                                                          2016 Lt. Tim Coleman 

Lt. Tim Coleman of Barboursville, served for 36 years, working for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Law enforcement section as an officer and over half of that time as an instructor for the Hunter Education program. Lt. Coleman’s passion was always for what the Hunter education program stands for, always trying to find ways to fulfill the mission. Lt. Coleman constantly made the certification of young hunters his mission while still juggling the many other responsibilities state level at headquarters. He was an inspiration to those that worked for him and with him. While working as the State Training Coordinator, Lt. Coleman had the opportunity to work with many non-governmental organizations. To name a few they include; the National Rifle association, International Hunter Education Association, national Wild Turkey Federation, 4-H Shooting Sports, Boy Scouts of America, Archery in the Schools and public shooting clubs. When asked by these organizations for assistance, he always answered with, “What time do you want us there?” Lt. Coleman believed that the future of hunting and the future of the shooting sports rested on the availability of programs that he could provide. He was well known and highly thought of and during his illness numerous individuals from other states would ask of him and his health. All of the positive comments could not fit on this page. Lt. Coleman knew all of the state coordinators on a personal level and was genuinely admired by all that worked around him. Lt. Coleman was not only known throughout the Hunter Education realm, but known worldwide throughout the Boater Education realm as well. His peers knew him as the gentle giant that only spoke when something needed to be said. There was a conversation between Lt. Coleman and the coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Hunter Education. She stated, “No matter what was going on, Tim never lost sight of what was important, the youth.” After all that he had been through with his illnesses, he had encouraged one volunteer instructor that had just undergone open-heart surgery and lost his son in the same week, and was thinking of quitting as an instructor by telling him, “Take some time, but keep on doing what you’re doing.” That encouraged that instructor to never miss a class and he hasn’t in over twenty years. This speaks volumes of the kind of character he was and the kind of person that worked for the hunter Education Program. When he got ill, he was worried about the WVHEA and hoped it would continue to prosper and grow and was confident that it was going to be in good hands. Again, Lt. Coleman was known not only throughout the nation, but throughout many countries and provinces for his good works.