MEMPHIS, Tennessee - Aug. 25, 2016 - Former president and longtime Ducks Unlimited volunteer leader Bob Marcotte of Omaha, Neb., died Tuesday of natural causes.

Marcotte dedicated much of his time to DU during a span of more than six decades, starting in 1957 when he was elected as Nebraska State Chairman. He was elected to DU's national board of directors in 1962 and was elected president of DU in 1980. Marcotte served as an emeritus board member until his death.

"Bob was a true gentleman who had a great passion for conservation and Ducks Unlimited," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "He gave many dedicated years of service to DU, and without leaders like Bob and their vision for the future of wetlands and waterfowl conservation, we wouldn't be where we are today."

As a board member and then as President, Marcotte was instrumental in shaping Ducks Unlimited, and was part of the search committee that hired the organization's first executive vice president. He was also on the board when DU's current, and often replicated, fundraising structure was pioneered.

"To say Bob was a big part of DU would be a great understatement," Hall said. "Because of Bob and his fellow board members, DU has become one of the world's greatest wetlands and waterfowl conservation organizations. I know Bob was proud of his service to this great organization, and we were certainly lucky to count him as one of our most ardent supporters.

Marcotte had a passion for collecting antique firearms, which led him to executive positions with the Lander (Wyoming) One Shot Antelope Foundation and the Boone and Crockett Club. He was also a longtime member of Waterhen Lodge on Lake Winnipegosis in Manitoba, was a general agent for Mutual of Omaha and president of Marcotte Insurance Agency.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, Aug. 28, with the funeral on Monday, Aug. 29.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13.8 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:
Matt Coffey
(901) 758-3764
mcoffey@ducks.org