HARRISBURG – James Carl Graybill Jr., Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Bureau of Information and Education director, recently announced that he will retire effective June 29.
Graybill has served as bureau director since January of 2000. Prior to that, he served as assistant bureau director from 1982 to 1998, and was named acting bureau director in 1998.
“During his tenure, Carl Graybill played an important role in helping shape the Game Commission’s wildlife conservation education and information programs,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Some of the agency’s most recognizable and popular programs to highlight Pennsylvania wildlife through art were established by Graybill, including the agency’s popular Working Together for Wildlife fine art print and collectible patch program, Pennsylvania Duck stamp and print program and Middle Creek Wildlife Art Show.
“He also was responsible for bringing to Pennsylvania the internationally-acclaimed Project WILD, and trained more than 300 educators to facilitate implementation of the wildlife curriculum with classroom teachers and other educators throughout the Commonwealth.”
Graybill also helped steer the agency’s outreach programs, including programs for women and youth, and oversaw advances in Hunter-Trapper Education with the development and offering of advanced bowhunter education, cable restraint trapper education and distance-learning basic Hunter-Trapper Education. He also was instrumental in changing the agency’s logo to reflect the mission of the Game Commission.
As bureau director, Graybill was responsible for planning, developing and directing the agency’s public information, education, marketing and outreach programs, as well as helping to develop the Game Commission’s website.
In 1979, Graybill joined the Game Commission as a Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist. During his time with the agency, Graybill has been an active member of the Northeast Conservation Information and Education Association, a professional organization of the information and education administrators in the 13 northeastern states, and twice served as the organization’s chairperson. He also coordinated the Game Commission’s big game records program for 20 years.
Previous to joining the Game Commission, Graybill was a vocational agriculture and natural resources teacher in the Ephrata Area School District for nearly 10 years.
The Lebanon County resident earned a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in 1970 and a master’s degree from Penn State University in 1976. Graybill is a 1966 graduate of Northern Lebanon High School.
Graybill is an active member of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, having been a founder, the organization’s first vice-president on its initial board of directors and a member of its board for six years. He has been an active member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association since 1986, and served as a Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer from 1982 to 1999.
He has been an official measurer for the Boone & Crockett Club, Pope & Young Club and the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s big game records program since 1988. He is a member of Ducks Unlimited, The Ruffed Grouse Society and Steelstown Gunning Club.
Graybill’s awards include receiving the Conservation Educator of the Year Award in 1986 presented by the Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation, educational division of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and the Sears Roebuck and Company; the Outstanding Environmental Educator of the Year Award in 1988, presented by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education; a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, presented by the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art; and the Howard Reynolds Award in 2007, presented by Pennsylvania Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
A member of the Christ Church, United Church of Christ in Annville, Graybill and his wife, Mary, have two children: Richard and Brian; daughter-in-law Kristen; and one grandchild, Benjamin.
The Game Commission’s Bureau of Information and Education is housed in the Harrisburg headquarters, and includes professional, technical and clerical employees. In addition, the Bureau works directly with six region Information and Education Supervisors and two region Wildlife Education Supervisors.