Conservation Director Conley to retire July 1

Conservation commissioners say his leadership will be missed.

JEFFERSON CITY -- Conservation Department Director Jerry M. Conley has announced that he will retire from the state wildlife agency in July. His retirement culminates a 36-year career with state conservation agencies, 25 years of which were spent as director. His retirement plans include a return to Idaho, where he and his wife, Janet, have one grandchild, with another expected in April.
Far from hanging up his fishing rod, Conley said he is looking forward to spending time teaching his grandchildren about the pleasures of exploring nature. "Janet and I said when I first took the job as director that I would be here about five years," Conley said. "I think I'm leaving the agency in excellent shape, as far as both programs and financial management. The key has been hiring good people and letting them do their jobs."

Conservation Commission Chairman Anita Gorman, Kansas City, said she has accepted Conley's announcement, "with regret and great gratitude. He has done a fine job leading the department, which continues to be one of the best-respected conservation agencies in the nation."

John Powell, Rolla, was Conservation Commission Chairman in 1996 when Jerry Conley was hired to be the Missouri Conservation Department director. Conley had been head of Idaho's fish and game agency for 15 years. Powell said the Missouri Commission was looking for someone with a successful track record to replace former director, Jerry J. Presley, who also retired.

"We looked at lots of excellent candidates," recalled Powell. "But Conley always rose to the top. He had very impressive credentials and came highly recommended by a variety of sources. I think he has done an outstanding job as director."

Ron Stites, Kansas City, and Randy Herzog, St. Joseph, along with Mrs. Gorman, also were Commission members when Conley was selected to be the Conservation Department director.

Conley says as director he was able to build on the successes of the past while moving the agency forward. He moved many staff positions to the field to localize agency direction. He established regional coordination teams to make sure staff from all divisions set mutual goals and worked together to accomplish them. He also created a new division, Private Land Services, to work one-on-one with landowners interested in improving their property for conservation. More than 6,300 landowners have received help from PLS staff, improving 300,000 acres.

His priorities for staff included leadership training, an emphasis on customer service, and forging partnerships with outside groups. During his tenure as director, the agency achieved many milestones:
--Waterfowl populations soared to their highest levels since the 1980s as a result of Missouri's participation in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and the addition of 25,000 acres of wetlands to the state.
--Major wetland acquisitions included floodplain areas of the Missouri River damaged in the floods of 1993 and 1995, and expansion of the Four Rivers and B.K. Leach conservation areas.
--Deer and turkey seasons were lengthened and liberalized. The first 3-week turkey season in Missouri's history was held in 1998.
--Youth-only hunts for deer and turkey were established in 2001 to introduce kids to the hunting heritage.
--An osprey restoration program resulted in the first successful osprey nesting in Missouri since DDT nearly wiped out populations 40 years ago.
--The Stream Team program grew to more than 1,800 teams, deployed statewide to adopt streams and advocate for their health.
--An Urban Deer Policy was adopted to help cities deal with deer population problems.
--The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation was established as a non-profit organization with the goal of supporting forestry, fish and wildlife conservation programs in Missouri.--Columbia Bottom, a 4,468-acre parcel of land adjoining the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, was purchased for $9.3 million. It is being developed with hiking and biking trails, wetland boardwalks, wildlife viewing areas, a river access and viewing platform. It is expected to attract 100,000 visitors per year during the Lewis & Clark bicentennial celebration.--The Discovery Center was built in Kansas City. Unique in conception, the Discovery Center houses hands-on workshops for children and families, a teacher resource center, and offices for departments of Conservation and Natural Resources staff. More than half of the funds for the $8 million environmentally friendly facility was raised from private donations.

The accomplishments were an agency-wide effort, but Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Howard Wood of Bonne Terre, credits Conley with the vision and persistence to accomplish long term goals. "Jerry's legacy won't end when he retires. His mark will be on the Department for years to come as a positive reminder of his abilities as a leader."

Commissioner Cynthia Metcalfe, St. Louis, said she is disappointed not to be serving longer with Conley as director. She was appointed to the four-person commission less than a year ago. "I admire Jerry's leadership very much. He has put the agency on a sound teamwork footing to move into the future."

The next step for the Commission, Metcalfe said, is to get together to outline the qualities they will look for in the next director in order for the Commission to operate properly and conservation in Missouri to continue to thrive.

Steve Bradford, Cape Girardeau, joined the Commission at the same time as Metcalfe. "In the short time Jerry and I have worked together, my respect for his commitment to protecting Missouri's natural resources, and the integrity and personal value system he brought to the job has greatly impressed me," Bradford said. "I understand his desire to spend more time with his family, but his loss to the Department will create a void for some time to come."

Bradford said the challenges that face the agency in the future include finding a leader who will carry forward the positive organizational changes Conley initiated.

- Kathy Love -