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June 18, 2009

OUTDOORS: Governor nominates Martone for state board

By John D'Abruzzo

Ralph Martone lives for the outdoors.

He teaches about it.

He writes about it.

And he generally enjoys all aspects of wilderness, including hunting and fishing.

Now, he is getting even closer to his passion.

Martone, a physics/general science teacher at Shenango High as well as a freelance outdoors columnist for The New Castle News, has been nominated by Gov. Edward G. Rendell to the Board of Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Once confirmed by the state Senate, Martone will volunteer his time to represent nine northwest Pennsylvania counties, including Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Butler, Venango, Warren, Forest and Clarion.

“When I think about the thoroughness of the selection process and the excellent qualifications of the other candidates, I realize what a true honor it was to be selected,” said Martone, who was award the Best Newspaper Column in 2003 and 2004 by the Pennsylvania Outdoors Writers Association. “I have to give a lot of credit to Governor Rendell and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hunting, Fishing and Conservation who oversaw the selection process.”

According to Martone, he would basically represent Pennsylvania wildlife and the citizens of Pennsylvania, particularly hunters and trappers. His duties would consist of helping determine seasons, bag limits, hunting hours and antlerless deer license allocations, as well as numerous policies that oversee hunting and trapping.

He also believes he will be the first from Lawrence County to hold such a position.

“I never dreamed of sitting on the board that oversees the Game Commission,” said Martone, who volunteers as a hunter/trapper education instructor. “But when I saw one of the major requirements for the position was a thorough knowledge of wildlife conservation, I knew the Science, Technology & Society course I teach at Shenango was an excellent foundation for the position.”

One of the topics Martone teaches his students is the study of white-tailed deer biology and population dynamics.  

“We then look at white-tailed deer management and the positive and negative effects deer have on our society. This course gave me an in-depth knowledge of not just white-tailed deer, but a wide variety of wildlife,” he said.

Martone, 50, is a 1977 graduate of Shenango. He also graduated from Westminster College with a science degree in physics. He and his wife, Denise, live in Shenango Township. They have two sons, Michael, 30, who lives in Johnstown, and Matthew, 28, who lives in Erie.

Martone first interviewed for the position back in 2005, when Dan Hill, from Erie was picked for the District 1 position.

“When he resigned earlier this year, I was asked to interview again,” Martone said. “My first interview was in March and will continue throughout the Senate confirmation process.”

The process for his confirmation could take time before it is finalized.

“Although the next Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for July 8 and July 9, it may not be possible to complete the confirmation process in time,” he said. “The next meeting isn’t until October. I believe the process will be done by then.”

Martone has no plans of giving up teaching and most of his work will be done from home.

“I am looking forward to taking the lessons learned in public service back to my classroom,” he said. “I am even looking into the possibility of taking Conservation Club students to the Game Commission meetings.

Those meetings are held in Harrisburg.

“A lot of preparation and research takes place at home prior to each meeting,” said Martone, who noted the commission meets four times, although additional meetings are occasionally required. “The commission meetings are held over three days at the Pennsylvania Game Commission headquarters.”

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