(KINGSVILLE, October 24, 1996) - Dr. Fred C. Bryant, director of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, was honored Oct. 4 with a Fellow Award at the Annual Texas Section meeting of the Society for Range Management in Kerrville.
The Society for Range Management is a body of ranchers, state and federal employees, and university researchers and teachers who promote good land stewardship. They are typically referred to as the "conscience" of the ranching industry.
The prestigious Fellow Award is conferred upon members of the Texas Section in recognition of their exceptional and dedicated service to the Texas Section, and their significant contribution in advancing range-related resource management.
"To be distinguished as a Fellow of the Texas Section, SRM, is indeed an honor," Bryant said. "This group embodies good land stewardship and I am extremely proud to have been recognized as one who has made a lifelong contribution in this endeavor." Dr. Charles A. "Butch" Taylor, research station superintendent at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Sonora, presented the award.
"It is not difficult to see why this individual is most deserving of the Texas Section's Fellow Award. His efforts have been, and will continue to be recognized in the scientific community at the state, national and international levels," Taylor said. "In addition to all of these contributions, he is simply an outstanding person as well. He has been a friend and confidant to many."
Bryant assumed his new duties in July as director of the Kleberg Institute and associate dean for research and development in the A&M-Kingsville College of Agriculture and Human Sciences. Bryant succeeded Dr. Samuel L. Beasom, who served the Institute from 1983 to 1995. As director, Bryant is primarily responsible for leading applied research and area-wide outreach programs.
Prior to his appointment, he served as assistant vice provost for research at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Throughout his career, Bryant's research efforts have been funded with more than $5 million in grants. He has published more than 44 refereed journal articles, 23 symposia publications, 12 popular articles and more than 60 abstracts, and has presented more than 100 papers at state, national and international meetings. Bryant has also published one book, one book chapter and co-authored a text on habitat management.
He has served as president of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society; the Texas Section, Society for Range Management; and the International Society for Range Management.
He has also made significant contributions to range science at the international level, directing research programs in Peru, Morocco and Bolivia; and participating in international research and development visits to Indonesia, Australia, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Venezuela and Mexico.
He holds a bachelor's degree in wildlife management from Texas Tech University; a master's degree in wildlife biology from Utah State University and a doctorate in range science from Texas A&M University.
The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute was established Jan. 1, 1981, with an initial donation of $1.2 million from the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation.
-TAMUK-
-Mary McAdam