ANNE MARIE DORAMUS '09

 

“Teachers, coaches, tutors, and my family motivated me in high school. Now, I find motivation in the many people I come into contact with. There is always more to be learned, and I find that the best resource for success is an open mind and heart.”

Anne Marie Hastings Doramus ’09 embodies a love of hunting and fishing and the outdoor life. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson recognized this when he appointed Anne Marie to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 2019 for a seven-year term.

As the first female appointed to serve a full term in the history of Arkansas Game and Fish, Anne Marie is a natural fit, and she recalls adventures in the duck woods as a young age with her father and three brothers. “Duck hunting is my passion,” she says. “One of the hardest things was when I went to college and I couldn’t just go to the farm and go duck hunting.” Now more than a year into her first term on Arkansas Game and Fish, Anne Marie demonstrates her commitment to hunting, fishing, and conservation by promoting the sporting life to young people throughout the state as a spokesperson and by her example. She says her goal is, “To make decisions based on the best available science, while balancing open, honest, and ongoing communication to the sports men and women of Arkansas.”

Anne Marie hopes that she inspires people to learn from and form bonds with nature and each other. “Duck hunting has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. The retriever, the whistling wings, the smell of gunpowder in the morning---you can’t beat it. However, the greatest privilege are the memories and friendships made afield.”

It’s easy to understand Anne Marie’s enthusiasm and “all in” attitude if you knew her as a student at Episcopal Collegiate. She brought energy to every activity she tackled, especially the Varsity Girls’ Golf Team and the Broadcast Journalism program. While golf was a natural fit and sport in which she excelled, she says, “My time spent in Broadcast Journalism was amazing. I never acknowledged myself as creative, but the class brought that out in me. I also feel that it boosted my confidence and speaking abilities.”

When she drives by 1701 Cantrell Road, Anne Marie says she thinks of the Class of 2009 and smiles. “Teachers, coaches, tutors, and my family motivated me in high school. Now, I find motivation in the many people I come into contact with. There is always more to be learned, and I find that the best resource for success is an open mind and heart.”

Anne Marie is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and advertising. She is vice president of Arkansas Bolt Company, and she has served on the Arkansas board of directors for the Arkansas State Fair Association and on the board of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation. As well as hunting and fishing, her other hobbies include mountain biking, golf, tennis, and working with her retriever, Baron.

For more information, visit agfc.com