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Ketuge Uentennial Snapshots 3- 1. provided nearly $30, 000 for conservation. FWS photos. Rolling on a River The Service's Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region delivered an enthusiastic conservation message to audiences along the Upper Mississippi River during a week-long, marathon celebration of the Centennial of the National Wildlife Refuge System July 26 to August 2. Festivities centered around a special "Celebrating a Century of Conservation" theme cruise aboard the luxury riverboat American Queen. More than 430 passengers aboard the riverboat joined thousands more for refuge and conservation-oriented events in the storied river towns of Hannibal, Missouri, Dubuque, Iowa, La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Wabasha, Minnesota. One of three riverboats operated by the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, the American Queen carries scores of passengers up along the Mississippi River, through units of the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and the Mark Twain Refuge Complex. Most passengers and crew were not aware that they were traveling through a wildlife refuge. Until now. Texas Wild! In the company of roseate spoonbills, black- tailed prairie dogs, a mountain lion, and a 12-foot alligator, the Lone Star State celebrated the Refuge Systems' Centennial during last October's Refuge Week at the Fort Worth Zoo's award-winning Texas Wild! Exhibit. Centennial Commissioners Ramona Bass of Fort Worth and Daniel Pedrotti of Corpus Christi hosted the daylong celebration, with an estimated 5,600 visitors. Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Texas Governor Rick Perry joined the Commissioners, Fort Worth Zoo Director Michael Fouraker, and Reed Coleman of the Sand County Foundation, for an afternoon press conference where Governor Perry proclaimed October 19-25, 2003 as Texas National Wildlife Refuge Week. Texas Refuge Centennial Celebration award recipients were announced. The Arthur A. Seeligson Jr. Conservation Fund and the Sand County Foundation awarded nearly $30,000 to partners that collaborated with, or on, a National Wildlife Refuge to conserve Texas' native species. Also that evening, Hollywood actor Clint Eastwood drew a salute from the gala crowd with his "Drink a Lone Star for me," the final words of his congratulatory video celebrating the 100th birthday of the Refuge System. Nancy Brown, Environmental Outreach Specialist Texas Chenier Plain NWR Complex Scott Flaherty, Public Affairs, Minneapolis, Minnesota "Go ahead. Make my day!" Clint Eastwood raps with NCTC video crew. The A -, icon Que( takes passsengers on a c: ise thro sgh refuge fanfare. Right: The Arthur A. Seeligson Jr. Consetvatwa Fund