2006 Award Winners

PUBLIC SERVICE - For efforts and leadership that exceed their job requirements.

JOAN & SCOTT HOLT. Joan is a professor and associate director for Mariculture at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas and Scott is a research associate and marine biologist at the institute. Together, the Holts helped put Port Aransas on the Great Texas Birding Trail and Texas Tropical Trail. And they helped bring the inaugural Tarpon Tomorrow Symposium to UTMSI. Their birding exploits include supporting local birding sites, monitoring bird migrations and serving on boards and committees with conservation programs and volunteering with ornithological projects.

CITIZEN VOLUNTEER - For dedication of time and energy to the preservation of our natural resources without expectation of compensation or recognition.

ERNIE EDMUNDSON is a volunteer educator who spends countless hours enlightening folks on native plants and water conservation through programs with the Native Plant Society, Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners throughout South Texas. Edmundson lends her expertise to the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and is a Master Gardener with the Aransas/San Patricio program. She founded Stewardship Aransas to educate folks on the natural heritage of Live Oak Peninsula.

COASTAL COMMUNITY - for farsighted public stewardship of coastal resources and for leadership in enhancing our coastal environment.

FENNESSEY RANCH, largely through the efforts of ranch owner, Brien O'Connor Dunn, and ranch manager Sally Crofutt, is a model for conservation partnerships. Through a partnership with the University of Texas, Fennessey Ranch as perpetually protected more than 3,250 acres by designating it as conservation easement. The ranch agreed to be part of the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve program, which invites scientific study of critical coastal habitat so that we might learn how to protect it. Fennessey Ranch has partnered with the Coastal Bend Wildlife Photo Contest and Images for Conservation to help showcase its wildlife for education through nature photography.

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY - sets an example of leadership by placing a high priority on protecting the region's environment.

THE KING RANCH is a model for coastal conservancy and wildlife management. It has protected the Laguna Madre's western shoreline and thousands of acres of South Texas brush country for more than 150 years.

SMALL BUSINESS - for leadership in placing a high priority on protecting the region's environment.

BILLY SANDIFER (Padre Island Safaris) is known as the Padre of Padre Island. This outspoken conservationist/naturalist has become as much a symbol of the National Seashore as its beloved Kemp's Ridley sea turtles. Through his annual Big Shell Beach Cleanup, Sandifer has demonstrated the depths of his convictions, his leadership and willingness to roll up his sleeves and get dirty. The respect Billy commands among birders, anglers and seashore officials is unparalleled. He's educated a hard-to-reach culture on the sea turtle program, birding, angling and conservation ethics.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION - for preserving the region's heritage, protecting the natural environment and nurturing the prosperity of the Coastal Bend.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF CORPUS CHRISTI HARVEY WEIL SPORTSMAN/CONSERVATION AWARD TRUST. Hats off to R.N. "Dick" Conolly and the Rotarians for establishing this perpetual fund for conservation, which celebrates the spirit of the late sportsman/conservationist Harvey Weil, a Corpus Christi maritime attorney. Over the years, the organization has awarded more than $300,000 for fisheries and wildlife research, education programs and conservation efforts through its annual awards banquets and sales of Barney Farley's book, Fishing Yesterday's Gulf Coast.

PUBLIC AWARENESS - for an institution or individual's dedication and effectiveness in raising public awareness of natural resources of the Coastal Bend.

DAVID SIKES, CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER-TIMES Outdoors Columnist has the ability to communicate effectively and convincingly important information to the general public, promoting conservation of our natural resources. Sikes' informative columns demonstrate an ability to clarify facts and simplify complex biological concepts, such as the benefits of freshwater inflows to our estuaries. He performs a valuable public service by funneling the conservation messages of agencies and organizations to the public. He extends this service not only to hunters and anglers, but also to a broad variety of outdoor enthusiasts.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION - for dedication and effectiveness in educating area students about the natural resources of the Coastal Bend.

REBECCA MARTINEZ, COASTAL BEND COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, has visited dozens of campus and other special locations in her role of Environmental Planner, with her conservation message. She introduces students to Curby the recycling robot. Martinez also extends her kid-friendly recycling campaign to teachers and parents.

MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION - for dedication and effectiveness in educating area students about the natural resources of the Coastal Bend.

RICHARD GONZALES, SCIENCE AND SPANISH CLUB NETWORK, a program of the Gulf of Mexico Foundation, has promoted coastal conservation throughout South Texas. This year, more than 350 students heard his message. With the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation, Gonzales' students have helped for years with the Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup at Lighthouse Lakes and with the Earth Day-Bay Day celebration. And SSCN established the annual Gulf of Mexico Youth Leadership in Stewardship Conference at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies.

HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION - for dedication and effectiveness in educating area students about the natural resources of the Coastal Bend.

DAVID BARTLING founded the popular Oceans Class at Flour Bluff High School, which launched careers for dozens of marine biologists and educators. He instilled in countless students a fascination with and understanding of coastal ecosystems through rigorous course study and hands-on field trips. Bartling is retired now after 30 years of service, but his legacy lives through the conservation work of his students.

HIGHER EDUCATION - for a professor or institution's dedication and effectiveness in educating area students about the natural resources of the Coastal Bend.

JAMES E. SILLIMAN, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI assistant professor of chemistry, directs the Cabeza de Vaca Earthmobile Project, which promotes awareness of geoscience issues. He's the principal investigator for this worthwhile project, which serves four area school districts. The Earthmobile, with its computer technology, visits campuses with its conservation message for students and teachers through hands-on, inquiry-based science learning.

CHAIRMAN'S AWARD - for extended commitment and extraordinary effectiveness in preserving our rich coastal heritage.

PAUL MONTAGNA, endowed chair for ecosystems studies and modeling at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, is recognized for efforts spent during his former career with the University of Texas Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas. Montagna was instrumental in establishing a National Estuarine Reserve in South Texas. Designating this 185,000-acres of land and submerged habitat as the Mission-Aransas NER required extraordinary vision, leadership and determination from Montagna. This designation will bring federal dollars for long-term research to better understand how or whether human activity influences changes in coastal ecosystems. Ultimately, this information should promote coastal stewardship and sustainable use of our estuaries.