Neeley Reflects on Seven Years of Service as AGFC Commissioner: “I Got Back More Than I Gave”

As John David “JD” Neeley wrapped up his seven-year tenure with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, he described his time as like “jumping on a moving train” – one that kept rolling long after he stepped off.
At his final Commission meeting, Neeley symbolically passed the baton to incoming commissioner Jamie Anderson of Lonoke. Later, he took a quiet moment at AGFC headquarters to reflect on his time, calling it “the funnest seven years of my life.”

“You don’t have a sense of appreciation for the full depth of what this agency does until you’re inside it,” said Neeley, a forester and broker from Camden. “From collared lizards to butterflies, it’s all conservation. The agency doesn’t just manage hunting and fishing – it touches every Arkansan.”

During his time on the Commission, Neeley leaned into the job with energy, traveling the state and engaging in everything from reforestation site tours to duck season kickoffs.

“I didn’t make every event, but I tried to make as many as I could,” he said. “You learn a lot by just showing up and listening.”

Neeley’s forestry expertise helped shape AGFC’s long-term plan to restore greentree reservoirs, a major project he counts as a top legacy item. “The timing was just right,” he said. “The science was ready, and so was the Commission.”

He also pointed to the creation of the Arkansas Legacy Lunker trophy bass program, youth shooting sports expansion, the rebuilding of several lakes, and the restructuring of the turkey season into five zones as major milestones during his term.

Throughout it all, Neeley emphasized a science-driven approach.

“We’ve got the best staff in the country. Wildlife, fisheries, enforcement – you name it,” he said. “We pride ourselves on decisions based on data, even when it’s hard to explain to the public.”

As chairman, Neeley described his leadership style as collaborative. “We were the ‘don’t kick the can crew.’ We made tough calls as a team, and that’s what I’m proud of.”

Neeley said he’s excited for what’s next under new Chairwoman Anne Marie Doramus – the Commission’s first female chair – and Vice Chair Rob Finley.

“I’m leaving it in great hands,” he said. “Anne Marie is smart, steady, and a real leader.”

Though his term is over, Neeley plans to stay involved, especially with the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation. “When you’re a servant at heart, you just find another way to serve,” he said.

In the end, the friendships made and the memories earned stand out the most.

“We’re family here,” Neeley said. “That’s the bonus of this job. The bonds last a lifetime.”

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