FRANCIS FARQUHAR

Posthumous

Farquhar (1887-1974) was a Bay Area conservationist, mountaineer, scholar and writer.

He hiked the length and breadth of the Sierra from Fredonia Pass to Mt. Langley and climbed every mountain of 14,000 feet or more on the West Coast. He made the first ascent of the Middle Palisade in 1921, the last 14,000-foot peak in California to be climbed. He was the climber most responsible for introducing the techniques of modern rope climbing to the Sierra.

The technique is used throughout the world today.

He served as a director of the Sierra Club for 27 years, from 1924 to 1951, and twice as president from 1933-35 and 1948-49. A pioneer conservationist, he was instrumental in the club's efforts to get the entire Kern River country added to Sequoia National Park in 1926.

GARY GRAHAM

Graham, 67, is a supremely skilled saltwater angler who holds several fly fishing world records and won the prestigious Angler of the Year award from the Tuna Club. A pioneer of fly fishing in Baja, Graham has been instrumental in finding new fisheries and developing new techniques, all of which he has shared directly with his clients as well as through his speaking, photography and writing.

With his wife, Yvonne, he founded Friends of Fishing. This is a nonprofit organization created to take disadvantaged children enrolled in Big Brothers and Big Sisters of San Diego County fishing and teach them about the ocean. A longtime conservationist, Graham donated proceeds from his paid marlin-fishing seminars to the white sea bass restoration project, one of the great success stories in saltwater fishery rehabilitation.

Since 1993, Gary and Yvonne have owned Baja on the Fly, a fly fishing expedition company in Baja California, which has hosted more than 2,000 fly fishing clients in several locations in Baja and mainland Mexico.

RICK COPELAND

Copeland, 54, is an abalone diver, fly fisher and a highly-skilled hunter for duck, deer, turkey and wild pigs. He has inspired thousands of youngsters, women and other newcomers to take up fishing and hunting.

Copeland was a founder of the "Becoming An Outdoors Woman" program, has led two "Catch-A-Smile" functions per year, helped administer the Youth Outdoors Sports Fair and donated free expert how-to seminars for the public with the Department of Fish and Game.

He has served as president and CEO of Wilderness Unlimited, the largest hunting and fishing organization of its kind in America. As a biologist, he manages thousands of acres for hunting, fishing and habitat conservation.

Copeland was the leading vote-getter this year. "The award was created for people like this," wrote one voter anonymously. "He is the consummate outdoorsman, highly skilled in many vocations, yet one who has had a great positive impact on thousands of others."