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February 27, 2006
RICHARD CLIFTON WINS OHIO WETLANDS STAMP COMPETITION
 COLUMBUS, OH - Artwork of a Canada goose by Richard Clifton of Milford, Delaware won first place at this year's Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp design competition, sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Clifton’s painting will appear on the Ohio wetlands stamp for the fall of 2007.
The winning entry was selected from a field of 42 original paintings submitted by artists in 19 states, including 12 entries from Ohio. The competition was held Saturday, February 25, at the annual Ducks Unlimited convention in Eastlake.
“I have always been inspired by hunting, watching and photographing Canada geese,” Clifton said.
This was Clifton’s second win in an Ohio conservation stamp competition. In 1994, he was the Ohio winner with his painting of a pair of mallards. He has won 23 state wildlife stamp designs.
Approximately 28,000 Ohio wetland stamps were purchased last year, according to the Division of Wildlife. Proceeds from stamp sales help fund vital wetland habitat restoration projects in Ohio. Such habitats are important to many resident wildlife species, including trumpeter swans, wetland birds, amphibians, and numerous migratory species such as ducks and shorebirds.
There was a tie for second place honors between Jeff Klinefelter of Etna Green, Indiana for his rendering of green-wing teal and Sam Timm of Watoma, Wisconsin for his portrait of a wigeon.
Third place went to Kerry Holzman of Bernville, Pennsylvania his entry of hooded mergansers. The Ohio artist who placed highest in this year’s competition was Dick Benson of Washington Court House with his painting of canvasbacks.
Last year's Ohio wetlands stamp winner, Gregory Clair of Bowling Green, will see his painting of a northern pintail appear on the 2006 wetlands habitat stamp.
The judges for this year's event included Fred Abraham, a conservation lobbyist and retired ODNR employee; Jim Peters, lifetime outdoorsman and radio host; Jim Faddoul, past president of Woods and Waters Conservation Club of northern Ohio; Jeff Miller from Winous Point Shooting Club; and Mike Fritz of Ducks Unlimited. Peter Capaldi served as an alternate judge.
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For Further Information Contact:
Tim Daniel, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6537
-or-
Vicki Ervin, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6325
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860
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