Cody, Wyoming USA – July 29, 2008. Chairman Lou Rupp, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Wild Sheep Foundation, (formally the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep) is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Gray Thornton as incoming President/CEO effective May 1st of this year.  "Gray Thornton will be a tremendous asset to the organization," says Rupp.  "He brings his 11 years experience as Executive Director of the Dallas Safari Club, 18 years in conservation association management and development, and the talent and leadership skills we need to help us achieve our purpose of “Putting and Keeping Sheep on the Mountain."

Thornton expressed his enthusiasm for the job ahead at his first Board meeting in July at Foundation headquarters in Cody, Wyoming.  "I am looking forward to building the Wild Sheep Foundation and furthering the mission as well as expanding the scope our efforts to a new world-wide focus which is reflected in our new logo and trade name Wild Sheep Foundation," stated Thornton.  "The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep has been the premier wild sheep advocate in the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico. Our mandate has expanded to duplicate our North American successes to sheep ranges everywhere and become the preeminent wild sheep conservation organization worldwide" Thornton added.

"Gray Thornton was recruited as an outstanding candidate to be the face of our organization,” says Chairman Rupp.  "He brought dynamic leadership to the Dallas Safari Club and we know he will take the Wild Sheep Foundation to new heights."

Gray Thornton’s biography is highlighted with service to non-profit groups including the Dallas Safari Club, Safari Club International and he has campaigned for wildlife, habitat and ethical hunting on both the national and international level.  He maintains extensive memberships in conservation organizations as well as professional groups including the Outdoor Writers Association of America and various professional hunting organizations.  Among his numerous awards he counts the "Wildlife Utilisation Award" and the “Coenraad Vermaak Distinguished Service Award” by the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa as his most cherished.  He has also published and received awards for his writing talents.  He has served on the Steering Committee of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, is a Director of The Conservation Fund where he presently serves on the Governance Committee, and was appointed to and serves on the Board of Directors of the Banovich Wildscape Fund supporting global wildlife conservation initiatives.

Gray is an active member of numerous organizations including a Professional Member of the Boone & Crocket Club, where he has served as Chairman of the Associates Committee and Editor in Chief of Fair Chase magazine. He is a Life Member of Wild Sheep Foundation, Dallas Safari Club, Texas Bighorn Society, Safari Club International and National Rifle Association and is a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Trout Unlimited, Federation of Fly Fishers, Coastal Conservation Association and International Game Fish Association.

His professional affiliations include membership in the Outdoor Writers Association of America, Texas Outdoor Writers Association, Life Member of the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa, Life Member of the Guide Outfitter Association of British Columbia and member of the Namibia Professional Hunters Association and International Professional Hunter’s Association.

In November of 2004, Gray was awarded the “Wildlife Utilisation Award” by the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA), the Association’s highest conservation honor. In November of 2007, he received PHASA’s highest service honor, the Coenraad Vermaak Distinguished Service Award and is the only non South African to be so recognized. As an Outdoor Writer, he received a Katie Award in 2004 from the Press Club of Dallas representing the southern USA for the best Outdoor Story of the Year with “Iron Horse Fly Fishing.”

In 2005, Gray was elected to and served a three-year term on the Steering Committee of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners. In 2007, Gray was elected to the Board of Directors of The Conservation Fund where he serves on the Governance Committee and in April of 2007, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Banovich Wildscape Fund to support global conservation initiatives.

Gray’s interests include wildlife conservation, writing, fresh and salt water fly-fishing, hunting, fly-tying, sporting clays and practical pistol competition, motorcycling, cross country skiing, mountaineering and technical ice-climbing.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Marketing from California State University at Fresno and has earned advanced credits in Wildlife Management from Colorado State University at Fort Collins.

Gray has hunted big and small game throughout North America, including Alaska; he has hunted in Germany, Mexico, New Zealand and has been on thirteen safaris in southern Africa. He has hunted and taken under Fair Chase conditions 35 different species of big game. He is an avid fly fisherman with 72 different species caught on the fly and released and has fly-fished fresh and salt water throughout North America, Alaska, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, Africa and The Bahamas.