Ruthie Bowman Russell

Ruthie Bowman Russell inherited her conservation values and love of West Texas from her grandmother, Verna Hooks McLean. Verna loved to quote the renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold and preached about how important it was to respect nature and to leave the land better than we found it. Ruthie took the lessons to heart and devoted her life to the conservation of the land she loves. She and husband Johnny manage multiple ranches in Texas, including the 101 Ranch in West Texas. She has forever protected her beloved Sycamore Springs Ranch on the Devils River with a conservation easement through the Texas Agricultural Land Trust and was honored with a Lone Star Land Steward Award from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 2014. Ruthie has taken active leadership roles in conservation-focused organizations, including Texas Wildlife Association, Borderlands Research Institute, Devils River Conservancy, the Llano River Watershed Alliance, and the San Antonio Advisory Board of The Nature Conservancy.