September 14, 2023 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Yesterday, Richard Taylor "Dick" Schulze and Robert Lindsay Thomas were honored at the 34th Annual Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Banquet and Auction with the Dingell-Young Sportsmen’s Legacy Award – the highest award given by CSF. Named in recognition of the Dingell family – Congressmen John D. Dingell, Sr. (D-MI) and John D. Dingell, Jr. (D-MI) – and Congressman Don Young (R-AK), the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation created the Dingell-Young Sportsmen’s Legacy Award to recognize the extraordinary individual and collaborative leadership of the Dingell family and Congressman Young, and their long-standing dedication to the advancement of conservation policy and our outdoor hunting and angling traditions. Like them, Schulze and Thomas’ contributions to our outdoor traditions relied upon a unique commitment to bipartisan collaboration and a shared passion for hunting, fishing, and conservation. With their shared dedication and the vital role they played in establishing the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, the Dingell-Young Sportsmen’s Legacy Award is a fitting tribute for Congressmen Schulze and Thomas. Schulze was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1975, where he served for 18 years. As a result of his leadership and understanding of complex policy, Schulze rose to serve as the Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, but his passion always remained with conservation. To satisfy this passion, Schulze also served on the Natural Resources Committee and was a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, two roles that positioned him to be a true leader for sportsmen and women across the country. Recognizing his passion and knowledge of conservation and the outdoors, President George H. W. Bush appointed Schulze to serve on the board of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Thomas served five terms in the United States House of Representatives during the 1980s and early 1990s, serving on the House Agriculture, Appropriations and Merchant Marine Committees. Following his political service, Thomas served as the director of state governmental affairs for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. He then served as the president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Thomas also served as a longtime board member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, serving as Board Chairman from 2010-2012. Schulze and Thomas were the bipartisan founders of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, which has grown into the largest and most effective bipartisan, bicameral caucus in the United States Congress. Schulze, a Republican, and Thomas, a Democrat, banded together in support of sportsmen and women and conservation across the country, an issue that recognizes no political labels, to develop one of the most important political entities for outdoorsmen and women in the country. Since being established in 1989, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus has earned a reputation for its bipartisan effectiveness and for its unparalleled ability to advance policies of interest to sportsmen and women. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus brings together members with a shared passion for our outdoor traditions to work together to protect and advance hunting, fishing, and professional wildlife management. In recognition of Schulze and Thomas’ leadership in Congress and their innovative commitment to sportsmen and women through the establishment of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, they have been chosen as this year’s recipients of the Dingell-Young Sportsmen’s Legacy Award by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, a well-deserved recognition to individuals who have shown such dedication to our country and to America’s outdoor heritage. “Schulze and Thomas are innovative leaders that set the precedent for a bipartisan collaboration that remains as the frontline for hunting and angling policy in the Halls of Congress,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane. “This award is in recognition of their lifelong dedication to conservation, their passion for our outdoor pursuits, and their impact that we will forever be grateful for.” |
