A Southern gentleman who truly became a legend in his own time, Lynn Lowrey was a horticulturist by training and a collector by nature. He collected plants and he collected people. A mentor to many, Lowrey left a horticultural legacy to Houston and to Texas. He was the recognized leader of the native plant movement in Texas, a role which he himself never acknowledged. He left it to others to do the organizing and make the speeches to promote the use of native plants in the landscape. Instead, Lowrey pioneered by example - he simply started using natives in his landscapes and encouraged others to do the same. Concerned that as the amount of pavement increases and our natural environment decreases, Lowrey believed that through our landscaping we could improve our environment. Today, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department promotes a garden style called "Wildscaping" that encourages the use of native plants in natural landscaping to provide food and cover for wildlife, particularly for birds and butterflies. That style was not widespread in the 1950s, but it was a style that Lowrey used.

Award Recipients

1999	Will Fleming, for "Will Fleming Yaupon"
2000	Dan Hosage, for Cercis canadensis 'Traveler'
2001	Dr. David Creech, for his work establishing the Stephen F. Austin University Mast Arboretum and developing the three R's: Rescue, Research, and Reconstruction
2002	Mike Anderson, for contributions of promoting horticulture education through the Robert A. Vines Science Center in Spring Branch (Houston)
2003	-
2004	David and Teresa Steinbrunner, for "Teresa" Salvia greggii
2005	Dr. Ed McWilliams, for his study of native wetland species
2006	Peter Loos and Gail Barton, for Phlox pilosa 'Forest Frost'
2007	Sean Watson, for efforts in propagating rare and endangered plants
2008	Greg Grant, for Malvaviscus drummondii x M arborea, 'Pam Puryear' or Pink Turk's Cap