The Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Museum and Outdoor Hall of Fame, at Leland has announced the induction of six wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts into the Mississippi Outdoor Hall of Fame, Class of 2019.

Paul Meek, of Morton, leads the list of inductees this year.

Meek has been spreading his outdoors passion including his love of turkey hunting for over 50 years. A machinist by trade, this master turkey hunter and call maker has been making turkey calls and teaching people how to use them for nearly 40 years now. In fact, there’s no doubt that Paul has personally trained more young people in the art of turkey calling than any other person in our state’s rich history.

Meek, of Morton, started making turkey calls in 1974 while also training others to use them at outdoor shows and seminars around the South. His seminars, “Hands on Turkey Calling for Kids and Beginners,” are geared toward beginning turkey hunters of all ages. He has been conducting seminars at the annual Mississippi Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Extravaganza for nearly 20 years as well.

Meek was on the forefront of the modern turkey calling competition while forming a calling team that traveled the South winning contests and putting on calling clinics at the same time. Meek’s sons Shawn and P. W. are both Mississippi state turkey calling champions and have won or placed in more than a hundred turkey calling and owl hooting contests throughout the south. Members of his pro staff have won more contests than we can mention here due to limited space.

Meek’s “Custom Hunter” box call is his trademark box and has probably been responsible for more turkey kills than any call. His unique “Rock Pot” call is a triumph to his ingenuity as no two are made the same. Each Rock Pot has a different size and cut of rock with a handmade bottom. While Paul Meek makes turkey calls, spreading his turkey hunting passion to others is ultimately his crowning glory.

Other honorees include Tommy Bourne of Prentiss; Vic Finkley of Grenada; Leland James of Sturgis; Paul Meek of Morton; Garland Priddy of Learned; and Roger Stegall of Iuka.

“We are very excited about the honorees in our newest class of Hall of Fame inductees,” said Billy Johnson, executive director or the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Foundation. “These six Mississippians contributed so much to grow our state’s reputation as a premiere place to live or visit for anyone who enjoys outdoor sports like hunting and fishing. What a privilege it is for our organization to recognize their contributions that maintain our unique heritage.”

Master hunter and fisherman Tommy Bourne of Prentiss is renowned among Mississippi turkey hunting circles for winning numerous turkey calling championships and archery tournaments. Unfortunately, his life was cut short while serving as a deputy with the Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Department. Tommy, a former employee of Preston Pittman Game Calls, was also a turkey call maker and guide. Additionally, he served as an instructor for hunter safety courses, reaching out to young sportsman all over Mississippi. In recognition of his skill and devotion to turkey hunting, the National Wild Turkey Federation chapter in Prentiss was named in his honor.

Vic Finkley from Grenada is a lifelong and well-respected crappie fisherman who has represented Mississippi in national crappie tournaments all over the United States. He holds the championship title to 12 national crappie tournaments on three different tours. Vic earned the coveted Crappie Masters All-American Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. With over 50 years’ experience in fishing trophy crappie waters in north Mississippi, he currently offers his expertise through his fishing guide service. Previously, Vice was a bait and minnow distributor.

Often called the taxidermist’s taxidermist, many outdoor enthusiasts cite Leland James of Sturgis as one of the most talented outdoorsmen our state ever produced. Throughout his hunting and fishing life, he has mastered whatever outdoor endeavor he chose. He spent his career as a CVM/Animal Tech at Mississippi State University. Leland owns and operates Wildlife Taxidermy in Sturgis, where he continues to mentor many younger hunters and fishermen who also share an interest in the art of taxidermy.

As a premier bird dog trainer for more than five decades, Garland Priddy of Learned, competes and judges bird dog field trials across the U.S. He has won over 50 championships and four of his bird dogs are included in the Field Trial Hall of Fame. Garland was inducted into the Field Trial Hall of Fame in 2012 for his contributions and dedication to the sport. He has also been named a Living Legend by the National Bird Dog Museum.

Roger Stegall of Iuka has been a topnotch fishing guide and tournament fisherman spanning nearly 40 years. He earned the coveted Angler of the Year award on the Fishing League Worldwide tour three times. Roger’s outdoor resume also includes over 30 career top 10 finishes and seven career tournament wins. He operates Roger Stegall Professional Guide Service in Iuka, with primary guiding services offered on Pickwick Lake.

The Mississippi Outdoor Hall of Fame Class of 2019 induction ceremony will be held on June 7, 2019 at the Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Museum. The public is invited to a reception honoring the 2019 inductees from 2-5 p.m. For more information about the event, call the Museum at 662-686-7085.

The Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Museum and Outdoor Hall of Fame, located in historic downtown Leland, Mississippi celebrates the people, heritage and traditions of hunting, fishing, and the great outdoors in Mississippi.

Call Mike Giles at 601-917-3898 or email mikegiles18@comast.net.