Roy Herron – A Friend to Tennessee Hunters and Fishermen

West Tennessee Outdoors Magazine

March/April 2010

From the Editor’s Desk of Rob Somerville

I have personally known Senator Roy Herron of Dresden for nearly two decades. In fact, I’ve been around his family, especially him and his two teenage sons, at various outdoors related events over the years.

With all due respect to our great country and its political hierarchy, I tread cautiously about publicly endorsing any candidate on either local or national levels. I have only spoken in favor of one other candidate in my 25-plus years as an outdoor journalist.

Due to this magazine’s credibility and our “call it like it is” editorial content, West Tennessee Outdoors has been referred to as “the voice of the blue collar sportsmen of Tennessee.”

I guess the reason for that moniker is because we have credibility. We praise individuals or groups when they do what we consider the correct thing for protecting the wildlife, our habitat, and Tennessee sportsmen’s rights to pursue the great American traditions of hunting and fishing. We also let the public know whenever we believe these subjects are at risk in a manner that may harm them.

With that being said, I have to say that Roy Herron should be supported by any voters in the state, especially hunters and fishermen, in his campaign to run for Congress in the 8^th District. Here are some reasons that I believe Roy Herron is a proponent of our outdoor lifestyle and will fight for us all in Washington, D.C. when elected to Congress:

·         Roy Herron is a crusader in educating and encouraging the youth of today in the ethical and safe participation of the outdoor lifestyle.

o   As a Senator, for every year that I can recall, he has been a key supporter and instrumental in the success of the West Tennessee Youth Outdoor Jamboree that I founded 14 years ago. I have also hunted with Roy and his two sons on several occasions and have witnessed the patience and care he displays when teaching ethical conservational behavior that all responsible sportsmen should practice.

·         Roy Herron has publicly taken a stand as a Tennessee Senator to preserve our outdoor heritage.

o   Senator Herron recently co-signed a bill, called “The Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment” to change the constitutional of our state that, if passed, will preserve the outdoor heritage we now enjoy for future generations.

·         Roy Herron is in good standing with the NRA, the organization that is our greatest lobbyist for Second Amendment of our United States Constitution which states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

o   It is public knowledge that Roy Herron is a “lifetime member” of the NRA. In past election campaigns, Roy Herron has received an A+ rating from the NRA, which is the highest political rating given by the NRA.

·         Roy Herron keeps his ear to the ground about all issues concerning the outdoors and its lifestyle in Tennessee.

o   For longer than I have, Roy has been a member in good standing of Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association (TOWA) and attended their annual conferences. I can’t count the times I witnessed him speaking to members of the outdoor media, TWRA officials and biologists, and experts in wildlife and conservation. I observed him listening intently and taking notes, and asking intelligent questions, so he could better understand outdoor-related issues and represent his people in an informed manner in Nashville.

·         Unfortunately, I rarely meet an individual that possesses the characteristic traits which I refer to as “Old School.”

o   What I mean is a person who “walks the walk” instead of just “talking the talk.” I define an “Old School” man as a person of ethics and standing. Someone who tells you what they will do, and then makes every effort to do exactly what they promised if not more. It is someone who values their name and credibility over material things and their ego.

·         Roy Herron has proved his character to me time after time when he stood to gain nothing in doing so.

o   In my observations, Tennessee Senator Roy Herron has held more public meetings than any other elected official I know. He listens with no pretense or false sense of caring. Then he acts to the best benefit of our state and its citizens!

Summary: I have listed my opinion based on my observations and matters of public record as to why Roy Herron should be supported by all enthusiasts of the outdoors, whether hunters and fishermen or now, who enjoy this lifestyle which God in His bountiful goodness has given the people of the Volunteer State. I have not even touched on other important issues that Roy has proved his concern for in his legislative career. These subjects prove that the native son of Dresden, Tennessee cares about senior citizens, our children’s safety, education and much more.

These are all topics that you should research and decide on yourself but are not proper editorial content for an outdoor publication.

It is our duty as sportsmen to research all candidates that are campaigning to represent us in any office. If we do not vote for the right individual to represent us, our attitude of “It will never happen in our state” may prove wrong and the traditional heritage of enjoying the great outdoors as we now do will be stripped from us like a thief in the night. We must protect these inalienable rights by voting the right candidates into office like Roy Herron for Congress.

Isn’t it about time that we elect one of our own into Congress?

For more information, go to www.royherron.com.