• President’s Message -“Practice What You Preach” and “Lead by Example”. These are two axioms that I have tried to follow throughout my life. Folks here in Missouri have heard me use the term GOYA on more than one occasion. The acronym is from my father’s WW II tank destroyer battalion, and it stands for Get Off Your @$$. I challenge each of you to do one thing for the Society in the up-coming year beyond just attending your Chapter meeting, but I’m glad you are doing that! I ask that you consider becoming more involved in your Chapter, our Division, and our Society by volunteering for a committee, running for an officer position, donating some time for a local Chapter event, mentoring a young professional, donating an item to your local raffle committee to help in fund raising, open your wallet and buy some raffle tickets, or bid up an auction item. I’ll be honest; my AFS efforts often look like crappie population dynamics with boom and bust trends. However, I am… read more

• It is with a heavy heart that we report the loss Dr. Richard Weldon “Larry” Larimore, a long-time aquatic biologist of the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS).  Dr. Larimore passed away on January 14, 2015 at Urbana, Illinois.  He was 91.  He is survived by his wife Glenn E. Larimore and three sons Richard L., Kenneth, and Michael Larimore.  Dr. Larimore worked at INHS for more than six decades, beginning in 1946 as a research assistant.  He remained associated with this organization until his death.  Dr. Larimore was a charter member of the North American Benthological Society and a member of a number of other professional organizations including the American Fisheries Society, American Institute of Biological Sciences, Ecological Society of America, and the Illinois Academy of Science.  Dr. Larimore was the epitome of a gentleman and scholar, albeit, a very down-to-earth one.  His publication record includes book chapters, technical reports, and many journal articles, and he was a pioneer of electro-fishing technology.  He was instrumental in mentoring several biologists throughout his time.  Memorials may be made to the University of Illinois Foundation – R. Weldon Larimore/Jordan Creek Award Endowment Fund, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801.

• Just announced: Foundations of Fisheries Science – The new AFS book highlights the classic and critical works associated with fisheries management. With input from fisheries professionals and students from around the world, the editors selected 43 full-text articles along with 30 “honorable mention” citations (with associated abstracts) that have helped to mold the discipline of fisheries science.  It is on sale at the AFS bookstore.

• Announcing the new Kansas Fishes. This new fish book profiles each of the 144 fish species inhabiting the waterways of Kansas—as well as 27 others that might make their way to the state from nearby river basins. With 121 maps and 184 full-color drawings by Joseph Tomelleri, Kansas Fishes is an incomparable resource. Each species account provides information about fundamental natural history, anatomy, and physiology, along with in-state distributions, habitats, characteristics, and pertinent issues of conservation and ecology. This book is a uniquely authoritative account of the region’s fishes. As such, it will prove useful to students and professionals while providing the passionate amateur and the simply curious an entry into the fascinating world of the fishes of Kansas and nearby states. It is on sale at the University of Kansas Press.

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