AUGUSTA – Bill Livezey, a 15-year veteran of the Maine Warden Service, was named the 2004 Warden of the Year during the service’s annual awards banquet in Orono earlier this month.

Livezey was honored for his ability to balance his regular work as a district game warden with investigative work on a special resource protection unit.

He was the lead agent on a large-scale investigation into a night hunting and deer driving operation in western Maine.

More than 100 local, state and federal officers eventually were involved in the investigation, which officials say was the largest operation of its kind in warden service history.

The warden also was the primary investigator in a case involving a ring of poachers, some convicted felons, who hunted night and day, often while under the influence of drugs, according to the warden service.

Several game wardens from central and northern Maine also were recognized for their work during the awards banquet.

. Warden Paul Farrington of Springfield was given a Meritorious Service Award for his courage in rescuing a woman from a burning house in Lee.

. Warden Alan Dudley of Easton was recognized with an Exemplary Service Award for his successful investigation of the illegal killing of a moose and her calf.

. Warden Mark Merrifield of Searsmont was recognized with an Exemplary Service Award for his work on a poaching case that resulted in jail time and fines in excess of $10,000 for three violators.

. Warden Mike Favreau of Rockwood was given an Exemplary Service Award for solving the case of a hunter who stole a deer from another hunter at his campsite.

. Warden Durward Humphrey of St. Albans was given an Exemplary Service Award for solving a case involving baiting deer and illegally using night-vision equipment to hunt.

. Two local wardens and their canine partners were honored for search-and-rescue and law enforcement accomplishments: Warden Wayde Carter and his dog Buddy, who are based in Machias, and Warden Jeff Spencer and his dog Bridger, who work in northwestern Aroostook County.

. Lt. Bill Allen of Unity received the Supervisor of the Year award for his “superior knowledge and leadership,” and retired Game Warden Sgt. John Robertson of Portage was given the 2004 Legendary Game Warden Award.