Native Plant Society of Texas

Memorial awards

Recognizing achievements in the field of native plants

The Native Plant Society of Texas presents awards to recognize excellence in writing, acts of conservation and public service, and lifetime achievement in the field of Texas native plants.

Awards are chosen by an Awards Committee appointed by the State Board and are presented annually during the Fall Symposium each October. Each year members and others are encouraged to nominate qualified candidates.

Carroll Abbott Memorial Award

The Carroll Abbott Memorial Award is given for writings in the popular vein on Texas native plants. Named for the founder of the Society.

  • 1989, Marshall Enquist, for the book Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country
  • 1990, Sally Wasowski and Andy Wasowski, for the book Native Texas Plants – Landscaping Region by Region
  • 1991, Paul W. Cox and Patty Leslie, for the book Texas Trees – A Friendly Guide
  • 1992, Delena Tull, for the book Edible and Useful Plants of Texas and the Southwest – A Practical Guide
  • 1993, Geyata Ajilvsgi, for the book Butterfly Gardening for the South
  • 1994, Zoe Merriman Kirkpatrick, for the book Wildflowers of the Western Plains
  • 1995, Judy Mielke, for the book Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes
  • 1996, Judith Phillips, for the books Natural by Design and Plants for Natural Gardens
  • 1997, James H. Everitt and D. Lynn Drawe, for the book Trees, Shrubs, & Cacti of South Texas
  • 1998, John and Gloria Tveten, for their book Wildflowers of Houston
  • 1999, Richard B. Taylor, Jimmy Rutledge, and Joe G. Herrera, for the book A Field Guide to Common South Texas Shrubs
  • 2000, Arturo Longoria, for the book Adios to the Brushlands
  • 2001, Jill Nokes, for the book How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest, Revised and Updated Edition
  • 2002, Alfred Richardson, for the book Wildflowers and Other Plants of Texas Beaches and Islands
  • 2003. Ruth Ginsberg, for the book Lloyd Herbert Shinners: By Himself
  • 2004, Noreen Damude and Kelly Conrad Bender, for the book Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife
  • 2005, Richard V. Francaviglia, for the book The Cast Iron Forest
  • 2006, Geyata Ajilvsgi, for the book Wildflowers of Texas, Revised Edition
  • 2007, Matt White, for the book Prairie Time: A Blackland Portrait
  • 2008. Dr. Charles M. Allen, Ph.D., Dawn Allen Newman, M.S., and Dr. Harry Winters, M.D., for the book Grasses of Louisiana, 3rd Ed.
  • 2009, Matt Warnock Turner, for the book Remarkable Plants of Texas: Uncommon Accounts of Our Common Natives
  • 2010, Jan Wrede, for her book Trees, Shrubs and Vines of the Texas Hill Country
  • 2011, Brian & Shirley Loflin for their book Grasses of the Texas Hill Country
  • 2012, Jim Stanley for his book Hill Country Landowner’s Guide
  • 2013, Geyeta Ajilvsgi, revised version of Butterfly Gardening for the South
  • 2014, Delmar Cain, newspaper columnist appearing in Boerne Star
  • 2015, Ricky J. Linex for his book Range Plants of North Central Texas
  • 2016, Mary Curry for her book North Central Texas Wildflowers
  • 2017, Stephan Hatch and Jennifer Pluhar for Texas Range Plants
  • 2018, Louis Harveson for Woody Plants of the Big Bend and Trans-Pecos: A Field Guide to Common Browse for Wildlife
  • 2019, Micheal Eason for Wildflowers of Texas
  • 2020. Marcy Scott, Hummingbird Plants of the Southwest
  • 2021, Jim Weber, Lynne Weber and Roland Wauer for the book Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies featuring 100 native larval host plants
  • 2022, Dexter Peacock and Forrest S. Smith have been selected for their book A Photographic Guide to the Vegetation of the South Texas Sand Sheet

Donovan Stewart Correll Memorial Award

The Donovan Stewart Correll Memorial Award is presented for scientific writing in the field of the native flora of Texas.

  • 1988, Marshall Enquist for rediscovery of Salvia penstemonoides, believed to be extinct for 40 years
  • 1989, Jill Nokes for the book How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest
  • 1990, Benny J. Simpson for the book A Field Guide to Texas Trees
  • 1991, William F. Mahler for the book Shinner’s Manual of the North Central Texas Flora
  • 1992, A. Michael Powell for the book Trees & Shrubs of Trans-Pecos Texas
  • 1993, Marshall C. Johnston for the book The Vascular Plants of Texas update
  • 1994, Stephan L. Hatch, Kancheepuram N. Gandhi, and Larry Brown, for the book Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Texas
  • 1995, Alfred Richardson for the book Plants of the Rio Grande Delta
  • 1996, Kenneth Geen Michael Porter, Steve Demarais, Fred C. Bryant, and Gary Van Vreede , for the book White-Tailed Deer, Their Foods and Management in the Cross Timbers
  • 1997, Bob Lonard for the book Guide to Grasses of the Lower Rio Grande Valley
  • 1998, A. Michael Powell for the book Grasses of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas
  • 1999, Joe Cepeda, Pam Allison and Larry C. Higgins, for the book Texas Panhandle Plants
  • 2000, George M. Diggs Jr, Barney L. Lipscomb, and Robert J. O’Kennon, for the book Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
  • 2001, Scooter Cheatham, Marshall C. Johnston, with Lynn Marshall,  for book series The Useful Wild Plants of Texas, the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, the Southern Plains and Northern Mexico
  • 2002, no award
  • 2003, B.L. Turner, Holly Nichols, Geoffrey Denny, and Oded Doron, for the book Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Texas
  • 2004, David J. Schmidly for the book Texas Natural History: A Century of Change
  • 2005, Sharon C. Yarborough and A. Michael Powell, for the book Ferns and Fern Allies of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas
  • 2006, George M. Diggs, Jr., Barney L. Lipscomb, Monique D. Reed, and Robert J. O’Kennon, for the book Illustrated Flora of East Texas, Volume One
  • 2007, A. Michael Powell and James F. Weedin, for the book Cacti of the Trans-Pecos & Adjacent Areas
  • 2008, Jackie M. Poole, William R. Carr, Dana M. Price, and Jason R. Singhurst, for the book Rare Plants of Texas: A Field Guide
  • 2009, Roy L. Lehman, Ruth O’Brien and Tammy White, for the book Plants of the Texas Coastal Bend
  • 2010, Scooter Cheatham, Marshall C. Johnston, and Lynn Marshall,  for book series The Useful Wild Plants of Texas, the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, the Southern Plains and Northern Mexico
  • 2011, Houston Wilderness, Houston Atlas of Biodiversity
  • 2012, Ken King and Alfred Richardson, Plants of Deep South Texas
  • 2013, Dr Robert B. Shaw, Guide to Texas Grasses
  • 2014, Dr Roy Lehman, Marine Plants of the Texas Coast
  • 2015, Dr Elray Nixon and Bruce Lyndon Cunningham for their book Gymnosperms of the United States and Canada
  • 2016, Jason Singhurst, Ben Hutchins and Dr. Walter C. Holmes for their guide Identification of Milkweeds in Texas
  • 2017, George Diggs and Barney Lipscomb for Ferns and Lycophytes of Texas
  • 2018, George Clendenin for Common Rangeland Plants of West Central Texas
  • 2019, Brian Chapman and Eric Bolen for their book The Natural History of Texas
  • 2020, Dr. Michael Powell, Shirley Powell, and Dr. Richard Worthington, Flowering Plants of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas
  • 2021, John E. Williams for the first English translation for the first English translation of the father of Texas botany’s The Writings of Ferdinand Lindheimer, Texas Botanist, Texas Philosopher
  • 2022, Elizabeth McGreevy for Wanted! Mountain Cedars Dead and Alive

Nancy Benedict Memorial Award

The Nancy Benedict Memorial Award honors an individual, a group or an organization for a specific act of conservation or public service in the field of Texas native plants.  This is neither a “joiner” nor a “lifetime of service” award.

  • 1988, Toney Keeney for work in saving the Texas Snowbell and re-introduction of them into several locations
  • 1989, Lynn Lowrey for work on the conservation, propagation and distribution of Pistacia texana Swingle
  • 1990 —
  • 1991 —
  • 1992, Odessa Permian High School, Odessa, Texas, for establishing their Permian Botanical Garden
  • 1993 —
  • 1994, Landon Lockett for protecting a population of a rare kind of Sabal Palm tree in Brazoria County
  • 1995 —
  • 1996, Tim Davis and Wayne MacKay of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Steve George and Jerry Parsons of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, for work in developing and bringing the native Texas Bluebonnet into commercial horticulture
  • 1997, Bob and Mickey Burleson for restoration of the Burleson Prairie
  • 1998, Drew Academy (Aldine School District – Houston)
  • 1999, David Bamberger for his efforts at Selah Ranch
  • 2000, Geoffrey Stanford for his efforts at the Dallas Nature Center
  • 2001, Keith Etheridge, for work to establish the Fort Worth Stella Rowan Prairie
  • 2002, Molly Hollar for helping develop a native wildscape in Veteran’s Park in Arlington
  • 2003, Bill Lindemann for contributions in establishing the Fredericksburg Nature Center and Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center
  • 2004, Kathryn Kennedy
  • 2005, Charles Tapley for establishment of the Lynn Lowrey Memorial Arboretum on the Rice University campus
  • 2006, Temple-Inland for native plant habitat preservation across East Texas
  • 2007, Lisa Bellows for land stewardship and education at the Thomsen Foundation property, Montague County
  • 2008, The Conservation Fund (Julie Shackelford) for coordination of securing additional acreage to be part of Big Thicket National Preserve
  • 2009, David Hurt for his work to establish Dogwood Canyon Sanctuary
  • 2010, Bill & Jan Neiman, for their work on seed banking and general prairie conservation
  • 2011, Native Prairie Association of Texas, for continued conservation of Blackland Prairie through land stewardship
  • 2012, Bill Carr, for collecting, identifying and preserving thousands of native plants and plant records
  • 2013, Ilse Meier, for land stewardship
  • 2014, Lonnie and Judith Shockley for their work with Invaders of Texas
  • 2015, Faye Tessnow for helping to establish Texas Native Plant Week
  • 2016, Marilyn Perz for the Williamson County Pollinator Garden
  • 2017, Kay Jenkins for leading the work on the Monarch Waystations on Interstate 35 Safety Rest Areas.
  • 2018, Jaime Gonzalez for increasing public awareness of local prairies and urban landscapes
  • 2019, Lan Shen for conservation of native plant seeds and promotion of their use
  • 2020, Charles Newsome, for leading effort to remove invasive plants at Berry Spring Park & Preserve
  • 2021, Susan Prosperie, for propagation of over 250,000 “Pinus taeda,” the restoration of Bastrop County loblolly pine forest, and growing milkweed (Asclepias) to help the USFWS and public through her work at the LBJWC
  • 2022, Martha Mullens for educating the public in the value of native plants and recognizing people who have contributed over the years, through her articles, books reviews, and a series on women botanists

Charles Leonard Weddle Memorial Award

The Charles Leonard Weddle Memorial Award is awarded for lifetime achievement in the field of Texas native plants.

  • 1991, Dr. Barton H. Warnock
  • 1992, Dr. Elray S. Nixon
  • 1993, Dr. Chester M. Rowell, Jr.
  • 1994, Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson and Senator Ralph Yarborough
  • 1995, Dr. William F. (Bill) Mahler
  • 1996, Lynn Lowrey
  • 1997, Benny J. Simpson
  • 1998, Geraldine Watson
  • 1999, Joe Ideker
  • 2000, Edward C. Fritz
  • 2001 —
  • 2002, Dr. Larry Brown
  • 2003, Dr. A. Michael Powell
  • 2004, Jackie Poole
  • 2005, Dr. Alfred Richardson, for lifetime work and contributions to the study of Texas native plants
  • 2006, Maxine Johnston, for longtime efforts to preserve and protect the Big Thicket
  • 2007, Marshall Johnston
  • 2008, Carmine Stahl, storytelling naturalist, living encyclopedia, historian, expert in wild edibles and native American plant use, author
  • 2009, Rosa Finsley, for widespread use of native plants in landscapes, and for mentoring others to use native plants in landscape design
  • 2010, Billie Lee Turner
  • 2011, Bill Ward, for his commitment and service in promoting, conserving and education about the native flora of Texas
  • 2012, Shirley Lusk, for volunteering, identifying, collecting and teaching about native plants of the north Texas region
  • 2013 Owen Yost, for his many articles in various publications advocating for native plants
  • 2014, Timothy Fullbright, for his work with South Texas Natives
  • 2015, Flo Oxley
  • 2016, Suzanne Tuttle for her career at Ft Worth Nature Center and other service
  • 2017 Jim Varnum for his work with Texas Master Naturalists and his monthly email calendar for North Texas
  • 2018, Dalton Merz for his service with NRCS
  • 2019 Dr. David L. Creech
  • 2020, James P. Muir
  • 2021, Judy Walther and David Mahler for more than forty years of work of encouraging ecological restoration using native plants through educational programs and projects and the Environmental Survey Consulting company
  • 2022, Bill Hopkins for longtime service and achievement in website development with vast contributions through writing articles, book reviews, and volunteerism in local and state leadership

Lynn Lowrey Memorial Award

The Lynn Lowrey Memorial Award is given for horticultural achievement in the field of Texas native plants.

  • 1999, Will Fleming, for “Will Fleming Yaupon”
  • 2000, Dan Hosage, for Cercis canadensis ‘Traveler’
  • 2001, Dr. David Creech, for his work establishing the Stephen F. Austin University Mast Arboretum and developing the three R’s: Rescue, Research, and Reconstruction
  • 2002, Mike Anderson, for contributions of promoting horticulture education through the Robert A. Vines Science Center in Spring Branch (Houston)
  • 2003  —
  • 2004, David and Teresa Steinbrunner, for “Teresa” Salvia greggii
  • 2005,  Dr. Ed McWilliams, for his study of native wetland species
  • 2006,  Peter Loos and Gail Barton, for Phlox pilosa ‘Forest Frost’
  • 2007, Sean Watson, for efforts in propagating rare and endangered plants
  • 2008, Greg Grant, for Malvaviscus drummondii x M arborea, ‘Pam Puryear’ or Pink Turk’s Cap
  • 2009,  John Snowden, for the propagation of genetically correct native grasses and educating for their use in the industry
  • 2010, Ted Doremus
  • 2011, Pat McNeal, for propagation and education
  • 2012. Mark Bronstad, for commercial propagation of Cyrilla
  • 2013, none given
  • 2014, none given
  • 2015, Dawn Stover, known for commercial propagation of Gaillardia aestavalis var winkleri  “Grape Sensation.”
  • 2016, none given
  • 2017, Neal Hinders for his work with Texas Panhandle plants
  • 2018, Flo Hannah for her work with Houston Audubon Native Nursery
  • 2019, Paul Cox
  • 2020, Sean Watson
  • 2021, Mary Carol Edwards for opening Green Star Wetland Plant Farm for the wholesale propagation and sale of coastal native plants and volunteering in the Houston Chapter to educate growers
  • 2022, Martin Simonton for propagating native plants collected during his travels throughout Texas

Mary Jo Laughlin / Eula Whitehouse Memorial Award

The Mary Jo Laughlin / Eula Whitehouse Memorial Award recognizes visual art that illustrate interprets or promotes native plants.

  • 2018, Friends of Fredericksburg Nature Center and Mary Ellen Terrell for trailhead sign at Fredericksburg Nature Center
  • 2019, Field Trip Committee at our Williamson County Chapter for signs at four public locations
  • 2020, Diana Kersey for her ceramic installation, The Riparian Edge,at the Oxbow Office Tower in San Antonio
  • 2021, Jill Bedgood for public art sculpture at the Fort Worth Chisholm Trail Community Park focusing on the natural prairie environment
  • 2022, Ted Lee Eubanks was selected for an incredible collection of detailed photographs that he freely shares with the public to enjoy

Shirley D. Lusk Memorial Award

The Shirley D. Lusk Memorial Award honors a citizen scientist for collecting and preserving Texas native plants for public education by providing outstanding contribution of herbarium vouchers. Nominees for this award must have contributed at least 150 specimens and be a Native Plant Society of Texas member for at least five years.

  • 2019, Marie-Theres Herz
  • 2020, Jeff Quayle
  • 2021, Patty Manning for collecting and documenting over 300 specimens, including plants previously unknown in Texas, for the Sul Ross State University herbarium
  • 2022, Casey Williams for collecting ~350 specimens, with a focus on aquatic plants of Texas, with collections housed at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas in Fort Worth and the University of Texas at Austin