Dr. Gene Maughan
(1943-2000)
Owen Eugene (Gene) Maughan was a recognized expert in fish ecology having completed his Ph.D. in Zoology at Washington State University, his M.S. at the University of Kansas, and his B.S. in Zoology from Utah State University. Gene began his career with the Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in 1972. He was Leader of the Oklahoma Unit from 1977 until he moved to the Arizona Unit to become the Leader in 1987. Shortly after his arrival, Gene started the Minority Training Program at the University of Arizona. The Arizona Unit has long been known for its culturally diverse group of students because of Gene’s foresight to infuse the fish and wildlife profession with the needed diversity to carry out conservation and management of natural resources. He had a profound and lasting influence on those he mentored. His students described him as a soft-spoken man of conviction with unwavering support of his students to achieve their life goals. Gene was intent on developing our future leaders and touched many lives including minority and international students that continue to work in the natural resource professions across federal, state, tribal, and private organizations as well as countries across the globe. Recipients of the scholarship carry the responsibility to strive for cultural diversity, fairness, and honor as future leaders in the conservation and management of our natural resources. Through the scholarship, Gene’s legacy lives on.
