Rare is the day you are not impacted by Ned Fritz, February 8, 1916 – December 19, 2008. Ned was a man of many achievements, born of his love for nature, aided by his brilliant mind, savvy lawyer skills, and passion for people.
- Land trusts in Texas, part 1 — started the land-trust movement in Texas as first acquisitions director of The Nature Conservancy Texas. Time: 1960s. Link.
- Texas environmental movement — founded with his wife Genie the first Texas-focused environmental nonprofit, now known as Texas Conservation Alliance. Time: 1960s. Link.
- Trinity River — led efforts to keep it from being a concrete ditch of a barge canal from Fort Worth to the Gulf. Time: early 1970s. Link.
- Big Thicket National Preserve — used his legal and political skills to push legislation establishing it over the finish line, saving 113,000 acres. Time: early 1970s. Link.
- Great Trinity Forest — brought initial attention to the 6000-acre bottomland forest and thwarted plans to destroy a rare grove of Texas buckeye trees. Time: early 1980s. Link.
- Forests nationwide (especially East Texas) — fought against clearcutting on federal lands, started a national forest reform movement, and achieved clearcutting policy changes (though not an end to the practice). Time: 1980s. Link.
- East Texas wilderness — ensured 35,000 acres were preserved as wilderness. Time: 1980s.
- Land trusts in Texas, part 2 — founded with his wife Genie the first Texas-focused land trust, now known as Texas Land Conservancy. Time: 1980s. Link.
Wherever nature needed defending, Ned was there. His influence was wide and deep, and his range of admirers was quite surprising. Get to know this amazing human being who made the world a much better—and greener—place. But also discover Ned the man with a sly sense of humor, kind even to opponents, deep compassion for humans, and an abiding love for his wife and daughters.
Photo courtesy the Fritz family.
