JEDEDIAH SMITH

Posthumous

Rivers, lakes, schools, trails and men are named after Smith (1799-1831). Smith led the first and second overland expeditions into California, twice crossing the Mojave Desert. He also made the first trans-Sierra crossing, west to east over what is now Ebbetts Pass. His journeys in California spanned from the Colorado River on northward to the Smith River. In the process, his stories of salmon runs on the Klamath River ("you could walk across the river on their backs") and elsewhere are still told, and the crown jewel of the nation's rivers, the Smith River in Del Norte County, honors him. He accomplished this despite experiencing danger from Indian tribes and sustained deprivation of water and food when crossing the Mojave, both so severe that 26 of the 33 men who joined his expeditions were killed or died. One of the most-popular multi-use trails (hiking, biking, skating, equestrian) in the United States along the American River (which he explored) is named after Smith.

DEE THOMAS

Thomas is the only West Coast bass tournament angler inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. He invented the Flipping Technique for bass, pioneering shallow-water fishing in heavy cover. This technique transformed the fishing industry with the invention of fishing rods, reels, hooks, line and even bass boats (decks were elevated) for this technique. He has won 15 national tournament titles including a BASS victory on Bull Shoals in 1975, and is a two-time winner of the West Coast Bass Classic. At age 65, he won the Western Bass Tournament at Clear Lake against one of the most competitive fields ever assembled in the Western U.S. Rather than become closed about his secrets, Thomas has appeared at sports shows and provided his best fishing wisdom to anybody who asks.

JACK O'NEILL

As the "Godfather of Wetsuits," O'Neill is a legend among surfers and scuba divers throughout the world. He invented the first wetsuit in the 1950s, and to prove their effectiveness, he filled large tubs with ice blocks and water at sports shows, and then had his kids sit in them all day. That opened up surfing and scuba diving to millions of participants who otherwise could not stand cold marine water. His business also invented the surfboard leash, a design used by virtually every surfer in the world. He then developed the O'Neill Sea Odyssey program -- a free, educational cruise aboard the Team O'Neill catamaran that acquaints kids with the microbiology of the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. He is an avid surfer and sailboat skipper.

RICHARD (DICK) MAY

By getting laws passed, influencing DFG plans and litigating when necessary, May has made it possible for millions to enjoy quality trout and steelhead fishing in California.

As the architect of the organization California Trout, May is the chief individual responsible for California's Wild Trout Program, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the saving of Mono Lake and restoration of Rush Creek. The court decision, known as Cal Trout I, is renowned for its application of water law to protect trout. In addition, he is largely regarded as the key leader who stopped dams on the Smith River, and who saved, restored or opened countless other waters for trout and steelhead fishing. May is a fly fisher who has fished most of the state's blue ribbon waters, mastering a difficult art with long casts and soft landings under difficult conditions.

TERRY HODGES

Hodges is a retired Fish and Game Warden who used helicopters, airplanes and canoes, often on his own time, to catch California's most heinous poachers.

He used a helicopter to snare waterfowl violators who had bragged they couldn't be caught, and became a pilot so he could fly single-engine aircraft over the Sierra Nevada at night to catch the worst of the deer spotlighters and bear poachers. He paddled a canoe in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to stalk illegal commercial salmon and striped bass gill-netters, and he developed a system of sound triangulation to locate out-of-season hunters and other illegal wildlife shooters.

As a gifted writer, he then brought game warden tales to life with a 20-year series of magazine stories and books. In the process, no one in America has better connected with the public the active role of conservation, or inspired more youth to become game wardens. He is also an avid bass fisherman and pilot.