MEMPHIS, Tenn. – June 2, 2026 – In front of hundreds of Ducks Unlimited (DU) members and volunteers at DU’s 89th National Convention in Tampa, Florida, DU elected new volunteer leaders, including President Dr. Rex Schulz and Chairman of the Board Robert “Bob” Spoerl.
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As DU’s 48th president, Dr. Rex Schulz, a resident of Quincy, Illinois, will work with the thousands of DU volunteers, staff, supporters and partners to further the mission of Ducks Unlimited in conserving wetlands that benefit not only waterfowl, but also other wildlife and people.
“Being elected president of Ducks Unlimited is not about a title,” Schulz said. “It’s about making a promise. A promise to fight for every acre of wetland, every flight of migrating waterfowl, and every community that depends on healthy water and wild places. Together, we will honor the legacy of those who came before us by pushing even harder for the future we believe in, one where conservation isn’t just something the members, volunteers and supporters of Ducks Unlimited do, it’s who we are.”
Schulz previously served as DU first vice president. He continues to serve on the Ducks Unlimited Canada Board and is a trustee of Wetlands America Trust, the land trust and foundation arm of Ducks Unlimited. He also serves on several DU national committees.
After 30 years of pathology service to Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois, Schulz recently retired from West Central Pathology Specialists as a founding partner and president. He is an avid waterfowler, upland bird hunter and golfer. He and his wife, Lori, live in Quincy, Illinois, and they together manage her family's Centennial Farm for deer and turkey.
In his new role as board chairman, Bob Spoerl, a Waupaca, Wisconsin resident, will ensure DU meets major mission-critical goals and will represent more than 650,000 Ducks Unlimited members at international, national, regional, state and local events. He serves on the board of Wetlands America Trust.
“Stepping into this role as chairman of the board is humbling and deeply meaningful,” Spoerl said. “For more than three decades, Ducks Unlimited has been part of my life, my family and my identity as a conservationist. To continue to help guide this organization, on behalf of more than 650,000 members who care passionately about wetlands, wildlife and the future of our continent’s waterfowl, is an honor beyond measure. Together, we will protect the landscapes that shaped us, strengthen the mission that unites us, and ensure that the next generation inherits a world rich in habitat and opportunity.”
Spoerl, who served as DU’s 47th president, is the retired president of Premium Brands. He continues to serve on the Ducks Unlimited de México and Ducks Unlimited Canada Boards, as well as several national committees.
He is an avid waterfowler, deer and elk hunter, and passionate conservationist who splits his time between Waupaca and Scottdale, Arizona, with his wife, Kim. Spoerl manages his Wisconsin property for maple syrup production.
The Spoerls are Ducks Unlimited John E. Walker President’s Society Members, DU Grand Slam Legacy Sponsors and Ducks Unlimited de México Legacy Sponsors.
In concurrence with the elections, Chairman of the Board Chuck Smith officially completed his two-year term.
Ducks Unlimited’s new members of the board include:
- James Cook
- Doug Frey
- Richard Godfrey
- Jake Hansen
- Chad Hohenwarter
- Dallas Hempstead
- John Killen
- Mike Link
- Brian Mattison
- Nyleen Troxell Stowe
- Peggy Sundstrom
- Jim Talbert
- Orlin Taylor
- Mark Woodward
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Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands, and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 20 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife, and people in all 50 states. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
