One of the nation’s leading figures in the outdoors has passed.
George Bettas, a co-founder of the Mule Deer Foundation, former board chairman of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, former executive director and CEO of the Boone & Crockett Club and former Development director for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Foundation “left the campfire” on Aug. 10 after a lengthy battle with leukemia, according to an official obituary.
Bettas was by any accout an “outdoorsman’s outdoorsman.” Described as a “modern-day Renaissance Man, consummate horseman, gifted educator and talented presenter,” Bettas was a native of Washington state. He earned a Bachelor’s degree at Washington State University, where he would later work for 32 years in various capacities including Associate Professor, Director for Residence Life & Housing, Director of Student Affairs Research, Dean of Students, Vice Provost – Student Affairs and Vice Provost – Campus Life/Dean of Students.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, where he became an officer, Bettas earned a Master’s degree from Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, but he returned to the Northwest.
A lifelong hunter and conservationist, Bettas was an inspiration to many outdoorsmen and women. He once described an encounter with a grizzly in the Alaska interior, where he was on a backpack hunt, as having “a high pucker factor!” When we first met more than four decades ago, he showed off some nice Weatherby rifles and demonstrated a remarkable talent as an elk caller.
He used to get in shape for fall hunting adventures by running up the stairs at WSU’s Martin Stadium while wearing a heavy backpack.
In addition to his other endeavors, Bettas served on the board of directors for the Jack Creek Foundation and served as Executive Director and Trust Manager for the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Foundation, (now Montana’s Outdoor Legacy Foundation), and he also led the Montana Master Hunter Program.
Perhaps Jim Zumbo said it best: “The hunting community has lost a giant.”—Dave Workman
