Three prominent Houstonians honored at 2017 Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Award luncheon
Nearly 250 attendees filled the ballroom of the Junior League of Houston May 8 for the 2017 Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Award Luncheon, sponsored by the Bayou Preservation Association. Three prominent Houstonians were honored for their outstanding commitment to celebrating, protecting, and restoring Houston’s waterways. In addition to the awards, the association raised $60,000 to further its citizen science/water quality program, its trash-fee bayou program, and its bayou appreciation program.
The honorees were Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner R. Jack Cagle; Houston Wilderness President and CEO Deborah January-Bevers, J.D.; and Texas Master Naturalist and environmental services consultant Dick Benoit.
The master of ceremonies was Dave Fehling, Director of News and Public Affairs at Houston Public Media. Event Co-Chairs were Michael F. Bloom, P.E., Manager of the Sustainability Practice at R. G. Miller Engineers and member of the Executive Committee of the Bayou Preservation Association, and Claire P. Caudill, Association board member and community volunteer.
Attendees included Janiece Longoria, Chair of the Port Commission; John Blount, Harris County Engineer; Russ Poppe, Executive Director, Harris County Flood Control District; Vince Ryan, Harris County Attorney; Steve Costello, City of Houston, Chief Resiliency Officer; Beth White, Executive Director, Houston Parks Board; and Karla Cisneros, City of Houston Council Member.
The Bayou Preservation Association – founded 51 years ago by Houston resident Terry Hershey and other individuals concerned with protecting Houston’s bayous – is dedicated to protecting, restoring and celebrating the natural richness of all of our region’s bayous and streams through stewardship, leadership, education and outreach.