the Pennington Medical Foundation, the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Capital Area United Way, Friends of the LSU Museum of Art, The Baton Rouge Area Foundation, The Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Forum 35, The Manship School of Mass Communication, The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs and the D-Day Museum.
He is also a member of the Baton Rouge Business Hall of Fame.
