Ned’s achievement #3: It’s impossible to count the eco-defenders inspired by Ned.
<> Janice Bezanson volunteered for Ned and ultimately became the executive director of Texas Committee on Natural Resources (TCONR), now Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA). Ned directly inspired the current TCA executive director, Mack Turner, to enter the field.
<> Her son, David Bezanson, became the first executive director of the Natural Areas Preservation Association, now Texas Land Conservancy, and went on to work for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. Together they prevented wild rivers from being dammed and preserved thousands of acres.
<> Beth Johnson, another TCONR leader, led many an East Texas forest and reservoir fight, and went on to do mighty work for the Sierra Club.
<> By giving Bill Oliver a stage at TCONR forest rallies, Bill become a noted eco-troubador, inspiring countless adults and children to care for the Earth,
<> Save Open Space, Ned’s seminal Dallas-based group, spawned David Gray who went on to help lead the charge against the Trinity tollroad and do important work with TCA.
<> Ned inspired Steve Houser to dedicate his life to saving trees and forming what became the Texas Historic Tree Coalition.
<> Ned trained Larry Shelton who’s worked tirelessly with TCA to reform damaging national forest practices.
<> Water activist Richard Grayson credits Ned and his river work as a primary inspiration.
<> The same can be said of Andy Sansom, who now leads The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.
<> Ned inspired Amy Martin to become an eco-journalist, Kristi Kerr Leonard to become a naturalist-activist and save the creek behind her house, and Scooter Smith to assist eco non-profits in establishing an online presence.
These are just a few. Seriously.
Ned Fritz Legacy Project tells their stories as well, plus their memories of Ned. For me to interview them, it takes time to research and interview them. Software transcribes the interview, but creates a multitude of errors that must be fixed. Then the transcription must be annotated to note topics covered and where they go in the biography. For every hour of interview, there are 4 to 6 hours of work.
Please give what you can at GoFundMe. Or if you’d like to give by check (preferred), visit the Legacy’s donations page where credit cards are also taken. Thanks to those who’ve donated so far!
