2002 SPORTSMEN'S HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Mike Smith, Louisiana's legendary waterfowler and duck hnnter is one of Louisiana's most avid outdoorsmen. For over thirty-five years, this soft-spoken Louisiana native has been intrigued with the wonders of waterfowl. He has relentlessly pursued knowledge of these crafty birds in order to know everything about them. Because of his remarkable excellence in the field, Mike was named Gulf Coast and International Champion Caller and has won five Louisiana State Duck Calling titles and eight Louisiana State Snow Goose Calling titles. In addition to these accomplishments, he has won countless local calling contests that began when he won the duck and goose calling championship in New Orleans at the age of sixteen. Since 1984, Mike Smith's Louisiana Marsh Guide Service has offered quality waterfowl hunts to hunters from across the nation. His excellent reputation keeps hunters coming back each season for a completely enjoyable Louisiana duck and goose hunting experience. In recent years, Mike has devoted much of his time to teaching local youths the art of calling ducks and geese. He also speaks and gives calling demonstrations at several local and regional shows each year. Mike's advise and expertise is greatly sought after by waterfowl enthusiasts across the Gulf South, and his insights into waterfowl hunting and calling are wonderful assets to the Louisiana waterfowl hunting community.

Dave Ballay, expert fishing guide Dave Ballay has fished and hunted the Mississippi Delta since he was old enough to walk. Dave is now 53 and still at it. He has always been active in the fishing and hunting industry throughout his adult years and has devoted the last 16 years to building and operating Venice Marina. Back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's, only a few fishermen and hunters realized the wealth of fish and wildlife that abounded in the rich Delta marsh. While fishing and hunting the area, Dave always knew Venice would one day be an outdoorsman's paradise. His charter boat "Aw Heck" was kept busy in the late 70's and early 80's delivering anglers to the rich offshore bounties of fish. At this time, he dreamed of a full-service marina to dock his boat. His dream came true in 1986. Now anglers from all over the world come to Venice to enjoy the multitude of fish and game in the area. Dave spends most of his time promoting the Venice area at sportsmen and boat shows. He enjoys entertaining VIP's from ESPN and TNN television shows and writers from well known sportfishing national magazines. Dave Ballay is an expert salesman as he continually sells the great sport of hunting and fishing in Louisiana's fabulous Mississippi Delta marshes.

John Akers, wildlife artist whose paintings are instantly recognizable, is a self-taught artist whose style has been achieved through years of hard work. He has concentrated on the study and painting of wildlife, waterfowl, coral reefs, florals and humming birds. His duck paintings are among the best as evidenced by his being named the "Artist of the Year" in 1985 and 1989 by the Louisiana Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. He has also created several prints for National Ducks Unlimited. In 1986, John was asked to paint the Louisiana Wild Turkey Federation Stamp. In 1990, he painted both the official print and stamp for the Aquarium of the Americas, the White Tiger print and stamp for the Audubon Zoo, and, the first ever, Reef Conservation stamp and print for the Reef Keepers of America. In 1991, he created the first conservation stamp and print for the country of Belize to help preserve the Jaguar. John's works are displayed in thousands of homes, offices and churches throughout the United States, Africa, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Belize, Australia, New Zealand as well as many other countries. He is listed in "American Artists of Renown", a book of Who's Who in American Art. His works have won recognition in many contests throughout the South and his wildlife paintings have been featured in Louisiana Conservationist Magazine on numerous occasions. The Franklin & Danbury Mint has reproduced his works on collector plates and his paintings are part of the permanent collection of the Memphis State Museum. Currently, reproductions of his paintings are being published on a continual basis for distribution throughout the world, and his copperplate etchings, watercolors and acrylic paintings are displayed in the finest galleries nationwide.

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