Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon shared this year's Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award with Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead/ARC

Two governors -- Jay Nixon from Missouri and Matt Mead from Wyoming -- share this year's Sheldom Coleman Great Outdoors Award, which recognizes efforts to enhance outdoor recreational experiences in the United States.

Presented by the American Recreation Coalition and The Coleman Compay, the award was established in memory of Sheldon Coleman (1901-1988), longtime chairman of The Coleman Company and a champion of outdoor recreation and conservation. Winners are selected by recreation and conservation leaders from both the private and public sectors. 

Only once before has a governor received this national recognition and only once before has the award gone to more than one individual.

“The selection panel for the award had a very rich field of candidates,” said ARC President Derrick Crandall. “Many Members of Congress, Cabinet members and others were deservedly nominated. But reports on the efforts of Governor Nixon and Governor Mead were compelling, showing their passion and vision and their commitment to expanding the enjoyment of outdoor recreation’s benefits while enlisting many partners in their efforts.”

Gov. Nixon was cited for his work to champion recreation issues even before becoming the leader of the Show-Me State in 2009, including high-visibility efforts that saved a railroad bridge across the Missouri River that was crucial to preserving the famed Katy Trail State Park. As governor, he has made state parks, trails and state waterways a high priority. He launched a campaign to encourage every Missourian to walk at least 100 miles on Missouri's trails in 2014, and expanded this effort to encourage paddling at least 100 miles on Missouri's waters in 2015.

Gov. Nixon also created one of the nation's most active summer employment programs for disadvantaged and minority youth. Missouri’s State Parks Youth Corps offers 300-hour internships for youth between the ages 17 and 24. Participants gain valuable work experience to prepare for tomorrow's careers while enjoying the beauty and grandeur of the state’s parks.

Gov. Mead, now halfway through his second term, has been a champion for linking Wyoming's outdoor culture, history and traditions to the state's magnificent national, state and local parks. He has supported Great Outdoors Month throughout his tenure with proclamations and activities. In 2015, he hosted the initial Wyoming Capital Campout, which featured the nation's first-ever bilingual Capital Campout - Campamento y Comida en el Parque, designed to reach Wyoming's fast-growing Latino community.

Gov. Mead enlisted the assistance of his state parks and tourism departments to produce a Public Service Announcement urging residents and visitors alike to enjoy Wyoming's outdoors. This PSA was selected as a national award winner for Great Outdoors Month 2015, allowing the governor to direct a special donation to a Wyoming organization connecting kids and the outdoors. He supported the Wyoming Department of State Parks' 7th annual "Summer Outdoor Slam" at Curt Gowdy State Park on National Get Outdoors Day, offering introductions to a variety of recreational opportunities for children and families.

He has provided personal support for "WY Outside," a coalition of public, private and nonprofit organizations established to encourage children and families to enjoy the outdoors. In 2015, the organization launched the WY Outside Challenge with activities to test participants' outdoor skills and knowledge.

Gov. Mead also helped bring increased visibility to Wyoming's outdoor recreation opportunities by leading efforts for the Inaugural Cowboy Tough Adventure Race this year, where challenging mountain biking, trail running, trekking, and water sports adventures were experienced in amazing park settings.

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead has initiated several programs to encourage outdoor recreation in the Cowboy State/ARC

“The recreation community is indebted to these national leaders. They inspire us," said Mr. Crandall. "They champion the role recreation plays in healthy lifestyles and sustainable, vibrant local economies. They find time for recreation in their busy lives and have united and cheered recreation community leaders in their respective states. They also demonstrate that recreation enjoys the support of the nation’s leaders from both political parties and in all regions."

The 2015 Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award is a golden lantern specially prepared and mounted by The Coleman Company.

Past recipients of the Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award include President George H.W. Bush (1990), National Geographic Society Chairman Gil Grosvenor (1994), U.S. Senators John Breaux (1991), Frank Murkowski (1997), John Chafee (1998) and Lamar Alexander (2013), U.S. Representatives Jim Oberstar (1996), Ralph Regula (2000) and Sam Farr (2014), Transportation Secretaries Norman Mineta (2003) and Rodney Slater (1999), and Secretaries of the Interior Ken Salazar (2011) and Dirk Kempthorne (2008).