+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | TPWD News Release 20090608a | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | This page contains only plain text, no HTML formatting codes. | | It is not designed for display in a browser but for copying | | and editing in whatever software you use to lay out pages. | | To copy the text into an editing program: | | --Display this page in your browser. | | --Select all. | | --Copy. | | --Paste in a document in your editing program. | | If you have any suggestions for improving these pages, send | | an e-mail to webtech@tpwd.state.tx.us and mention Plain Text Pages. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ [ Note: This item is more than four years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ] [ Media Contact: Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.texas.gov ] [TH] June 8, 2009 51 New Game Wardens Will Enforce Texas Conservation Laws Cadet Class To Graduate 9 a.m. June 9 at Capitol In Austin AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Game Warden Academy's largest class ever will graduate at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning in the House of Representatives chamber at the capitol, after which the 51 cadets will disperse to their first duty stations across the state. Game wardens perform water rescue operations, respond to natural disasters, and conduct public outreach programs, in addition to enforcing traditional hunting, fishing, and water safety regulations. "Basically, game wardens are the primary law enforcement off the pavement in Texas," said Major Danny Shaw, director of training at the academy. This 54th Game Warden graduating class was the first to be trained at the academy's new site in Hamilton County, in a facility donated by the nonprofit Police Activities League. Previously, cadets trained at a converted warehouse in Austin and various borrowed facilities around the state, adding extra costs and travel time to the training schedule. Construction began in April on a $20 million training complex at the new Hamilton site. Fundraising is needed to complete the ambitious projects, and Texans are encouraged to support future Texas game wardens. More information is on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Web site. Current graduates received 1,400 hours of training over seven months in areas such as peace officer training, firearm use, public speaking, police driving, all terrain vehicles, and various Texas Parks and Wildlife statutes and other state codes. The new game wardens will report for duty in different counties across Texas within the next week. June 2009 Texas Game Warden Cadet Assignments by County Name County John W Apgar, Jr. Culberson Bradley M Durst Val Verde Michael L Dushay Pecos Chris L Sanchez Ward-Winkler-Loving Andrew S Alexander Coryell David R Benoit Denton Jason B Jones Montague Joni L Kuykendall Somervell Glenn A Raborn Denton Matthew D Waggoner Palo Pinto Dustin M Balfanz Henderson Christopher R Fried Jasper Logan B Griffin Leon Morgan R Inman Jasper David E Johnson Polk James N Schmidt Navarro Samuel H Shanafelt Trinity Brian D Srba Newton Randall L Stovall Nacogdoches Jaime L Pendlebury Galveston Christopher L Swift Jefferson Royce G Ilse Brooks Benjamin E Baker Starr Cody R Buckaloo Maverick William E Hellums Zapata Carlos H Maldonado III Jim Hogg Samuel J Padgett Zapata Drew D Spencer Starr Cullen C Stakes Duval Daniel S Kessel Dickens/Kent Joshua R McCrary Baylor Ryan D Peacock Haskell Vance L Flowers Mills Lee E Morrison Kimble Lerrin A Williams Burnet Robert E Apple, Jr Delta David W Bosecker Dallas Clint M Brown Dallas Todd G Long Collin Darrin C Peeples Harrison David F Pellizzari Upshur Daniel G Roraback Red River Michael P Serbanic Morris Jonathan H Taylor Camp Nathan K Wilson Rains Joel A Campos Williamson Braxton J Harris Travis Theron S Oatman Travis Elizabeth A Balusek Cameron Derek L Reeder Aransas Luis A Sosa Willacy --- On the Net: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/warden/ -30-