We were very sad to learn of the death of Dick Benoit, the Father of the Galveston Bay Area Chapter.
Dick became a TX Master Naturalist in 1999 and was instrumental in creating the Galveston Bay chapter in 2001. He served as President of the chapter that has now grown to over 220 active volunteers.
His accomplishments are many including receiving the Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Award and the Gulf Guardian Award from the EPA. He was one of the first Texas Master Naturalist to reach the 10,000 volunteer hour milestone.
His love and dedication to the coastal prairie is legendary. The Dick Benoit Prairie Preserve in League City was named in his honor.
He started the chapter’s annual spring Hawk Watch and initiated our chapter’s “Food, Fun and Friendship” motto. He was dedicated to introducing teachers to our resources and started the Treasures of the Bay Educator workshops for teachers.
He may be gone but will not be forgotten; his work continues through our volunteer community. The stories of his many contributions are being told wherever a few of us gather. His legacy will live on.
Please consider honoring Dick’s Master Naturalist legacy with a donation to the Texas Master Naturalist Endowment in his name – https://masternaturalistendowment.org/steward/donate-now/