Gene Pauszek

In the years shortly before his death, whenever outdoors writer Gene Pauszek would enter the OBSERVER office, the first thing he would bring up was the latest bowling achievement of his granddaughter, Rachel Glowniak. Now, even though he has passed away, he will still get his turn as the member of the family worth bragging about.

Pauszek was recently named as part of the 2023 class of inductees to the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame. He will be inducted posthumously at the annual banquet on May 21.

To be selected for the Hall of Fame, a person must be nominated by someone else and have letters written on their behalf. Once a year, the Hall of Fame evaluates the candidates and selects a group of inductees from across the state. Pauszek was nominated by Zenon Olow, President of Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen. Olow, a Hall of Fame member himself, was one of multiple writers to express support of Pauszek.

“If you loved the outdoors, he liked you a lot. He was friendly and personable, and he gave more than he wanted to get back,” Olow said of his friend, Pauszek. “He was a neat guy to know.”

Olow was selected to the Hall of Fame in 2020. He and Pauszek are among just five members from Chautauqua County to receive the honor over the 40 years of its existence. Also previously inducted from Chautauqua County was Harry Probst of Ripley in 2006, Jim Farrell of Pomfret in 2019, and Mike Rosing of Dunkirk in 2022.

“I’ve been going to the dinner for sevent to eight years now,” Olow said. “I started attending because one guy I go to meetings with got in about 10 years ago. … Then, somebody thought I deserved to be in it.”

Olow believes the same of Pauszek, who is credited for many things in the world of outdoors in Chautauqua County, in addition to his regular columns for The OBSERVER. Pauszek was a member and former officer of the Chautauqua Conservation Club, and was a strong supporter of the Ducks Unlimited and Save the Wetlands organizations, the Chautauqua Fish Advisory Board, the Chautauqua Sportsmen’s Federation, the Dunkirk Harbor Commission and the WNY Environmental Federation.

Pauszek also dedicated time and effort to pass down his love for the outdoors to younger generations. At the Chautauqua Conservation Club, Pauszek began the Take-A-Kid Fishing program, which gave him an outlet to share his knowledge with young anglers. Pauszek enjoyed taking trips with young anglers, and often their family members, out on Lake Erie. He also shared his knowledge and expertise with young hunters, often sharing stories about hunting through his Sportsman’s Journal columns in the OBSERVER.

“He did a lot for the kids around Chautauqua County, helping kids get to know the outdoors more,” Olow said.

Olow will present Pauszek as an inductee and recognize members of his family at the annual New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame banquet dinner.

The banquet dinner will be May 21 at Theodore’s Restaurant, 3231 Seneca Turnpike, Route 5, in Canastota. The cost of the dinner is $25 per person, with limited availability. Registration will begin at 3 p.m., with dinner at 4, followed by presentations. Reservations must be made by May 10 by contacting Scott Faulkner at (315) 829-3588 or sfcf@tds.net; or Mark Hettler at (315) 451-1996 or Mhettler103@gmail.com.