In 1937, a fledgling organization called Ducks Unlimited was just getting started. It was also the year Hazard Campbell shot his first duck. Some would say that was coincidence. Those who knew Hazard, however, wouldn't call it anything but fate.

A short 19 years later, in 1956, Hazard joined DU and kept his membership active until his death on July 27, 2016.

"An international ambassador for philanthropy, Hazard Campbell cut a path for future volunteer leaders of Ducks Unlimited to follow. He was more than just a great mentor to me, he was a hero for conservation," said Mike Woodward, chairman of DU's National Development Committee and Hazard 's longtime friend and hunting companion.

An ardent supporter of DU, Hazard was a great leader during his tenure with the organization, which began in 1956. Hazard was involved in almost every aspect of Ducks Unlimited during his 60-year volunteer career with DU. His early contributions included service as western New York chairman and as a national trustee. He also founded the first DU Canada (DUC) chapter in 1974.

Later, he served as DU Atlantic Flyway regional vice president, member of DU Canada's board of directors and Atlantic Flyway senior vice president. He was also a member of Wetlands America Trust (WAT) and served as WAT president from 1991 to 1993. From 1986 to 1987 Hazard served as president of Ducks Unlimited Inc. and subsequently served as board chairman.

In April 2012 - during DU's 75th anniversary year - Hazard was recognized during a dedication ceremony of the Diehl Project. Located approximately 60 miles northwest of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the Diehl Project is situated in one of DUC's highest priority waterfowl landscapes: Thickwood Hills.

The property was purchased in 2001 after DUC had leased it from the Diehl family for eight years. The project consists of approximately 140 acres of waterfowl habitat on the edge of Paddling Lake, a 3,600-acre productive marsh. This area supports nearly 50 breeding pairs of waterfowl per square mile, among the highest duck nesting densities on the Canadian prairies.

The most common ducks in this area include canvasbacks, scaup, mallards, gadwalls, and blue-winged teal. In addition, Paddling Lake provides important habitat for arctic geese, swans, Sandhill cranes, grebes, pelicans and shorebirds. Rare and endangered species such as whooping cranes and white-winged scoters have also been observed on the marsh.

You can view the dedication ceremony here.

More recently, Hazard served as an emeritus trustee of Wetlands America Trust, and was a member of the DU Inc. Emeritus Board, DUC board and DUC Habitat and Conservation Committee. He was also on the board of directors of the Waterfowl Research Foundation, a private foundation that funds continental conservation work. Through all these efforts, he devoted thousands of hours to wetlands and waterfowl conservation.

"Hazard was a lifelong conservationist and a great friend of DU's throughout his illustrious volunteer career with the organization," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "His contributions to habitat restoration and waterfowl will forever be remembered and enjoyed by future generations."

Hazard was the chairman of the Seymour H. Knox foundation and a lifelong member of the historic Turkey Point Company, one of the oldest duck hunting clubs in Canada. Several members of the Campbell and Knox families are currently major donors and sponsors of DU.