North Vegas Times

John King, a wildlife worker, is one of nine alumni the University of Nevada, Reno, honored this week. 

King, during a speech after he received the award, said he was born in Nevada and describes himself as a proud Nevadan.

“And 35 years later, I became an equally proud University of Nevada, Reno alumnus,” King said, according to Nevada Today. “Obviously, that took a while for me to accomplish, but until the ripe old age of 30, when I became a freshman at the University, I had not yet chosen the career path as a wildlife biologist which would occupy my next 50 years.”

King joins eight other graduates from the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering and the College of Science who were honored for their achievements. The distinguished alumni reception recognizes former students whose contributions have advanced the goals of the College and the University.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from the College of Agriculture’s Renewable Natural Resources program in 1977, King took a job with the Nevada Department of Wildlife. 

He also began working toward a master’s degree in biology from the university. His educational research helped the state improve its management of the Marlette Lake cutthroat trout brood stock. 

“Later work with the state’s wildlife management agency continued to provide great personal satisfaction, in addressing areas of public interactions, wildlife habitat protection and enhancement, and in numerous opportunities to see Nevada and its natural resources in ways which otherwise would not have been possible,” King said.

He likes to give back to the university, and one way he does that is by donating prints of his wildlife photos for fundraising events the university holds.

“I also enjoy holding on-site photo exhibitions to help call attention to programs I wish to support, for example, the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, the Belmont Courthouse in Belmont, and even the College of Science’s biology department at the University,” he said.

Other honorees include: Patricia King, William Greenslade, Thomas Howell, Nancy Houghton, Cyndy Soto, Elizabeth Everest, Marco Velotta, and Christopher Kratt. Katherine McCall, the interim dean, and Annie Huhta, the director of the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, emceed and introduced the recipients.