ABOUT

The California Outdoors Hall of Fame recognizes California’s greatest outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen in the natural environment. These are people who have dedicated themselves to advancing the understanding of, appreciation for and conservation of California’s great outdoors.

Outdoors Hall of Fame inductees have demonstrated exceptional breadth of skills and commitment to the outdoors and have touched many thousands, if not millions, of Californians through their passion for the outdoors and outdoor recreation.

The California Outdoors Hall of Fame strives to sustain what they accomplished, inspiring future generations toward adventure and conservation.

Personal achievement in outdoor sport, by itself, is not enough. The California Outdoors Hall of Fame only recognizes those whose  profound scope of outdoor accomplishments have impacted others, improved the lives of Californians and benefitted the outdoors.

Photo Credits: Steve Arita, Elliot McGucken, John Poimiroo, Philip Reedy

Recent Inductees

BIOGRAPHIES
MIKE AUGHNEY
MIKE AUGHNEY

Mike Aughney is the originator of online fishing reports. An outspoken proponent of fisheries and the environment, he has been a leading voice for California salmon.

DUSTY BAKER
DUSTY BAKER

Major League Baseball legend Dusty Baker is also a legendary angler and duck hunter. This extraordinary champion has inspired thousands to head to the outdoors and accomplished a scope of adventures that has made him one of the nation’s most traveled outdoorsmen.

BELNO “BEL” LANGE
BELNO “BEL” LANGE

One of California’s first outdoor broadcasters, Bel Lange started his Emmy-winning TV show, ‘The Outdoorsman’ the mid 1950s. He introduced his viewers, listeners and readers to the greatness of California’s outdoors for decades thereafter.

YANCEY FOREST-KNOWLES
YANCEY FOREST-KNOWLES

Described as the embodiment of the authentic outdoorsman, Yancey Forest-Knowles has experienced the outdoors like few others. He has fished fresh and saltwater species worldwide, guided white water trips, sailed the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, been a competitive sporting clays shooter and been a key voice in the halls of government for the outdoorsman.

BRIAN RILEY
BRIAN RILEY

Brian Riley is the California originator of what has become a national trend in outdoor youth education. Three generations of young outdoorsmen and women have been inspired at his Red Bank Outdoor Academy.

WAYNE POULSEN
WAYNE POULSEN

Ski champion Wayne Poulsen purchased Squaw Valley with the dream of building a great ski area there. Fortunes prevented that, but not his impact on California skiing.

ALEXANDER CUSHING
ALEXANDER CUSHING

Alexander Cushing took Wayne Poulsen’s dream of establishing a ski area at Squaw Valley and turned it into reality, bringing the VIIIth Olympic Winter Games to California and turning sunny California into a winter sports destination.

J D RICHEY
J D RICHEY

J D Richey is one of California’s preeminent outdoor guides, authors, photojournalists, writers, an innovative angler, and an ardent conservationist.

BIANCA VALENTI
BIANCA VALENTI

Bianca Valenti is an elite big-wave surfer and proponent of gender equality in professional surfing who has inspired thousands of women to set aside their fears and paddle into the roiling ocean to surf.

GARY COE
GARY COE

Gary Coe is a top winning tournament fisherman, fishing instructor and ambassador for his sport. He is recognized for having spent 20 years enhancing fisheries through hatchery programs, educational scholarships and grants, promotion of ethical sportsmanship, tournaments, and youth development.