Kentucky Fish and Wildlife game warden receives national award

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 9, 2024) — The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators​ (NASBLA) recently honored Game Warden Marcus Bowling of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Law Enforcement Division as the 2024 National Boating Educator of the Year.

Bowling received the award at the 65th NASBLA Annual Conference last month in New Orleans, Louisiana. In June, Bowling was named the 2024 NASBLA Southern Region Educator of the Year, making him a finalist for the national award along with the winners of the northern and western regions of the organization.​​

​​“Warden Bowling has invested years of dedicated service educating the Commonwealth on the importance of recreational boating safety” said Col. Jeremy McQueary, director of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Law Enforcement Division. “The recognition of his efforts and commitment to educating and keeping the citizens of our state safe is truly commendable.”

​​A resident of Mercer County, Bowling has served as the boating education coordinator for the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division since 2019, bringing invaluable knowledge and experience to the position after holding different roles at the agency for 25 years.

The National Boating Educator of the Year award, also known as the Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year, is an honor bestowed upon educators and volunteers from state and local agencies and from nonprofit organizations. Boating law administrators nominate candidates who have made an outstanding contribution to boating safety through education. A nominee should be someone in the education field who goes above and beyond to engage students and boaters, raise awareness, and make boating education and education initiatives relevant, thorough, and exciting.​​

​​“The Pamela S. Dillon award memorializes her 40 years of hard work, dedication and service as a boating educator, all of which align with Warden Bowling’s professional values,” McQueary said. “We are very proud of Warden Bowling and are excited about the future and growth of recreational boating safety and education in Kentucky with him at the helm.”

As the state's boating education coordinator, Bowling teaches 15 to 25 classes annually for people seeking their Boating Education Certificate. His classes reach a diverse audience, including search and rescue units, high school bass fishing teams, marina patrons and summer camp children, among others.​​

​​In 2021, Bowling launched the Life Jacket Loaner Program with three stations. There are now 17 stations, with five more planned, that provide loaner jackets to adults and children at rivers and lakes across Kentucky. He also instituted the state’s new BUI/DUI (boating under the influence and driving under the influence) campaign this year, leading a collaboration between local, state and federal officials to bring more awareness to this safety issue.

“Marcus Bowling’s steadfast dedication to improving the safety of Kentucky’s waterways in truly commendable,” said Ron Sarver, the interim executive director of NASBLA. “His tireless efforts play a significant role in reducing boat incidents, addressing impaired operators, and preventing drownings.”​​

​​Headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, NASBLA is a national non-profit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety, representing the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories affecting nearly 85 million American boaters.