As OWAA celebrates its 90th birthday in 2017, we’ve introduced the “Member Spotlight Monday,” a weekly feature that celebrates our present—the gift of our talented current members and their ongoing excellence in outdoor communications. Today, we introduce Walter Dinkins:
- Where were you born?
Manning, S.C.
- Where do you call home now?
Wilmington, N.C.
- What’s your nickname?
Joe Guide
- What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
Fishing
- What is your profession/connection with outdoors communication?
Writer/Journalist/Researcher
- Why did you choose to become an outdoor communicator?
Started writing stories…for a small fishing publication at age 14 in S.C. My Aunt was a famous children’s author (Amelia Bedelia series). She liked my stores of people/outdoors stories.
- What are you most proud of in your career thus far?
My wing shooting book- (The Railbird Hunters Bible)…lot of great stories inside.
- What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Loyal friend, a historian at heart, and a good listener.
- What is the best piece of advice you have received as an outdoor communicator?
Lefty said once to me years ago that there are lots of writers, guides, and fishermen that tell stories, but very few outdoor writers that can touch the heart, mind and soul of the outdoors. It is through compassion, and creative research that your story becomes truly alive.
- When you head for the Great Outdoors, what is the one thing you do not leave home without?
T.P.
- What would you do if you won the lottery?
By a pics of property near the lower Laguna Made’ in Texas.
- Who do you most admire in your life and why?
My mama. She encouraged me to reach for goals far beyond my vision.
- What was the last movie you saw?
The Cabin.
- What are your top three favorite books?
Plato’s Republic, Sufferings in Africa, and Undaunted Courage.
- Can you juggle?
Tolerably.
- What is your favorite dessert?
Key Lime Pie.
- If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
To fly.
- Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Directing an episode of the new AMERICAN SPORTSMAN for the ABC Network.
- What is your favorite inspirational quote?
“Anyone who reads about my life, through my stories can easily see that I had a real fine time as a kid” (Robert Ruark- THE OLD MAN AND THE BOY).
- What do you like best about OWAA?
Encouragements that are shared, and lessons that are learned by older and wiser OWAA writers; who were kind enough to spend a little bit of time with me throughout their own journey in the great outdoors.
Thanks, Walter, for not only your answers, but also for being valued part of “The Voice of the Outdoors.”
If you are an OWAA member and wish to be featured in a future Member Spotlight Monday, send your answers to the above questions and a photograph of yourself enjoying the outdoors (in JPG format sized for the web) to Colleen Miniuk-Sperry at cms@owaa-oldsite.birchbarkmedia.com.
Not a member? Check us out at http://www.owaa-oldsite.birchbarkmedia.com.
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