30 Mar 2016 Roast and toast reception to honor ‘Wild Man’ Wilson

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and its conservation partners will celebrate the career of Steve “Wild Man” Wilson at the iHeart Media Metroplex in Little Rock at 6 p.m. Friday, April 29.

True to his larger-than-life nature, Wild Man’s retirement “roast and toast” promises to be the capstone in the AGFC public affairs coordinator’s career. In fact, four great non-profit outdoors organizations have teamed together to host the gala. The Arkansas state chapters of Ducks Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation are joining with Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry to put on the show.

“There are a lot of other great organizations, but I’ve done a lot of work with these four over the years,” said Wilson. “These people know how to put on a banquet.”

Former television news personality Matt Mosler will emcee the event. In addition to a catfish dinner, silent auctions, live auctions, door prizes and raffles, there will be a segment of the show where friends and colleagues will share some of their favorite off-the-wall, Wild Man moments. After 37 years promoting Arkansas’s fish and wildlife heritage, there is plenty of material from which to choose.

“I’ll be taking notes during the roast,” said Wilson. “And I’m making sure I’ll have the microphone last.”

Tickets to the “camouflage casual” family event are being sold through Ducks Unlimited at ducks.org/arkansas/events. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth under 16. A table for eight with priority seating can be purchased at $300. Table purchases also will be entered into a special raffle for a shotgun at the end of the evening. All money raised will be split equally among DU, RMEF, NWTF and AHFH.