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Unsung Hero: Neil Vincent with Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

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WILLIAMSON CO. (WSIL) -- The Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in Williamson County has been a place for hunting, fishing and recreation for many years. One man has been there to welcome and assist visitors for more than three decades.

This December, Visitor Service Manager Neil Vincent will celebrate 31 years with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is responsible for many of the programs offered today.

During the coronavirus pandemic, he's seen a 30-percent increase in visitors.

"It's a good place to come, a good place to come and recreate, a good place to bring your family," said Vincent.

The Refuge is 44,000 acres of land and three bodies of water. Visitors said Vincent can tell you anything you need to know about the Refuge. He's always willing to work extra time if needed, and he's always been available by phone.

"I basically just do my job here. I've been blessed to have a real good team. I've got good Park Rangers that I work with. I have a great volunteer program. A lot of people don't realize we have about 130 to 140 volunteers. If it wasn't for the volunteers, a lot of the programs, we could not provide those," he explained. The volunteers put in about 21,000 hours each year.

He said one of the reasons the Refuge is unique is because it serves four purposes: industrial, recreational, agricultural and wildlife. He said he hopes it's a place people will continue to bring their families and enjoy nature.

Vincent was eligible for retirement three years ago but has no plans of leaving the Refuge anytime soon.

"I like my job! There are some things that we're working on here at Crab Orchard, depending on funding. We are actually getting a new headquarters, and we will be moving into that headquarters this Spring. There's an opportunity that we may be getting a new Visitors Center so little things like that, to be here to get those things planned out and be a part of that makes you want to stay around."

He said the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is the 8th most visited Refuge in the nation. Some of the people who visit said they enjoy meeting Vincent as well.