Origins of the Iowa Chapter

At the April 1961 meeting of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, a committee met to discuss forming an Iowa chapter of The Wildlife Society. This committee was comprised of Robert Moorman, ISU; Sylvan Runkle, SCS; Harold Burgess, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife; and Eddie Mustard, Iowa Conservation Commission. Chapter work began within the year, but formal chartering did not occur until 1965, retroactive to April 14, 1962, due to final amendments to TWS bylaws governing such chapters. Membership in the infant organization was 39 in 1962, and the first dues were set at $2 annually. The chapter's goals included advancement of the art and science of wildlife management, and promoting and maintaining high professional standards.