Prime rib dinner just adds to festive awards gathering.

• Position: Sports

Every year, the Worcester County League of Sportsmen's Clubs banquet at the Wachusett Country Club is like Oscar night. Honors are given out, and everybody who's somebody in the sportsmen's world attends. And not just for the fabulous prime rib.

Wildlife biologists, outdoor writers, the most influential sportsmen and the most environmentally concerned and sportsmen-supportive politicians in our state all were there for the biggest celebratory event in our district.

If the late Joan Rivers fished and hunted, she'd have been there, critiquing everyone's dress. No one looked more dapper than Worcester County Hall of Fame sportsman Mel Crouse with his elegant suit and Stetson.

Rivers definitely would have highlighted the big stars of the evening -- retiring MassWildlife director Wayne MacCallum, newly appointed Environmental Affairs Secretary Matt Beaton, and newly appointed fish and wildlife commissioner George Peterson. Deputy fish and game commissioner Mary Lee King was there, too, along with interim director Jack Buckley, assistant director John O'Leary and Fish & Wildlife board members George Darey, Bonnie Booth, Dr. Joseph Larson, Michael Roche, former board member Ernie Foster, and retired information and education chief Ellie Horwitz.

Spencer's state Sen. Anne Gobi, who delights the sportsmen every year with her wit and ready laughter, was there, of course, along with state Sen. James Eldredge, state Reps. Jay Barrows, Donald Berthiaume, Kim Ferguson, Harold Naughton and Susannah Whipps Lee. The league much appreciates the support of all these legislators who understand the importance of the sportsmen's tradition in preserving our wild land and wildlife for all segments of our population.

Also on the celebratory red carpet were Massachusetts Environmental Police Col. James McGinn, and EPO Charles Ziemba. Gun Owners Action League president Jay Beard and executive director Jim Wallace were there along with MassWildlife's Bill Davis, Marion Larson and Pete Mirick's mother.

Her son, the incomparable and irreplaceable wildlife writer and editor of MassWildlife magazine, received the league's Words of Wisdom Award, in recognition of his efforts through journalism to inform, educate and promote sportsmen's issues. Mirick is a wildlife writer's writer -- with a lifetime of hands-on experience and a degree of knowledge that is astounding. There are many brilliant wildlife biologists around. What separates him from everyone else is the level of...