Bennie Williams received one of seven prestigious 2008 Legends Awards presented to federal managers by the American Recreation Coalition (ARC).  The award is in recognition of outstanding work to improve outdoor recreation experiences and opportunities for the American people through federal outdoor recreation programs and resources.

Bennie oversees the coordination of interjurisdictional fisheries and recreational fisheries management at the national level for the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices. Bennie has demonstrated extraordinary individual effort and great personal sacrifice to expand participation of urban youth in recreational fishing and to connect children, especially under-served and special-needs youth, to nature through the use of innovative programs. Since 2003, when he joined the agency, Bennie has chaired the interagency committee that organizes National Fishing and Boating Week in the National Capital Area, particularly the youth fishing event on the National Mall. More recently, he has worked with the American Fly Fishing Trade Association and 21 other industry and nonprofit partners to establish a youth fishing event as a key part of the National Casting Call, a series of events over two days focused on sustaining the growth of recreational fishing. This year, he began working with the C.A.S.T. (Catch a Special Thrill) for Kids Foundation to provide disabled children with the opportunity for a quality fishing experience. He is also engaged in a broad partnership to restore the Anacostia River, which will provide new fishing opportunities to urban residents of the District of Columbia.