The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) recently announced that the Canadian Bear Trap Award has been presented to Andre Hollis, MDWFP State Parks Director, in recognition of his twenty-eight years of dedicated service to Mississippi State Parks.
Each year, the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) presents this prestigious award to a state park director who demonstrates exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to the management and preservation of state parks.
The award holds special significance for Mississippi. The first recipient was Aubrey Rozzell, who served as Director of Mississippi State Parks from 1978 to 1989. Now, forty years later, the honor has returned to the state.
“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor, but it also reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire State Parks team,” says Hollis. “To see this recognition return to Mississippi after more than four decades is a proud moment for all of us who care deeply about protecting and improving our parks for future generations.”