Fellows Award Nominations are open through March 22nd!

The honor of Fellow is conferred upon members in recognition of remarkable service to the Society in advancing our mission. This high honor is granted in belief that special recognition should be given for exceptional and dedicated service at the state or chapter level. This honor recognizes this service and embodies “grass roots” recognition by members.

The selection criteria and eligibility and the process for selection for these awards have been revised for 2024.

  1. The primary criterion for selection of a recipient for this award is tangible evidence that the exceptional service performed by the nominee is widely effective and generally recognized at the state or chapter level. Sufficient evidence must support the nomination to present a strong case history of continuous contribution and service.
  2. A candidate must have maintained membership for ten years as of December 31 of the preceding year. 
  3. No more than one candidate per two thousand members (or parts of two thousand) may receive the Fellow honor in any year. No one may receive more than one Fellow honor in their lifetime (view previous award winners here).

View the lists of Eligible Members by Name or by Chapter and Name here (list content is identical but sorted differently for your convenience).

As a member of the Society you may nominate eligible members.

The Awards Committee will review all nominations. Only those with sufficient evidence of service will be sent to the membership for election (view the revised process).

Please click the button below to view the ballot and begin nomination.

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason