Boone and Crockett Club has First Female President in 138 Years

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posted on January 9, 2026
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LEDE Boone And Crockett 1

Mary L. Webster was elected president of the Boone and Crockett Club during the organization’s 137th annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., late last year. She is the first woman to serve in this position since the Club’s inception in 1887. Her late husband, Paul D. Webster, served as the club’s 24th president from 1995 to 1997.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be elected as president of the Boone and Crockett Club,” Webster said. “I wish to thank our immediate past president, Tony Caligiuri, for leaving the club in the best financial shape it has ever been, which allows us to do more to advance our conservation priorities in the coming year. Our members and staff are active, extraordinary individuals with diverse talents, united by a shared commitment to wildlife conservation. With their collective passion and expertise, and the strongest financial footing in the club’s history, we’re positioned to achieve many positive conservation outcomes—and I couldn’t be more excited about the work ahead.”

Webster, a native of Minnesota now residing in Naples, Fla., previously practiced as an attorney for two nationally based U.S. law firms, concentrating in environmental law in the areas of hazardous waste remediation and environmental compliance under federal and state regulations. She served for 15 years as a board member of Stella-Jones, a publicly traded manufacturer of pressure-treated wood products. She also served as a governor-appointed State Commissioner of the Colorado Oil & Gas Commission. Ms. Webster has volunteered with numerous nonprofits, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (former board member), the Texas Bighorn Society, the Vail Valley Foundation and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

During her tenure as a Boone and Crockett Club member, Webster has served on many committees and held various officer positions. Prior to being elected the organization’s 38th president she served as the Club’s Executive Vice President of Administration.

“Mary has been an active member helping to lead the Club on many fronts, including as co-chair of strategic planning, longtime member of the governance, University Programs, and Hunter Ethics committees, and has led the development of position statements for many years,” Boone and Crockett Club CEO Tony Schoonen said. “She is always there when we need leadership and guidance, particularly on governance and organizational issues. I am proud and honored to serve the first female president in the Boone and Crockett Club’s 138-year history.”

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