West Texas Conservationist of the Year Celebration

Nyle Maxwell has held many titles over the course of his life — businessman, mayor, philanthropist and industry leader — but in recent decades, one role has come to define his legacy: conservationist.

J. Luther King, Jr., a West Texas native dedicated to conserving the region’s landscapes and his family’s land stewardship legacy, was honored with Cibolo Creek Ranch as a 2025 West Texas Conservationist.

The Borderlands Research Foundation was proud to honor Cibolo Creek Ranch and John B. Poindexter as our recipient of the…

Roxana (Roxie) Catto Hayne is passionate about wildlife, land conservation, ranching and family. Her grandfather, Alfred S. Gage, was one of the pioneering ranchers of West Texas

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

John L. Nau, III, inaugural 2022 West Texas Conservationist of the Year, serves on the boards of the National Park Foundation, American Battlefield Trust, and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.