Delmar Smith, is the 2016 recipient of the T.Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award

Lion Country Supply's longtime buddy, Delmar Smith, is the 2016 recipient of the T.Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award, which honors persons "istinguished by a life of adventure, who demonstrates love of the outdoors, respect for natural resources and a spirit of generosity that makes it possible for future generations to enjoy the sporting life."

Delmar, 89 years young and still going strong, is a household name among gun dog owners. As a breeder, trainer and field trial judge he has few equals. "s a conservationist he was at the forefront of ecological and biological studies to create superior environments for the propagation of game-birds."

Born and raised on a ranch in Big Cabin, Oklahoma he rode a horse to and from school. Early on hired out to local bird dog trainers, feeding, watering and clean pens. By age 13, he had saved enough money to take a horse training course. Later he applied the techniques garnered from training horses as the foundation for his bird dog training?the Delmar Smith Method, based on teaching the dog humanely and intelligently through association, point of contact and repetition'the same process now taught by son, Rick, and nephew, Ronnie. I became a believer way back when Rick, in a matter of minutes, had my promising young Elhew pointer, Maggie, who, under my wing, had refused to "hoa? reliably despite countless repetitions. Trust me, it was a jaw-dropping experience to see her standing stone still 200 yards out while he returned to continue with the seminar.

As Delmar would say, "o train like a pro, you have to think like a dog."

The award?a bronze sculptor of three bobwhite quail designed by renowned artist Walter Matia?will be presented to Delmar next March at an annual dinner hosted by Park Cities Quail, the Dallas-based non-profit that, since its establishment in 2006, has raised and donated more than $5 million for quail conservation, education, and research.

For more information visit parkcitiesquail.org or quailresearch.org.