The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a resolution at their Sept. 3 meeting to rename the Sicily Island Hills Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for distinguished legislator, farmer and outdoorsman J. C. “Sonny” Gilbert.
Gilbert, now deceased, served three consecutive terms in the Louisiana State Senate from 1960 and 1972, and was elected to a single term in the House of Representatives in 1972. He also served on the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission from 1976 to 1982, and as chairman the last two years of that term.
A U.S. Army veteran who served in World War II, Gilbert was a Wisner High School graduate, attended Northeastern Junior College, now known as the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Louisiana State University.
The WMA consists of 7,524 acres located six miles west of Sicily Island, La. Major access routes to the WMA are La. Hwys. 8 and 915. The Boeuf and Ouachita Rivers provide boating access to the western portion of the area. For more information on the site, go to: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/wma/2762 .
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. Visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.
For more information, contact Lowery Moak at 318-343-4044 or lmoak@wlf.la.gov .