One man's honor benefits all

Richard Mode has spent the past three decades volunteering his time and effort for the people and natural resources of North Carolina.

Last week, he got paid.

Mode, from Morganton, beat out three other finalists, including Ray Scott of BASS fame, to win the Budweiser Conservationist of the Year Award determined by nationwide voting at www.budweiser.com.

Mode joins his cousin, Eddie Bridges, founder of the N.C. Wildlife Habitat Foundation, as a Tar Heel recipient. Bridges, of Greensboro, won in 2004.

Mode received the award at the Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade Show -- better known as the SHOT Show -- held Jan. 11-14 in Orlando, Fla.

The other two finalists were Dr. Tom Hutchens, a North Dakota waterfowl conservationist, and Georgia's Sallie Dahmes, whose work with white-tailed deer supports researchers.

"I actually found out two weeks ago and yesterday was presented with the award," Mode said Friday via cell phone from the show. "I just had breakfast with them [representatives of award sponsor Anheuser-Busch]. They took me to the National Shooting Sports Foundation banquet last night. What a group to party with!"

Mode has a reason to celebrate.

In addition to a heavy alabaster eagle trophy -- "It was all I could do to hold it, and I'm a big boy," Mode said -- he accepted a check for $50,000 for the N.C. Wildlife Federation at a news conference that, by Mode's count, drew more than 100 media members. Anheuser-Busch flew eight members of Mode's family to Orlando for the ceremony and provided three hotel rooms.

"The Clampetts came to town," Mode said with a laugh.

"The Clampetts" had a lot to do with Mode winning the award. Son William Mode, daughter Kathleen McKeithan and daughter-in-law Tara Mode helped drum up the vote for Mode, calling media outlets, handing out paper ballots and e-mailing groups on his behalf. And, when he won, the people in North Carolina won.

"We're going to take this $50,000 and turn it into $250,000 worth of programs and wildlife enhancement," he said.

That figure is from the hip, but, with matching federal funds available and so much volunteer effort, that was his estimate.

McKeithan, who is an environmental engineer by trade, says her father's work helped shape her life from an early age.

"We grew up with conservation talk around the dinner table," she said by cell phone while heading for Sea World. "With all of Dad's conservation talk, I ended up doing stream and wetland restoration.

"It [the award] is for 30 years of putting the right people together."

At the ceremony, Mode said he finished his acceptance speech by saying, "To the wildlife species in North Carolina, this Bud's for you."

Cheers, Richard.