Bill Shedd, chairman and CEO of AFTCO Manufacturing Company, Inc., was presented with the inaugural Gary J. Zurn Conservation Award.

The award is named for long-time ASA supporter and Government Affairs committee Chair, Gary Zurn, who passed unexpectedly in August 2021.

“There is no better person to receive this recognition than Bill Shedd,” said Hughes. “Both he and Gary Zurn share a legacy of working tirelessly to conserve our nation’s fisheries on behalf of the sportfishing industry and anglers everywhere. Bill continues to be one of the most influential and dedicated ASA members and industry leaders of all time. Shedd was chairman of the ASA’s Government Affairs Committee for 25 years and is recognized for his extraordinary leadership and lifelong commitment to recreational fishing and the sportfishing industry.