The Boone and Crockett Club is pausing to remember a hunting industry icon and ardent supporter of conservation. Chuck Buck, chairman of Buck Knives, passed away Feb. 6, 2015.

Chuck was the grandson of company founder Hoyt Buck, whose commitment to quality and innovation made his company a household name among outdoors enthusiasts. Today, Buck Knives is a fourth-generation company still as proud as ever of its American-made products. The company also remains a devout supporter of Boone and Crockett as well as many other conservation organizations.

"Chuck and his family have always taken great pride in how their products relate to the highest ethical use of game animals. A knife is how hunters convert a kill into tablefare. Doing it well respects the animal, and procurement of food is still the most fundamental element of hunting," said Marc Mondavi, vice president of communications for the Club.

Buck Knives and Boone and Crockett reinforced this message frequently over the years by partnering on special-release knives and cutlery sets, with profits earmarked to support the Club's work in conservation. In 2014, the company became an early and enthusiastic supporter of Trailblazers in Conservation, a Club initiative to help the hunting community rise to the challenges of a changing world.

Mondavi recalled, "Chuck Buck was everyone's uncle or grandfather - that special someone who always seemed to have the right knowledge and experience for every situation. And he was always willing to share what he knew without hesitation."

"Mr. Buck didn't just make knives. He made memories," added Mondavi.

Buck Knives began in 1902, when Hoyt Buck, a Kansas blacksmith, developed a new way to temper steel so it would hold an edge longer. The company made knives for American troops during World War II, and in 1964 revolutionized the cutlery industry with its breakthrough locking folding system.