About US

By 1948, West Virginia held five IWLA Chapters, and the National Headquarters was encouraging them to establish a West Virginia State Division. Selected members of the five chapters met in Morgantown, West Virginia, on January 11, 1948, for this purpose. There in the Marine Room of the Hotel Morgan, led by national representative John Stowell from the IWLA National, the 17 members of the various chapters gathered. They elected officials for the new state division: Joseph Messinger, President; Prentice Forley, Vice President; Brooks Basworth, Secretary and Treasurer. Messinger then appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws. The actions of this meeting were submitted to national headquarters for approval, and the West Virginia State Division of the IWLA was born.

Throughout the years, West Virginia has had over 30 chapters, whereas today the West Virginia State Division has nine chapters: Berkeley County, Jefferson County, Monongalia County, Tucker County, Greenbrier County, Mon-Valley, Mountaineer, Cherry River, and Zip Little.

The goals of the Division are to educate people on conservation, wildlife, natural resources, woodlands, fish, hunting safety, watersheds, and streams. With this history, we believe in the pledge and mission of the IWLA.