It has been nearly four years since Maine outdoors icon George Smith died. While there was a flurry of articles and blog posts at the time of his passing in February 2021, and a couple of random articles over the years, the silence has been deafening.
George died during the pandemic after a yearlong battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He had all but lost his ability to communicate beyond short emails aided by some sort of device.
My last email from George simply said, “Great article, Bob,” referring to something I had written that was published in the BDN. Visitations had slowed dramatically due to concerns with regard to COVID-19.
COVID deprived George and the rest of us of a proper farewell. More than a year into the epidemic and with no end in sight, the public farewell, memorial and dedication that George’s passing warranted never happened.
Four years later, it still hasn’t.
No outdoors figure in the history of Maine was more influential than George Smith. Under his leadership, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine became a veritable political powerhouse. At one time it was said, figuratively speaking, that you could not get elected to public office without SAM’s endorsement.
When it came to the outdoors in Maine, George seemed to be everywhere at once. He helped create the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund and the Land for Maine’s Future program. If not for George’s leadership, Maine would not have its heralded State Heritage Fish law.
In 2017, George received the Harrison Richardson Environmental Leadership Award from Maine Conservation Voters, something you don’t expect to see for someone from the hook-and-bullet arena.
George was a prolific writer. He had outdoors columns in several Maine publications and two blogs: one in the Bangor Daily News and his own GeorgeSmithMaine. George wrote three outdoors books: “A Lifetime of Hunting & Fishing,” “A Life Lived Outdoors” and “Maine Sporting Camps,” the latter of which I was honored to contribute to.
He also co-hosted the “Wildfire” television show with former publisher for The Maine Sportsman and longtime friend Harry Vanderweide.
George was a mentor, ally and friend. He taught me a lot about advocating for our natural resources. George invited me to participate in SAM’s Fishing Initiative Committee, an all-star team of seasoned and dedicated advocates.
I initially declined, stating that I disagreed with many things he stood for. He retorted in classic George fashion, “Then let’s just focus on where we do agree, wild native fish.”
I watched George change from a catch-and-kill angler to a catch-and-release angler. I was there when George took the stand at a meeting in Orono with the National Park Service in support of Katahdin Woods and Waters, a complete reversal from his earlier position.
While I was planning on speaking in support of the proposal, I opted not to as nothing really mattered after George’s endorsement.
George publicly supported Native Fish Coalition, a group I helped found, and served on the Maine chapter Advisory Council from its inception until his passing. We presented George with the first State Heritage Fish sign as a fitting tribute to his involvement. And it was George who I turned to for the foreword to my book “Fly Fishing Maine.”
While I think about George often, two things triggered this article: the recent solicitations for nominations for the Wiggie Robinson Legendary Guide Award and the upcoming State of Maine Sportsman’s Show in Augusta.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife sponsors two awards, that noted above and the Fly Rod Crosby Outdoor Lifetime Achievement Award.
With all due respect to both Mr. Robinson and Ms. Crosby, where is the George Smith Award?
While he may have been a thorn in the side of MDIF&W at times, few worked harder to promote and preserve what they oversee while helping to ensure they had what they needed to do their jobs.
The State of Maine Sportsman’s Show is co-sponsored by SAM and The Maine Sportsman.
While SAM Executive Director David Trahan has done a great job of moving the organization forward, it was George Smith who laid the groundwork. As for The Maine Sportsman, there was a time when George was arguably their most visible writer. And up until he could no longer do so due to declining health, George was a fixture at the show.
I would like to see George get the public recognition he deserves. It’s time Maine honored him with the George Smith Outdoor Promotion Award.
And how about dedicating the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show to George’s memory. Nothing would please me more than to walk into the Civic Center and see a banner honoring George’s contributions to the Maine outdoor scene.
Bob Mallard is the former owner of Kennebec River Outfitters and a Registered Maine Fishing Guide. He is writer, author and Executive Director for Native Fish Coalition. Look for Bob’s latest books, “ Squaretail: The Definitive Guide to Brook Trout and Where to Find Them,” “ Favorite Flies for Maine: 50 Essential Patterns from Local Experts” and “ Fly Fishing Maine: Local Experts on The State’s Best Waters.” Bob can be reached at BobMallard.com or [email protected].
