Tom Solomon and Jim Duron, members of the Galveston Bay Area Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program, have reached a historic milestone, logging more than 30,000 volunteer hours each—equivalent to 14 years of full-time service.
Their efforts have significantly contributed to the restoration of coastal prairies and other natural resources in the area.
“This type of commitment is the pinnacle of service within the program,” said Mary Pearl Meuth, assistant state coordinator for the Texas Master Naturalist Program with AgriLife Extension. “In the program’s 25-year history, we never imagined volunteers dedicating this number of hours — they are just amazing people.”
Established in 1998 as a partnership between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the Texas Master Naturalist program trains volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service for the management of Texas’ natural resources.
Michelle Haggerty, state coordinator for the program with TPWD, emphasized the importance of volunteers like Solomon and Duron.
“This statewide network of volunteer-driven chapters is essential to achieving conservation- related goals, especially given the limited resources of many local and state agencies,” she said.
Retirement Leads to New Conservation Paths Both Solomon and Duron began volunteering after retiring. Solomon first joined the Texas Master Gardener Program, where his interest in horticulture led him to the Texas Master Naturalist Program in 2004.
Duron, encouraged by his wife, began volunteering at the Armand Bayou Nature Center before becoming a Master Naturalist in 2008.
A Shared Passion for Restoration Solomon and Duron have been instrumental in wetland and coastal prairie restoration in the rapidly urbanizing Galveston Bay area.
Under the guidance of TPWD biologists, the two have collected native seeds, germinated plants, and led restoration plantings.
Duron said his true passion has been restoring native prairies around the Armand Bayou Nature Center.
“It’s very satisfying to generate the plants for restoration efforts and plant them in the prairie,” he said.
Solomon estimates that he has helped restore around 500,000 plants during his volunteer work and has taught other volunteers techniques to ensure plant success.
“The thing I like most about the program is the freedom it gives you to pursue your goals,” Solomon said. “Whether it’s restoring native grasses or milkweed propagation, there’s always something interesting to do.”
Service for the Sake of Texas’ Future Despite their achievements, neither Solomon nor Duron set out to make history.
Instead, they credit their success to working with like-minded individuals committed to conservation and improving Texas’ natural resources.
“My hope is that when someone thinks of the future of Texas’ natural resources, they think of Master Naturalists and the Texas Master Naturalist Program,” Haggerty said. “So many great things are accomplished because of our volunteers.”
For more information about the Texas Master Naturalist program, visit the website or contact a local chapter.
