KINGSVILLE, TEXAS — Thanks to a generous gift from Bobby and Sherri Patton, the Patton Center for Deer Research (PCDR) has been established at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute(CKWRI). Patton, an avid outdoorsman and dedicated conservationist created the Patton Center for Deer Research that will strengthen wildlife research education at Texas A&M University-Kingsville through the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute.
Patton has previously supported education and conservation at the University of Texas. With this gift, Patton is excited to join the Texas A&M University family by supporting CKWRI and the TAMU-Kingsville Javelinas. He said “I am passionate about supporting education and research at Universities because it is an investment in the future.”
“The Patton Center for Deer Research will be transformative for wildlife science in South Texas and will establish a world-class research center equipped to conduct applied research, train the next generations of leaders in conservation, and extend the knowledge created through our studies to inform land management and policy decisions,” noted Dr. Mike Cherry, the Stuart Stedman Chair for White-tailed Deer Research at CKWRI and leader of the PCDR.
All deer related research conducted by CKWRI will be under the banner of the newly created PCDR, which is committed to conducting research relevant to deer in Texas and northern Mexico. The research projects will increase the understanding of deer ecology and thereby increase the effectiveness of deer management.
Dr. David Hewitt, CKWRI’s Executive Director, indicated “The newly established Patton Center for Deer Research is a game-changer for our deer research. Resources from Mr. Patton’s gift will enable our scientists and students to tackle the most critical challenges in deer management.”
The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is the leading wildlife research organization in Texas and one of the finest in the nation. Established in 1981 by a grant from the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, the Institute operates as a nonprofit organization and depends financially upon private contributions and faculty grantsmanship. Their mission is to provide science-based information for enhancing the conservation and management of Texas wildlife.
The Institute has long-standing, trusted relationships with private landowners on whose land they conduct research, and through this relationship, there is a tremendous appreciation for the vital role that land stewardship plays in effective conservation. the institute works with hunters, wildlife managers, land stewards, conservationists and policymakers to provide research for management and conservation of wildlife and its habitat.