GREEN RIVER - In the realm of the wilds, a handful of people are selected each year by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation to represent the best of Wyoming's outdoor heritage.

This year, a famous mountain man, a founding conservationist, a pioneer of modern fisheries management, and a widely acclaimed wildlife film producer make up the fifth class of inductees into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame.

The hall celebrates Wyoming's heroes of the outdoors and honors a lifetime of contribution to the preservation of Wyoming's wildlife and open spaces.

Three of this year's four inductees will received posthumous awards.

Mountain man Jim Bridger joins the late Sheridan filmmaker Bill Grunkemeyer, the late William Barlow of Gillette who was a founding member of the Powder River Basin Resource Council, and longtime Wyoming Game and Fish Department fisheries management coordinator Fred Eiserman of Casper.

"This year's class represents an outstanding diversity of individuals who in their own way have left their mark on Wyoming's outdoor heritage," said Marlene Salveson, executive director of the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, the hall of fame sponsor.

She said after a rigorous nomination and selection process, a selection committee settled on four individuals for the class of 2008:

- Jim Bridger: Probably the most recognizable mountain man in history, Bridger built a trading post of the Black's Fork of the Green River in what's now known as Bridger Valley in southwest Wyoming, later named Fort Bridger. He was a famed trailblazer, discovering alternate routes to the Oregon Trail, and served for many years as an Army scout.

- William Barlow, Gillette: As a founding member of the Powder River Basin Resource Council in 1973, Barlow helped influence state and national politicians about the importance of implementing rigorous reclamation standards for coal mines and upholding strict water conservation and management practices. His work with landowners and others led to the passing of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act in 1977.

- Bill Grunkemeyer, Sheridan: A passionate wildlife photographer, Grunkemeyer formed a company called Grunko films in the mid-1980s and began producing fishing, hunting and wildlife videos. He won numerous awards for his prolific outdoor and wildlife films and for his camera work for other production companies.

- Fred Eiserman, Casper: Eiserman was a driving force in Wyoming fisheries management throughout his 28-year Game and Fish career. He served as the department's first fisheries management coordinator and stewarded the evolution of the agency's regional fisheries management crews that are now located in each of the state's seven major river drainages.

Signature event

Each year, the hall of fame recognizes individuals who have made significant, lasting contributions towards conserving Wyoming's wildlife heritage through volunteer service, environmental restoration, political and individual leadership, the arts, educational activities, and visual and written media.

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation developed the idea for the hall of fame in the summer of 2003, with the aim of making the hall's induction ceremony the group's annual signature event.

The Game and Fish Commission created the foundation in 1999 as a way to help the agency fund some of its more nontraditional programs. The foundation enables businesses and individuals to help wildlife through private donations.

Anyone can submit a name for consideration during the public participation process, according to rules.

The physical location of the hall of fame is the Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody. Inductees are honored with plaques and photographs on a dedicated wall at the museum.

A dinner and ceremony to honor the fifth class of inductees is scheduled for Sept. 12 at the Ramada Riverside in Casper. The event is held in conjunction with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's annual Wyoming Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo.

Southwest Wyoming Bureau reporter Jeff Gearino can be reached at 307-875-5359 or at gearino@tribcsp.com.

BREAKOUT

The Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame dinner and ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 12 at the Ramada Riverside in Casper. The event is held in conjunction with the annual Wyoming Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo. Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased by calling the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming at 307-777-4529.

Including this year's class, there have been 27 people inducted into the Outdoor Hall of Fame since its beginning in 2004, including 16 posthumous awards.

Past inductees include:

2004 - Curt Gowdy, Calvin King, Frank and Lois Layton, Olaus and Mardy Murie, D.C. Nowlin, President Theodore Roosevelt.

2005 - Drs. Tom Thorne and Beth Williams, George Bird Grinnell, Paul Petzoldt, James R. Simon.

2006 - Dr. John Craighead, Sam Mavrakis, Tom Bell, Floyd Martin Blunt, Dr. Frank Craighead Jr.

2007 - Bert and Meg Raynes, Charles Ward, Hans Kleiber, Finis Mitchell.