KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT of
FISH & WILDLIFE RESOURCES

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission as it is known today was established in 1944. The nine-member board is comprised of volunteers who serve four-year terms after being nominated by licensed hunters and anglers, appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the Kentucky Senate. The Commission meets at least quarterly in Frankfort, and otherwise as needed. Commission members promote fish and wildlife conservation while representing the interests of anglers and hunters. The Commission oversees the Commissioner (agency head) and budget of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and recommends all hunting, fishing and boating regulations for approval by the General Assembly. Legislators must approve all recommendations before they become law.

David L. Jones - 1^st District

David L. Jones, of Barlow, received his appointment as the 1st District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on Aug. 14, 2020.

A lifelong hunter and angler, Jones is a Vietnam veteran and co-owner of the Green Timber Duck Club, a 156-acre farm developed specifically for waterfowling in the Barlow river bottoms of Ballard County.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1969 until he was honorably discharged as a corporal. He studied wildlife biology at Murray State University for two and a half years before enlisting in the Marine Corps and is a graduate of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s School of Instrument Technology at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant.

A lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and winner of numerous long-range rifle regional competitions, Jones has worked as a professional waterfowl hunting and fishing guide in western Kentucky and southern Illinois.

He was named 2020 Person of the Year by the Wetherby Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.

“I’m here for everybody in the 1st District, whether you’re in Christian County or Ballard County,” Jones said.

First District Counties: Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall, and Trigg counties

Brian Fisher - 2^nd District

Brian Fisher of Bowling Green received his appointment as the 2nd District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on Dec. 5, 2018.

Brian currently serves as general manager of the Hughes and Coleman law firm, where he is responsible for oversight and management of the company’s operations. He graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Master of Business Administration degree in 2013.

He is a long-standing member of Ducks Unlimited and a member of the National Rifle Association.

Second District Counties: Allen, Butler, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, Logan, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Union, Warren, and Webster counties

Ralph Swallows - 3^rd District

Ralph Swallows, of Louisville, received his appointment as the 3rd District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on Oct. 25, 2018.

He is a registered investment advisor for the Kentucky Financial Group Inc. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications and Human Relations from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee.

He sought a seat on the commission out of his love of the outdoors. “I have fished and hunted as long as I can remember, and always loved being in the wild,” he said. “We have a wonderful heritage in this state and passing it onto the next generation is of great importance.”

He founded and organized the Wild Game Feed at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, and has partnered with Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry to help provide more than 1.5 million meals through the promotion of the Sportsman’s Challenge.

His memberships include the Fern Creek Sportsman’s Club and the Derby City Fly Fishers. He serves as vice president of the Trevecca University Alumni Board.

Third District Counties: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, Shelby, and Spencer counties

Kenny L. Knott - 4^th District

Kenny L. Knott of Glasgow has worked various positions in the lumber industry since 1987, including mill manager and business partner. He currently works for Roy Anderson Lumber in the wood procurement side of the business. A native of Marshall County, he grew up working a large livestock farm, whe​re he also grew tobacco and row crops. In his spare time, he spent the days hunting and fishing from an early age. He attended Marshall County High School and Murray State University.

He has an extensive background in the outdoors. In addition to his duck, deer and turkey hunting pursuits, he is a 15-year tournament angler and served as past president of the Kentucky Trapshooters League. He is a member of the National Rifle Association and a life member of the Amateur Trapshooting Association. In his role as commission member, Knott wants to help give young sportsmen and sportswomen the opportunity to learn safe handling of firearms as well as learn to hunt and fish in Kentucky.

Knott and his wife, Kim, have two daughters, Jenna Crandell and Karey Wilbeck. They are members of the East Main Church of Christ in Glasgow.

Fourth District Counties: Adair, Barren, Cumberland, Edmonson, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Hart, Larue, Marion, Metcalfe, Monroe, Nelson, Taylor, and Washington counties

Josh Lillard - 5^th District

Josh Lillard, of Hebron, received his appointment as the 5th District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on Aug. 14, 2020.

Lillard is a lifelong resident of Boone County and an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys fly-fishing, hunting, hiking and kayaking, among other activities.

A 1996 graduate of Larry A. Ryle High School who holds an associate degree from Thomas More University, Lillard is active in several sportsman’s clubs.

He serves as a board member of Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers. In addition, he is president of the Dutchman’s Rod and Gun Club, secretary of the Fifth District Federation of Kentucky Sportsmen and member of Northern Kentucky Quail Forever and Elsmere Sportsman’s Club.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to represent my fellow sportsmen and sportswomen of the Fifth District and for the opportunity to work closer with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to help promote the outdoor activities that I have grown to love in our great state,” Lillard said. “I hope to inspire others to continue to pass on our traditions of fishing, hunting and trapping to the youths of the Fifth District so that one day they can pass these traditions on to their own children.”

Fifth District Counties: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, and Trimble counties

Rob Lear - 6th District

Robert W. Lear, of Versailles, received his appointment as the 6th District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on Aug. 14, 2020.

Lear is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Bluegrass Realty in Lexington, assisting with buying and selling homes in the central Kentucky area. He is also the Chief Operating Officer of Sheltowee Hammock Company. Lear previously served in executive roles with the Burnamwood Camp and Conference Center and with Burnamwood Appalachian Ministries in Irvine.

He is an elder and former youth minister at Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church and was an assistant soccer coach at Sayre High School. Lear is a member of the Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, and Kentucky Wild.

Lear has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology from Centre College. He enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking and camping with his wife Jessica, other family and friends.

"Kentucky's fish and wildlife resources are second to none," he said. I look forward to working alongside sportsmen and sportswomen of the 6th District and across Kentucky to forge paths of progress.

Sixth District Counties: Anderson, Boyle, Casey, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Jessamine, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Powell, Rockcastle, Scott, and Woodford counties

Paul Horn - 7^th District

Paul Horn earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1994.

He has worked in Eastern Kentucky for 22 years since college. He has held positions as a mining engineer, chief engineer, and Chief Operating Officer of mining operations. For the past 16 years he has been employed by Booth Energy. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Kentucky Coal Association.

Paul is a member of the Auxier Freewill Baptist Church. He is also a member of several local fish and game clubs, as well as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He has enjoyed hunting and fishing since he was a child and wants to ensure the resources of Kentucky’s fish and wildlife for future generations.

Paul resides in Prestonsburg with his wife Stacy, and 8-year-old son Derek.

Seventh District Counties: Breathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Harlan, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, and Pike counties

Doug Morgan - 8^th District

Doug Morgan, of Morehead, received his appointment as the 8th District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on May 2, 2019.

A lifelong sportsman, he grew up in Carter County hunting on the family farm and fishing Tygarts Creek.

Morgan is past treasurer and past president of the Kentucky Houndsmen Association and served as vice chairman on the State Advisory Committee for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. He also worked extensively with the Cave Run Kids Fishing Derby, serving as its treasurer for two years.

Morgan has been a certified 4-H black powder coach, recipient of the Kentucky Long Rifle Woodsman of the Year award, and National Rifle Association-certified Chief Safety Range Officer.

“I am honored to serve the sportsmen and sportswomen of the 8th District,” he said. “I look forward to collaborating with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and working alongside my fellow Commission members."

"Youth involvement is very important, and one of my goals during my term is to enhance opportunities for youth to utilize the outdoor resources in their communities.”

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Eighth District Counties: Bath, Bourbon, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Rowan, and Wolfe counties

Dr. Karl Clinard - 9^th District

Dr. Karl D. Clinard, a Pulaski County native, retired in 2014 from his Orthodontic practice. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kentucky and his doctorate in dental medicine from the University of Louisville. He also completed his specialty training in Orthodontics at the University of Louisville.

He holds memberships in several sporting organizations including, life memberships in the NRA and Ducks Unlimited. Dr. Clinard serves as a Board of Trustees member of Campbellsville University and as a Deacon at Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Somerset.

He has hunted in several states in the lower 48, as well as Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Russia.

"I am humbled and honored to represent the sportsmen and women of the 9th district. I enjoy working with the other commission members, as well as the dedicated employees of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. I believe we have a common goal of maintaining, improving, and sharing Kentucky's fish and wildlife resources with fellow Kentuckians as well as tourists who visit our great state."

Karl and his wife, Tara, have two grown daughters and several grandchildren.

Ninth District Counties: Bell, Clay, Clinton, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne, and Whitley counties