July 29, 2012 at 4:59 a.m.
| Updated July 29, 2012 at 4:59 a.m.
The inaugural "True Blue Service Award" was given to former Missouri Department of Conservation wildlife photographer Jim Rathert at the Missouri Bluebird Society's annual conference.
Rathert was instrumental in establishing the society in 2006.
The locally held conference drew bluebird enthusiasts from eight states and Canada.