From left: Johnny Morris, Lefty Kreh, Leigh Perkins and Huey Lewis.
Photo by Brian Goulart, via forbes.com
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust held its 5th Annual Big Apple Dinner on Tuesday night, and the big moment of the evening was the presentation of the “Lefty Kreh Sportsman of the Year” award to Leigh H. Perkins, Chairman of Orvis. Although he turned over the day-to-day running of the company to his sons, Perk and Dave, back in the early 1990s, LHP—as he is known ’round these parts—remains involved. But his real passions are fishing and hunting, and even at the age of 88, he continues to log more than 200 days in the field per year.
Orvis vice chairman, Dave Perkins (left), congratulates LHP, along with Lefty and Johnny Morris.
Photo by Charley Perkins
Before the actual presentation of the award, LHP’s longtime friend Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, offered a tribute, and according to Monte Burke of Forbes, “He teared up a bit as he spoke about the life and work of a man whom he said he ‘admired and respected.'”
The it was Lefty’s turn to take the dais and to hand over the award, which honor’s LHP’s conservation work and dedication to preservation of the fish and waters he so loves.
Click here for the full story on Forbes.com.
Three generations of the Perkins family attended the ceremony. From right: Perk Perkins, Orvis CEO; his son, Simon, senior manager of Orvis Adventures; and Simon’s young daughter, Pippa, on the lap of her mother, Els.
Photo by Charley Perkins
From left: Bill Klyn, Dr. Aaron Adams, Huey Lewis, Dave Perkins, Lefty Kreh, LHP, BTT Executive Director Jim McDuffie, and Perk Perkins.
Photo by Charley Perkins
LHP was very kind to me over the years. I miss the few days we spent bird and turkey hunting. He is a good man.
Congratulations to Mr. Perkins, a well deserved honor. But to give any positive press to Huey Lewis, after all his efforts to privatize stream access in Montana, is very disappointing.