Richard Simms
Chattanoogan.com Outdoors Editor Richard Simms received several prestigious awards during the recent Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA) Excellence in Craft (EIC) competion.
SEOPA, representing 14 states, includes some of the most well-known outdoor communicators from across the country. Nearly 300 members gathered in Decatur, Ala. for their 42nd Annual Fall Conference. This year's EIC competition included 338 entries from 78 members in 12 categories.
Simms received 1st Place in the "Best Weekly Newspaper Story" category for a story called "Learning to Grabble." He also took 1st place and 2nd place in the "Best Video Program" category ("Robodeer" and "Hiwassee River Trout").
Besides serving as the Outdoors Editor for Chattanoogan.com, Simms is also a freelance writer/producer for several other publications including the the Chattanooga Times Free Press. His video entries were produced in conjunction with his freelance work for Tennessee's Wild Side, sponsored by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Beside his freelance work, Simms is Executive Producer for WTVC NewsChannel 9 and also operates Scenic City Fishing Charters, Inc.
Tennessee Outdoor Writers showed up strong in this year's SEOPA EIC competition. Gill Lackey from Nashville took 1st and 2nd Place Awards in the Best Electronic Publication category. You can read Lackey's 1st place entry republished HERE on Chattanoogan.com
Larry Rea from Memphis was awarded 3rd place in the Best Audio Program category. And John Sloan from Lebanon won 3rd place in the Best Magazine Short Feature category.
SEOPA Executive Director Lisa Snuggs said, "this year's winners are arguably the 'who's who' of outdoor writing in the Southeast."
All 2006 SEOPA EIC WINNERS:
- Best Industry Public relations Program (sponsored by SEOPA)
1st - ESPN Outdoors/BASS 2006 Media Guide
2nd - National Wild Turkey Federation Thanksgiving PR Campaign
3rd - Harrison Ark. Convention & Visitors Guide - Best Outdoor Entrepreneur Project (sponsored by Hydro Glow, Inc.)
1st - J.Wayne Fears for "Hunting Camp Journal"
2nd - Jim Casada for "Self-Marketing Through the Web"
3rd - John Kumiski for "Show & Tell Seminar" - Best Audio Program (sponsored by Plano Molding Company)
1st - Bob Hirsch for "Coming of Age"
2nd - Bob Hirsch for "Bass Pro Secret Language"
3rd - Larry Rea for "Outdoors With Larry Rea" - Best Video Program (sponsored by Fish Harder Companies)
1st - Richard Simms for "Robodeer"
2nd - Richard Simms for Hiwassee River Trout" (viewable HERE)
3rd - Rusty Bush for "First Response" - Best Electronic Publication (sponsored by Punisher Lures)
1st - Gil Lackey for "Perfect"
2nd - Gil Lackey for "Git the net"
3rd - P.J. Perea for "Mowing for Wildlife" - Best Outdoor Book (sponsored by National Wild Turkey Federation)
1st - Marlo Kirkpatrick for "Lost in the Amazon"
2nd - Gordon Hutchinson for "The Quest and the Quarry"
3rd - Keith Sutton for "Out There Fishing With Keith 'Catfish' Sutton" - Best Weekly Newspaper Story (sponsored by Ranger Boat Company)
1st - Richard Simms for "Learning to Grabble."
2nd - Alex Zidock, Jr. for "We Either Stink Too Much or Not Enough"
3rd - Ken Perrotee, "Storms Aftermath Hasn't Dampened Cajun Country Fishing" - Best Daily Newspaper Story (sponsored by Early Times Whisky)
1st - Bill Morris for "Piers Lose More Ground"
2nd - Bill Sargeant for "Angling For Walter"
3rd - Jack Horan for "Falconry Still Soars as a Sport" - Best B&W Photography (sponsored by Shreveport/Bossier City CVB)
1st - Matt Lindler for "The Face of Hunting"
2nd - Alex Zidock, Jr. for "Fly Fishing Pointers"
3rd - Jimmy Darnell for "Happy Little Girl" - Best Color Photography (sponsored by Realtree Camouflage)
1st - Robert Brodie for "Run With the Bulls - Bull Reds That Is"
2nd - Timothy Flanigan for "Buck Shedding Velvet"
3rd - Mike Marsh for "Outer Banks Pheasant Hunter" - Best Magazine Short Feature (sponsored by Realtree Camouflage)
1st - Jim Spencer for "The Calls in the Closet"
2nd - Darrell Taylor for "Ultimate Fish Bite"
3rd - John Sloan for "The Bear Cub" - Best Magazine Story (sponsored by The Coleman Company)
1st - Cliff Shelby for "Beneath the River"
2nd - Bill Morris for "Deep Blue"
3rd - C. Boyd Pheiffer for "What Do We Do About Stripers"