A commemorative tree was planted today on the grounds of the United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service office, Tuesday, October 14, 2014, in Lufkin, Texas.
The Shumard Oak, donated by Steely Lumber of Huntsville, Texas, was planted in honor of the Texas Forestry Association’s 100th year and in memory of Loren Leroy Bishop, first Forest Supervisor of the National Forests in Texas and the first Executive Secretary for Texas Forestry Association.
“Today we specifically want to honor Loren L. Bishop,” said Lee Carroll, TFA President. “It is in honor and tribute to his early leadership that we plant this tree in his memory; for all to remember his contributions to the forest resource on public and private land. It is through his leadership that we enjoy the beautiful forests that are vitally important to East Texas.”
When he came to TFA, Bishop was retired from the U. S. Forest Service, where he had organized the effort to establish four national forests in Texas on more than 600,000 acres of cut-over timber land in the 1930s. By 1950, with full-time staff, TFA was considered “permanently established”, with Bishop, a stenographer and two “field” directors of forestry efforts.
The tree also commemorates a long history of cooperation between the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies.
“We have a long history of cooperating and working together, and that started with Mr. Bishop,” said Mark Van Every, Supervisor of the National Forests and Grasslands of Texas. “This tree is a good symbol of that interconnection and also, hopefully will serve as a reminder for the next hundred years and more of the cooperation we have between our two organizations.”
Also present were Ron Hufford, executive director of TFA, and Lufkin Mayor Bob Brown, who thanked the TFA for their continued efforts and presence in East Texas.
The ceremony is part of Texas Forestry Association’s ongoing celebration as the voice of forestry for 100 years, which will culminate during their annual convention, October 21-23, 2014 held at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin, Texas.
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Texas Forestry Association, the voice for forestry for 100 years, promotes an economic, social and political climate that will advance forestry in Texas through education, political action and public relations, as well as serving the broad needs of the forest resource of landowners, producers and consumers, and to enhance and perpetuate the Texas forest resource.
