NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Aug. 6, 2026
Contact: Sean Hoffmann, Director of Communications, shoffmann@texas-wildlife.org
Conservation Initiative to celebrate third annual San Angelo gala, honoring Sol Mayer Family
New Braunfels, TX — The Texas Wildlife Association Foundation (TWAF), through its San Angelo Area Conservation Initiative, will recognize the 2026 San Angelo Area Conservationist of the Year during their annual gala on Aug. 20.
The statewide wildlife and conservation organization will honor the Sol Mayer Family, whose ranching legacy in West Texas spans more than a century, at the event slated for 5:30 p.m. at Bentwood Country Club in San Angelo.
“In 1896, F. Mayer and sons purchased a large ranch in Schleicher and Sutton counties, along with all the livestock on the ranch and the T-Half Circle brand. Sol Mayer eventually bought out his father and brothers and by 1907 he was the sole owner of the T-Half Circle. To this day, generation after generation of the Sol Mayer Family continue to operate the ranch. Their continued natural resource conservation practices and land stewardship have gone on for well over a century,” said TWAF Trustee and Past President Alan Curry.
“I hope our friends and neighbors in San Angelo and the surrounding counties will attend our third annual gala on Aug. 20 and help us celebrate the Sol Mayer Family and the success of our TWAF Educational Initiative in our local schools,” he said.
Greg Simons, TWAF trustee, notes that the success of the first two galas has built lasting momentum for the initiative. “Monies raised through the first two galas allowed us to hire Christine Foley as our conservation educator, who is now serving schools and other venues in 11 nearby counties. In less than two years, Christine’s education efforts have reached over 8,000 students, 51 schools and educational venues, and more than 523 teachers.”
According to Simons, “Conservation of our natural resources and preserving important local cultures are among the greatest challenges facing societies—globally, nationally and right here in our back yard. Addressing these challenges, effectively, must fundamentally begin through education.”
Simons also added, “By applying a proven education model that TWA has been deploying in other Texas regions for many years, we can educate people on the importance of sustainably healthy natural resources and the role that private lands stewardship plays in this process.”
TWAF’s inaugural 2024 San Angelo Conservationist of the Year was awarded to the Virgil James Powell Family and last year’s recipient was the John Cargile Family.
For more information about the event, call (210) 839-9453 or visit https://twafoundation.org/17653-2/.
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