As a young boy I loved the outdoors and was blessed with “woods” just outside the back door. Perhaps a thousand acres of floodplain, the land could not be developed and thus was an island in the midst of San Antonio growth to the north. I walked every acre, fought off Indians and bad guys, learned how to stalk live game, and had a ball. I noticed the development when it skipped over my refuge and realized that wilderness near an urban area is a rarity, a precious thing worth preserving. That realization led me to believe at age 11 I wanted to have a life in the outdoors, helping others find their “woods”. Not knowing any better at that young age, and encouraged by my parents, I wrote to Governor John Connally lamenting the loss of open space and asking how I could one day work in the parks system. Imagine my surprise when the below response came to the mailbox.
It’s unfortunate that Governor Connally is no longer with us as I would like to tell him his encouragement of a young boy led to a lifetime of work in the great outdoors. While I never got on with TP&W, I never lost sight of my goals and have always been able to stay close to Nature. For that life, that career, I am truly blessed.
Test Reply.
Amazing the growth we have had in Texas. And considering that so much of the land here is privately owned, I think the state has done a pretty good job of preserving some of it. We have a good park system. Anyway, enjoyed reading about your young ambitions and liked seeing the letter you got from the governor.
Thank you for sharing! You have been so important to our family from J.D. and me down to our grandsons.
CJWms