LUFKIN, TEXAS – During the Texas Forestry Association’s 101st annual convention held Oct. 21-23, 2015 at Hilton in College Station, Texas, the late Lynn Denman of Huntington received the Association’s Outstanding Forestry Educator award.
“It is with great honor and admiration for the teacher of the forest as well as life, that TFA recognizes the late Lynn Denman for his contributions to forestry education and award in his memory the 2015 TFA Forestry Educator of the Year,” said Misty Bowie, TFA’s Education Coordinator.
Denman left a legacy as an educator and mentor through his involvement with the 4-H forestry teams, the Upper Neches Woodland Clinic competition, and his support for the Teacher Conservation Institute. When a program involved education, Denman was known to respond with, “you can count on me to help.”
“He would many times clear leaves from an area and use the bare dirt as his blackboard,” said Bowie. “Lynn was driven to see that youth have the opportunity to learn about the forests of East Texas. The Woodland Clinic program was his shining star in reaching as many youth about forestry as he could. Not only did he teach and mentor his children, Holly and Josh, for success in this annual contest, he was able to do the same for his grandchildren, as well as the other students who participated through the years in the Huntington 4-H Forestry teams.”
The effort for establishing a demonstration forest as an outdoor classroom on the Huntington High School Campus was led by Denman. “Lynn’s devotion to the youth in preparing them for this annual contest led his teams to gain recognition of success on the local, State, and National levels,” said Bowie. “In addition, Lynn’s desire for outdoor education opportunities for the youth was so great that he led the effort in establishing a demonstration forest as an outdoor classroom on the Huntington High School Campus.
“Lynn has contributed his heart and soul to educational programs that have touched thousands of students and educators across Texas,” said Bowie. He provided constant leadership in organizing and raising funds for scholarships for the TFA Upper Neches Woodland Clinic program from its beginning in 1991. Since then, 33 high school students have been awarded a scholarship to help with their future educational pursuits.
DENMAN PHOTO:
Sundra Denman, Josh Denman and Holly Denman Howard accept the TFA Forestry Educator Award on behalf of the late Lynn Denman of Huntington during Texas Forestry Association’s annual convention held in College Station on Oct. 21-23, 2015.
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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.