January 19, 2017

For more than half a century, Terry Hershey devoted substantial time, energy and resources in significant conservation projects throughout Texas, including the founding of Houston Audubon in 1969. Today, we pay tribute to Terry in memory of and gratitude for her leadership, dedication and passion to making Houston and the life of Houstonians better.

Houston Audubon is honored to have been a part of Terry’s life. Not only was she a founding director, but also a long-time member of the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors.

Terry consistently imparted her invaluable wisdom and consistently contributed to important projects that needed a champion, including Houston Audubon’s effort to restore the Edith L. Moore Log Cabin in 2012. The log cabin is recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark and is the focal point of Houston Audubon’s Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. Restoration of the cabin was a delicate undertaking given its status and Terry recognized the need. As a result, she gave the lead gift, in honor of her late husband Jake, to make the restoration happen, and her gift came at a critical time. This was one of Terry’s trademarks; she always came through when needed most. Today, the cabin stands strong; it continues to host education programs for thousands, providing a setting that establishes a tangible connection to history and to nature.

It was also Terry’s lead gift in 2013 that spurred hundreds to give in an unprecedented rally of support to save Deer Park Prairie, a 50-acre coastal prairie remnant representing one of the planets most imperiled ecosystems. The prairie was under imminent threat of development but because of Terry’s leadership and courage, over $4 million was raised in a very short period of time to purchase and place under permanent conservation protection the largest remaining high quality prairie remnant known in Harris County. Today, the grassland birds, shorebirds, wading birds and an array of associated insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals that have been found there can now continue to rely on this critical rare habitat.

With every turn, there is a moving story about Terry. And as we honor this amazing woman, the tangible achievements she’s made for parks, people and the environment are entrenched in history leaving an indelible mark on the conservation landscape she helped shape. Terry was a true force for nature and catalyst of action. Her example will live on for generations through the many she touched and the many more to be touched by her story.
-- Helen Drummond

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January 16, 2017
Our very dear friend, Board of Advisor member, and former Board of Director member Lettalou Whittington passed away on January 16, 2017. Lettalou was a lifetime member and served Houston Audubon and the birds in so many ways over the years. She served on the Board of Directors from 1995 to 2004.

As the initial funder of the Winnie Burkett Sanctuary Intern Fund, Lettalou helped establish a program that continues to provide budding scientists with invaluable field experience while offering our sanctuaries a helping hand. This program has become a core element of our sanctuary management efforts today. Lettalou did so much for Houston Audubon and in recognition of her dedication, Houston Audubon named its Birdathon Grand Prize – Most Money Raised award in her honor. We call it the Whittington Award, the highly coveted award for Birdathon.

Lettalou planted many seeds at Houston Audubon over the years and the fruit of her work continues to soar. She will forever be in our heart!
-- Helen Drummond

August 16, 2017
It is with great sadness that Houston Audubon mourns the passing of Aaron Stoley on Wednesday, August 16, 2017. Aaron may have been short in stature but he was a giant at Houston Audubon. A tireless volunteer who was always one of the first to answer the call whether it for clearing trails after a hurricane, tending native plants at the nursery, or mentoring new volunteers.

Aaron Stoley was named the 2007 Laura Singleton Outstanding Volunteer for his many decades of volunteering for Houston Audubon. As a lifelong birder, he cared that bird habitat is preserved and enhanced. He was at High Island after both Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Humberto, chainsawing and clearing brush, and serving as fire captain. Growing up on a farm in South Dakota during the depression, he learned to fix things with what you had available, which wasn’t much. Consequently, he helped us with many mechanical repairs. Aaron never said no to any project at any location where he was asked to help. This includes building sheds, placing signs at Winters Bayou, working on the washout below the big pond at Edith Moore Nature Sanctuary, fixing all manner of mechanical equipment, volunteering to lead work groups, Christmas Bird Counts, clearing brush at High Island and at Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center. Aaron was a joy to work with. His stories made every workday fun. Aaron was treasured by all who were lucky enough to know him.
Rest in peace, Aaron.

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December 21, 2017
Bruce McCandless II, former NASA astronaut and Houston Audubon board member, died on Thursday, December 21, 2017. His contributions to bird conservation in the Upper Texas Coast start with his long tenure on our Board of Directors. He was an At Large Director in 1973-4, Vice President in 1974-5, President in 1975-6, Vice President again in 1976-7, President again in 1977-9. This was during the time that the Edith L. Moore property was willed to Houston Audubon. Bruce was instrumental in working along with former President Ken Burns to settle the back taxes and obtain a tax exemption for the property. We have been benefiting from that work ever since.

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January 10, 2018
Flo Hannah will be missed beyond measure and remembered always for her steadfast dedication to the plants, birds, and people of the Texas Gulf Coast. Flo was our dear friend and colleague. She was a champion of endangered coastal prairies and a remarkable advocate for nature. She was loved and respected by the many people she encountered. Houston Audubon feels a significant loss and will miss Flo’s passion, expertise, and sweet humor. We plan to honor Flo and her remarkable contributions to Houston Audubon and to our community, and we will share details when we have them. May we all carry her prairie fire forward. We love the attached picture of Flo in her favorite Texas Coneflowers in an urban prairie remnant in Houston. Flo was known for saying, "You can never have too many Texas Coneflowers!"

-- Helen Drummond

From the day Flo began as a Sanctuary Assistant at Houston Audubon in 2002, good changes began to happen. Houston Audubon sanctuaries far and wide—especially Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary—began to get badly needed attention. Flo quickly won the respect and friendship of the Audubon Docent trail crew which had been handling most of the Edith Moore grounds and trail maintenance under the leadership of Don Gray. She then made friends and allies for Houston Audubon everywhere as she took on the daunting job of improving oversight and maintenance of Houston Audubon sanctuaries from the Piney Woods to Galveston Island. Everything she did was with enthusiasm and a sense of humor, making even the toughest jobs fun for all involved.

Flo's interest in native plants, especially grasses, was always evident but became a dominating force when loss of the Saums Road Prairie became imminent. Her efforts to save Saums Road Prairie were the beginning of the crusade she helped found and lead with Houston Audubon encouragement and support. That experience resulted in the now extensive network of organizations committed to saving prairies and promoting native plants. It was a crusade she led the rest of her life with close friends and allies, seeking recognition always for them, never for herself. She changed Houston Audubon and the conservation world for the better in everything she did.

-- Joy Hester
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