Mr. King was the former Director of Land Protection and West Texas Program Manager for the Nature Conservancy in Texas. In that capacity, he worked on efforts to protect Dolan Falls, Barton Creek, Independence Creek, Powderhorn Ranch, Shamrock Island, Marathon Grasslands, Pinto Canyon, and the Davis Mountains. He has also served as a trustee of the Devils River Conservancy, Big Bend Ranch State Park Advisory Board, McDonald Observatory, and Borderlands Research Advisory Board.
Region: Hill Country
A. Ryland Howard
Mr. Howard has served as a board member for the Nature Conservancy in Texas. As well, his family has long owned and operated a ranch in the South Concho watershed, and has been involved in understanding and protecting spring flows in the basin. Toward that, he and other like-minded landowners have created the Headwaters Alliance.
Karen Hixon
Mrs. Hixon is a conservationist and philanthropist. She co-founded the Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation, served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, and volunteered on the boards of the Nature Conservancy in Texas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. She has also been a Texas advisory member for the Environmental Defense Fund and docent chair of the San Antonio Zoological Society.
Ronald Green
Dr. Green is a retired hydrologist, formerly with the Southwest Research Institute and the consulting firm, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber. He has specialized in groundwater hydrology and environmental geophysics, with a focus on water resource assessment and karst hydrology. He has volunteered on the state board of trustees for the Nature Conservancy in Texas, acting as chair for its Conservation and Science Committee. He has also served as board chair for the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance.
Jeff Francell
Mr. Francell is the Director of Land Protection at the Nature Conservancy in Texas, and has been involved in a number of habitat projects, including Honey Creek and Shield Ranch. As well, he serves on the board of Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve.
Cina Forgason
Cina Forgason has worked as a film producer with Rara Avis Productions, and served as a board member of the Nature Conservancy in Texas, the Peregrine Fund, and Lewa USA Wildlife Conservation.
Bonnie Conner
Ms. Conner, is a teacher, community activist and conservationist. She served as a member of the Council of the City of San Antonio from 1999 through 2003, as a director of the Edwards Aquifer Authority, and as a key partner with the Nature Conservancy in its efforts to protect lands in the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contributing zones. She also has been a leader in the groups, Friends of Medina River, San Antonio Parks Foundation, and Voelker Park Conservancy.
David Braun
Mr. Braun is a former State Director of the Nature Conservancy in Texas. In prior years, he worked as a biologist at Texas Parks and Wildlife, and also as a nature guide for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours. During his time since service at the Conservancy, he founded and led a conservation law firm, Braun & Gresham, PLLC, and a habitat management operation, Plateau Land and Wildlife Management.
Marshall Bowen
Mr. Bowen is a trustee for the Shield Ranch Foundation, serves as secretary of the Shield-Ayres Foundation, and works as an attorney.
David Bezanson
Mr. Bezanson is the Land Protection Strategy Director at the Nature Conservancy in Texas. He previously served as Executive Director of the Texas Land Conservancy (earlier known as the Natural Area Preservation Association), and worked at the Texas General Land Office.