ALPHONSO GRAHAM’S LIFE JOURNEY
has taken him from his birthplace in Jamaica, to Brooklyn and then Philadelphia, and finally to Texas, a place he now calls home. He grew up in a totally urban environment, surrounded by concrete and asphalt. He joined the Army when he was 19, which opened up a whole new world for him. “It was similar to a college experience in that I was exposed to people and cultures I had never known before,” he said. “I did my basic training in Fort Benning, near Columbus, Georgia. That was a real culture shock.” He was stationed at Fort Hood in central Texas. “The military introduced me to spending time outdoors,” said Graham. “I met a couple of people and it started off simple. We would go out fishing or camping at state parks. I took up clay shooting with friends, and that opened up my eyes to a lot more stuff.” After serving four years in the army, Graham decided to stay put in Texas.
STEWARDING THE FUTURE OF HUNTING BY LYDIA SALDAÑA | PHOTOS BY JONATHAN VAIL
“I fell in love with Texas,” he said. “I had never been fishing or camping until I got here, and I think that’s why I have such an affinity for this state. For people who don’t understand what it’s like to get up to see the sun rise and enjoy the beauty of nature, it’s hard to explain it till you’ve experienced it.” Graham built a career in the vehicle service industry, and recently made the move to UPS, where his twin brother works. Most of his spare time is spent outdoors, fishing, kayaking and camping. He even purchased some land near Brownwood, where he and his wife like to take their dogs. He went dove hunting a few times with friends but had never experienced big game hunting until he got involved with Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s (TPWF) Stewards of the Wild program. Stewards of the Wild
60 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
