The Virginia Bear Hunters Association established a Hall of Fame in 2007 to honor bear hunters who either through their service to the Association or their inspiration to other bear hound hunters deserve special recognition.
We acquired a large board that is displayed at all VBHA meetings and pertinent events. A name-plate is added for new Hall of Fame members as they are inducted at a VBHA meeting.
The current members of the VBHA Hall of Fame and the person who nominated them is shown below:
VBHA Hall of Fame
| YEAR |
HALL OF FAMER |
NOMINATED BY |
| 2007 |
Bill Draper |
Bill Draper, Jr. |
| 2007 |
Gene Smith |
David Steger |
| 2007 |
Harry Crawford |
Steve Alley |
| 2007 |
Jerry Phillips |
Sandy Cornwell |
| 2007 |
James Cregger |
Ernest Musser, III |
| 2007 |
Frank Blessing |
Ernest Musser, III |
| 2007 |
Rudolph Blessing |
Ernest Musser, III |
| 2007 |
Estill Stilwell |
Bill Draper, Jr. et al |
| 2008 |
James Bradley |
Randall Brillhart |
| 2008 |
Robert Bradley |
Opal Caldwell |
| 2008 |
Charles Montgomery |
Ann Montgomery |
| 2008 |
Jesse Bridge |
Jerry Moore |
| 2008 |
W. B. (Bert) Armstrong |
Cecil Boggs |
| 2008 |
Woodrow Smith |
Denny Smith |
| 2008 |
Todd Harris |
Larry Mustard |
| 2008 |
Carrie Crawford |
Warren Radford |
| 2008 |
Denny Smith |
Steven Carper, Jr. |
| 2008 |
Cecil Boggs |
H. Kirby Burch |
| 2009 |
Malcolm Horne |
Sammy Myers |
| 2009 |
Robert (Bob) Hancock |
Chet Hancock, Sandy Hutchison |
| 2009 |
Frank Craft |
Chet Hancock, Sandy Hutchison |
| 2010 |
John Carl Franklin |
Hunter Thrasher |
| 2010 |
Eddie Sheets |
J. C. Ashbury |
| 2010 |
Albert Clark |
Tommy Perkey |
| 2011 |
Jerry Moore |
Roger Lowry |
| 2011 |
Dahmon Ball |
Wayne Ball |
| 2012 |
Jack Schumaker |
Jimmy Bradley |
| 2012 |
Dick Collins |
Bob Weaver |
| 2013 |
Harvey Bryant |
Neal Massie |
| 2015 |
Eddie Hoge |
Ernest Musser, III |
| 2016 |
Timothy James Lewis |
Jake Campbell |
| 2016 |
Wayne Ball |
Lacie Hale |
| 2016 |
Maggie Phillips |
Thompson Valley Hunt Club |
| 2016 |
Jack Thompson |
Joan Thompson |
After the initial Hall of Fame nominations, the following criteria were established by the membership:
- All Nominees must be Virginia bear hunters.
- If living, the nominee must be a member of the Virginia Bear Hunters Association. If deceased, membership is not a requirement.
- All nominees must be 60 years of age or older.
- All nominations must be made by a VBHA member.
- There is no limit to the number of inductees.
- To nominate someone for the Hall of Fame, the member will send a nomination letter to the VBHA Secretary.
- Nominations will be printed in the newsletter and the official induction ceremony will be held at the next memembership meeting.
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