A “Grass-Roots” Recognition
Each year members of the Society select a few members to become Fellows. The Benny J. Simpson Fellows Award is presented to a member for service and work for the enrichment of the Society at the state, regional or chapter level. This award is about recognizing work within the Society and embodies “grass roots” recognition. Members determine the winner through a voting process. All members are sent a list of current members meeting the criteria necessary to be nominated: be a member of the Society for at least ten years and must not have previously received a Fellows Award. Award winners are honored at the fall symposium.
How to Vote
You must be a member to vote. The Awards Committee sent an email with a link to the ballot on July 10th, so be sure to check the email where you receive your NPSOT news and stories. If you missed the email, or if you just recently joined or renewed your membership, email state@npsot.org for a link to the ballot. This year, NPSOT members must vote by July 31.
About Benny Simpson
“One thing that Texas doesn’t have and never has had and never will have is enough water. It’s getting to be important that we save as much water as we can and grow the kind of plants that can survive on very little when they have to.”
Benny Simpson, The Dallas Morning News, 1993
Benny Simpson (1928-1996) earned a bachelor of science degree in agronomy and farm machinery from Texas Tech University in 1954. In Horticulturalist Led Crusade for Native Plants, Sheryl Smith-Rogers explains that when plans to work with his father did not pan out, he started working at the Texas Research Foundation where he studied cotton root rot. In his free time, Simpson became interested in native plants and started exploring West Texas for plants that would grow well in North Texas. Rogers writes, “Empty plots at the Renner center [Texas Research Foundation] turned into field trials for the many seeds and cuttings he always brought back.” Simpson is remembered by friends and colleagues as a humble researcher and expert in Texas native plants. In 1981, Simpson and Carol Abbott co-founded the Native Plant Society of Texas. The Society is proud to honor Simpson and his legacy through the annual Benny J. Simpson Fellows Award.
**ARCHIVED POST** **ARCHIVED POST LINKS & PICTURES MAY NOT WORK** **ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: stephanie