Oklahoma Game Warden of the Year 2007:
Jerry Henry, Sequoyah County

This year's selection for the state's top honor is State Game Warden Jerry Henry. Warden Henry is a 22 year veteran of the department and was hired fresh out of college at the age of 21. Upon his date of hire, Jerry was the youngest officer ever hired by the ODWC. Warden Henry's first assignment was in Okmulgee County, where he resided for four years, before transferring to his home county of Sequoyah. Jerry was born and raised in Sallisaw and continues to reside there with his wife and two daughters.

Warden Henry enjoys teaching youth related activities to young outdoorsman utilizing the department's various education tools such as hunter education, shotgun education and training program (STEP), aquatic education and fishing clinics as well as hosting, teaching and physically taking numbers of youth out to the special youth only hunts. Jerry plays a big part in the hosting of the annual youth waterfowl hunt held in his area as well.

Warden Henry's believes his proudest (professional) accomplishments have been the investigations and prosecution of illegal commercial and interstate wildlife violations. He has worked closely with fellow agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and various other state wildlife agencies investigating a wide variety of wildlife crimes. Successful prosecution in many of those cases has been attributed to the quality investigations performed by Henry and have resulted in many thousands of dollars in fines, restitution, and seized equipment and wildlife. Jerry's hard work has further involved a wide variety of wildlife species such as fresh water mussels, black bear, whitetail deer, mule deer, elk, wild turkey, bobcats and paddlefish.

Jerry Henry "lives game warden"! But, he also loves his family, outdoor activities, and "down time". Seen here at the annual OSGWA banquet in OKC, Jerry relaxes and has a good time with family and peers.	Jerry works hard all year long. Some wardens have areas that demand dedicated efforts during high‑pressure‑deer, turkey, pheasant, trout, paddlefish, or other such seasons. His area is "high‑activity" 24‑7! Seen here escorting an illegal trout fisherman back to the truck, Jerry has the professional reputation of treating everyone "like he would like to be treated".

Henry's hobbies include bow fishing and bow hunting. He especially enjoys the challenge of pursuing whitetail deer and big game of the Rocky Mountains in western states. Well, as you can probably tell, "game wardening" is not just a job to Jerry but, a way of life! When you see him, congratulate him on a fine year and a fine career!