Rollins, Berlanga, Caldwell honored

Lone Star outdoor newS

At the Harvey Weil Dinner on April 29, three Texans were honored for their conservation contributions; Dale Rollins, Hugo Berlanga and Sam Caldwell.

The annual dinner and award ceremony, held by the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi at the Welder Wildlife Foundation Refuge, in Sinton, is held in honor of Weil, who was a guiding influence in the establishment of the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation.

Professional Conservationist of the Year: Dr. Dale Rollins Rollins founded the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation in 2007, served as its executive director until 2021, and is currently serving as interim director.

A native of Oklahoma, Rollins has studied quail his entire professional life. He also served as Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist for Texas AgriLife Extension in San Angelo from 1987-2013.

Rollins retired from Texas Agrilife Extension Service in August 2013, but returned as the Program Coordinator for Texas A&M’s “Reversing the Quail Decline” initiative. He founded the Bobwhite Brigades program, which evolved into the Texas Brigades, and has taught a dozen sessions of QuailMasters, an annual 12-day course on quail and quail habitat held at various locations across the state.

Known for his unconventional teaching techniques, Rollins also founded the world’s first living laboratory for quail, the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, in Roby, where groundbreaking research projects take place each year.

Conservationist of the Year: Hugo Berlanga Berlanga has served as a State Representative to the Texas House of Representatives for the 34th District. Berlanga focused on issues relating to health care, the environment and municipalities.

In 1991 he was the lead House sponsor of the Coastal Zone Management Act. In 1993 he was named Chairman of the Public Health Committee, which, under his leadership, was described as a “power base for the public good” by Texas Monthly magazine, July 1993.

Throughout his legislative career, Berlanga has championed legislation to protect Texas’ environment and improve health care. He also sponsored and won legislation credited with conserving the redfish population and promotion of strong mariculture management programs.

Living Legacy – Sam Caldwell

Sam Caldwell’s art hangs on the walls of many Texas hunters and anglers, with coastal scenes of waterfowl, gamefish and people prized by collectors. Working primarily in transparent watercolor, the Houston native seeks to capture the atmosphere of the moment, as well as the color and drama inherent in his outdoor subjects. Many of his recent images feature young hunters and fishers.

Early in his career, Caldwell became involved in outdoor organizations like Ducks Unlimited and the Coastal Conservation Association. He remains deeply involved in promoting coastal scenes as fine art and uses his images to provide funds for coastal conservation.