Curt Hicken Golden Glow Award, The Texas Tenors

I received an email from my niece Jeanie Hicken who is married to Curt Hicken.  While we were in Illinois, Curt was in Branson, MO at a convention and was presented with a prestigious award.  Congratulations Curt, you deserved it. 

News from the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers
Contact - Executive Director Josh Lantz

Outdoor Journalist Curt Hicken Honored with National Golden Glow Award

BRANSON, Mo., Sept. 19, 2012 – The Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) has awarded veteran outdoor journalist, broadcaster and photographer Curt Hicken with the group's nationally recognized Golden Glow Individual Award. The award was presented here during the association's annual conference this week.

This prestigious Golden Glow Award is presented to an individual who has directly influenced sportsmen and women through conservation and outdoor communication efforts. Award winners are nominated by and voted upon by AGLOW's Council of Past Presidents. Among the past winners of this award are the father of modern day conservation Aldo Leopold, legendary outdoor communicator Homer Circle, Ranger Boats founder Forrest Wood and widely recognized outdoor artists Terry Redlin and Maynard Reece.

"Curt is one of the first people I met when coming into the outdoor writing field, and I truly suspect there are few people in the outdoor industry who do not know and admire this man," said Bob Groene, award presenter, AGLOW Past President and Quad Cities outdoor journalist."

Hicken accepted the award Wednesday evening here at the Chateau on the Lake Resort, during the 2012 AGLOW annual conference Golden Glow banquet. With more than 150 attendees, the awards banquet was the highlight of the four-day event.

"This award is something I will truly cherish and remember throughout the remainder of my life," Hicken said. "And coming from a group as prestigious as AGLOW - so filled with celebrated and widely recognized names - this award becomes even moretreasured."

Hicken has devoted more than 30 years to communicating the outdoor experience. His list of honors are long and include being the first individual recognized as the Illinois Outdoor Communicator of the Year, as well as the Illinois DNR Division of Fisheries Outdoor Communicator Award. His many accomplishments include countless writing, photography, service and achievement awards.

His efforts have promoted hunting, fishing and all other outdoor activities throughout a long career and properly demonstrate a commitment to natural resources from which all sportsmen and women directly benefit.

"Without the never-ending efforts of outdoor communicators, I suspect we would see the world of outdoor recreation suffer," Hicken added. "The work that outdoor journalists and broadcasters do is critical to the sporting world and it is this ability that makes AGLOW members so special."

Hicken resides in Gillespie, Ill. with his wife Jeanie and has served as the outdoor writer for The Telegraph (Alton, Ill.) for more than 20 years, during which he also served eight years as public relations representative for the Cabela's Sportsman's Quest Tournament Series. In addition, his work can be found each week in the Journal-Courier (Jacksonville, Ill.). He also produces a weekly radio program airing on the WSMI stations (Litchfield, Ill). Along with these, his byline can be found each month in numerous state and regional outdoor magazines.


 AGLOW Past President, award presenter and Quad Cites outdoor journalist Bob Groene congratulates outdoor journalist Curt Hicken for his AGLOW Golden Glow Individual Award.

Curt on right

Curt and Jeanie have discovered the Florida Keys and spent some time down there this past January and stopped in one of our favorite watering holes, The No Name Pub.  They had to send me a picture to make me jealous.  

We have tickets to see The Texas Tenors this evening and from what we have heard, they have a great act.  I hope they live up to their billing.  More to follow later this evening.

 The #1 Vocal Group in the History of America’s Got Talent Returns to the Starlite Theatre in 2012! Introduced to the nation on America’s Got Talent, THE TEXAS TENORS have been wooing and wowing sold out audiences around the world and now return to Branson exclusively at the Starlite Theatre for even more dates in 2012. Marcus, JC and John smoothly blend country, classical, gospel and Broadway with a decided touch of country humor and charm.

We had a light dinner and got to the Starlite Theater early to avoid the crowds.  Actually, we ate at the Diner at the theater and wound up waiting for over an hour before the show began.  They gave a 20% discount if you had theater tickets, plus a free box of popcorn as you entered the theater if you had a coupon from a local advertising paper.  There aren't that many bargains in Branson, so it was nice to get one tonight.

The Texas Tenors put on a great show and sang opera, rock, country, gospel and some comedy skits.  They were very entertaining and have great voices.  The blond singer wowed the ladies and when they brought a woman onto the stage and sang to her it was very funny.  She went right along with it and managed to get a few kisses on the cheek from the guys.  

The three of them sang great harmony together and really belted out some songs and kept the show moving along quickly.  Our favorite song by them was Unchained Melody and they did a great job on it.  It sent chills down our spines as they really nailed it.  

After the show they appeared in the lobby to sign autographs and pose for pictures with those that wanted one.  Gerry wanted to get a closeup of the group, however they moved people by so quickly that she wasn't able to get a good one.  She did the next best thing and took individual shots.

JC Fisher

Marcus Collins

John Hagen

 They were good enough that we would go see them again.  They just signed a contract to appear at the Starlite Theater through 2017.  Check them out if you are in Branson or see them performing somewhere else.

Oh, btw, Gerry drug me out to another wine tasting before the show at the local outlet for the Stone Hill winery.  Yes, it is the same winery that we were at in Hermann, but this one we walked right up to the wine tasting room and checked out about 12 wines for free.  

We may stay another day in Branson and check out Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  We've been there before but wanted to go back to see it once again.  It is a really neat old town.