The past couple of years have been a good ones for Steve Bodinet.

In June 2005, he was inducted into the Silver Circle Society of the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television. Members of this elite group represent the best of the best of Arizona's journalists, and are required to have at least 25 years of high-quality work in the business to their credit.

Just a couple of months later, Bodinet, who is known for his stories on Arizona's wildlife, became the first television reporter to be inducted into Arizona Wildlife for Tomorrow's hall of fame. The organization represents wildlife groups and agencies that work to protect our animal friends. Other inductees include Morris Udall and Barry Goldwater.

In September, the governor's office presented Bodinet with the Governor's Pride Award, and will be celebrating his work as the pride of Arizona for the next year. The annual award is given to a person or group that helps protect Arizona's beauty.

Bodinet joined 3TV in 1986. Prior to his work with KTVK, he spent eight years at KTSP-TV, also in Phoenix.

Before trying television, Bodinet held jobs as a carpenter, steel mill worker and others he will never admit to. While he came to Phoenix television exclusively as a news photographer, he later became an accomplished producer as well before making the transition to on-camera reporter.

Some of his best stories are about the great state we live in and what we can all do to keep it pristine for others. He loves the Grand Canyon, Red Rock County, Mogollon Rim and the Chiricahua Mountains down south of Tucson.

Bodinet has traveled to Bolivia, spent Christmas in Bethlehem and visited Australia, Canada and the Solomon Islands.

His hobbies include hiking, camping and especially playing guitar. He loves the outdoors and the people he meets along the way, but the greatest gift from God is his son, Nate, who is now grown. Bodinet is single.

To read Steve Bodinet's column in the Travel section of azfamily.com, click here.