|
Directors, 2008-09
|
| Name |
City |
| Gilbert Adams |
Alvin, TX |
| Fred Allen |
Beaumont, TX |
| Judy Allen |
|
| Joyce Almaguer-Reisdorf |
|
| Judy Aronow |
San Marcos, TX |
| Michael Black |
|
| Dr. Don Blanton |
Dallas, TX |
| Marion Holt |
Beaumont,, TX |
| Mary Catherine Johnston |
Kountze, TX |
| Maxine Johnston |
Batson, TX |
| Rose Ann Jordan |
Beaumont, TX |
| Wendy Ledbetter |
Silsbee, TX |
| Joe Liggio |
Houston, TX |
| Honorable Ken Pelt |
Kountze, TX |
| Dr. Jeffrey G. Pittman |
Woodville, TX |
| Jan Ruppel |
Beaumont, TX |
| Kathryn Walker |
Beaumont, TX |
|
|
Advisory Board
|
| Name |
City |
| Dallas J. Barrington |
Silsbee, TX |
| Richard Evans |
Beaumont, TX |
| Gene Feigelson |
Houston, TX |
| Pete Gunter |
Denton, TX |
| Billy Hallmon |
Dallas, TX |
| Robert Neyland |
Silsbee, TX |
| Howard Peacock |
San Antonio, TX |
| Jerald Rashall |
Silsbee, TX |
| Geraldine Watson |
Silsbee, TX |
|
|
BTA'S TRACK RECORD, 1964-2007
|
|
1964
|
Founded Oct. 4, 1964, Articles of Incorporation filed November 19. |
|
1966
|
Senator Ralph W. Yarborough introduced the first Big Thicket National Park bill. |
|
1967
|
NPS recommended a Big Thicket National Monument. |
|
1970
|
Yarborough bill passes Senate only; Cong. Bob Eckhardt (D-Houston) introduced bill to establish national park of 191,000 acres, endorsed by BTA and Big Thicket Coordinating Committee. |
|
1971
|
Sen. Lloyd Bensen succeeded Sen. Yarborough; reintroduced his bill. |
|
1970 to 72
|
Numerous bills introduced by Congressmen Jack Brooks, George Bush, Sr., Jim Wright, Alan Steelman,
and Senator John Tower. |
|
1973
|
Cong. Charles Wilson (D-Lufkin) elected in 2nd District; introduced bill for 75,000 acres. |
|
1974
|
Big Thicket National Preserve Bill signed into law October 11, 1974 authorizing 84,550 acres,
omitting Village Creek sandylands. |
|
1976
|
Temple-Eastex donated to Nature Conservancy approximately 2,300 acres as the
Roy E. Larsen Sandylands Sanctuary. |
|
1974-79
|
Campaigned for state park to complement the National Preserve; Village Creek State Park established
in 1979. |
|
1986
|
Cong. Charles Wilson introduced the Big Thicket Addition Act, excluding properties with dwellings;
Sen. Phil Gramm demanded exclusion of private properties and proposed exchanges of lands between
corporate timber interests and the US Forest Service. |
|
1993
|
Big Thicket Addition Act authorizes 10,766 acres to be added to Preserve. |
|
1994
|
BTA transferred property and assets to Big Thicket National Preserve; reorganized
in November. |
|
1996
|
Co-sponsored Big Thicket Science Conference. |
|
1999
|
NPCA and Georgia-Pacific Foundation conferred $60,000 grant to renovate the Saratoga property
for use as a Field Research Station. |
|
1999
|
Co-sponsored Big Thicket Science Conference. |
|
2000
|
Received grants from the Georgia-Pacific Foundation, Meadows Foundation of Dallas , the Brown
Foundation, the Magnolia Garden Club, Walter and Mary Crawford Family Fund, and Foundation for
Southeast Texas to complete renovation for the Research Station. |
|
2001
|
Publication grant received from TLL Temple foundation to publish Temple Big Thicket Series; four
titles published as of 2005 |
|
2003
|
Brown Foundation Grant for $250,000 to purchase land adjoining the Preserve Visitor Center |
|
2003
|
Co-sponsored Big Thicket Science Conference. |
|
2004
|
Acquisition of Visitor Center land completed in partnership with the Preserve, The Conservation
Fund, Entergy, and other private donors. |
|
2004
|
Participated in a partnership with the Conservation Fund to purchase area surrounding Visitor
Center with gift from Brown Foundation. |
|
2005
|
Interpreted with message boards Ghost Road Scenic Drive County Park with partners including Hardin
County Commissioners, Texas Historical Commission, Pineywoods Foundation, and Saratoga Timber Company. |
|
2006
|
Prepared of a Strategic Plan (starting in 2005) for the Big Thicket National Preserve and presented
it at the annual meeting. |
|
2006
|
Sponsored the organization of an All Taxa Biodiversity (Thicket of Diversity) Inventory involving
universities, observatories, museums, government agencies, and individual researchers; received
Brown Foundation and T.L.L. Temple Foundation grants to fund a consortium and the Thicket of Diversity. |
|
2007
|
Co-sponsored Big Thicket Science Conference. |
