Leadership Officers
Officers
Texas Wildlife Association Officers are chosen from the Board of Directors and are Voting Members of the Association. The Officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors at the regular annual meeting in June.
President Tina Y. Buford
Tina Y. Buford of Harlingen serves as President of the Texas Wildlife Association.
Tina was first elected President of the organization on June 26, 2009, and was re-elected to a second one-year term on June 25, 2010, after previously serving the organization as Secretary.
Tina is actively engaged in the management of her family’s ranch, and she, with her sister Quita Wittenbach, represents the sixth generation of her family to work the land, which now consists of commercial cattle and hunting operations. The family ranch recently celebrated its 150-year anniversary.
Tina is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a BS in Rangeland Ecology and Science and a graduate of the TCU Ranch Management Program. She is a Director of the Valley Land Fund, Sustainer of the Junior League of Harlingen, serves on the Wildlife Committee of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, and serves on the advisory board for the Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center in Kingsville.
Tina and her husband William R. Buford III have two children, Francisco and William.
On her service in TWA, Tina says, “I want to protect what I love. I love the land, the wildlife, and the way of life for those that live off of the land. Our future and our children's future is determined by those that choose to get involved. I choose to get involved.”
KGBT-TV in Harlingen profiled Tina and her new role as TWA President in this report that aired July 22, 2009.
Vice President Neal Wilkins, Ph.D.
Neal Wilkins, Ph.D., serves as Vice President of the Texas Wildlife Association.
Neal was elected to another term as Vice President of the organization on June 25, 2010.
He is a native Texan and a Certified Wildlife Biologist. He currently serves as Director for the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources – he also is a Professor in the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University.
His focus is on the application of research and extension to solve natural resource problems through strong science, clear policy and effective outreach. His work is directed toward land conservation and resource management on private lands in Texas and elsewhere. His projects are multi-disciplinary, engaging research scientists with policy, economics and land management.
Neal is a Trustee of the Texas Wildlife Association Foundation, a Trustee for the Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment, and he was recently appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve on the Texas Farm & Ranch Conservation Council. Neal holds a degree in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University, a Masters of Wildlife Science from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Florida. Neal lives in College Station with his wife Sandra, daughter Ashley, son Matt, and 2 Labrador retrievers.
Secretary Glen Webb
Glen Webb of Abilene serves as Secretary of the Texas Wildlife Association.
Glen was first elected Secretary of the organization on June 26, 2009, and was re-elected to a second one-year term on June 25, 2010, after previously serving as Treasurer for two years.
Glen was born and raised in Abilene, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts, from Texas Tech University with a Master’s of Business Administration, and from Southern Methodist University with a Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Glen was formerly a shareholder in the McMahon, Surovik, Suttle, PC law firm in Abilene, following five years as an associate in the tax controversy section of the Dallas law firm of Looper, Reed and McGraw, P.C. Today, Glen is the owner of Glen Webb, PC. Glen’s law practice is primarily devoted to real estate, probate, trust, and energy law.
Additionally, Glen has published several legal articles, including “Saving the Family Farm and Ranch,” which was published in Texas Wildlife. Also, Glen wrote the Texas Wildlife Association’s amicus brief to the Texas Supreme Court in the seminal water law case, Guitar Holding Co., LP v. Hudspeth County Underground Water District.
In 2006, Governor Perry appointed Glen to the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council. When he is not practicing law, Glen operates his family’s ranch properties in Throckmorton, Texas, which conducts commercial hunting and cow/calf operations. Hands down, Glen’s proudest accomplishment is his marriage to Misti and his two children: William and Ella Grace.
Treasurer Greg Simons
Greg Simons of San Angleo serves as Treasurer of the Texas Wildlife Association.
Greg was first elected Treasurer of the organization on June 26, 2009, and was re-elected to a second one-year term on June 25, 2010.
He is a Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences degree graduate from Texas A&M University. While in college, he served on the university wildlife conclave team (quiz bowl) for three years, was a captain two of those years, including one year when A&M won the Southeastern Wildlife Conclave Championship. He also served as president of the student chapter of The Wildlife Society.
Upon graduation in 1987, Simons formed Wildlife Systems, Inc., a company he still owns and operates today. WSI, based out of San Angelo, operates hunting and wildlife programs on approximately 600,000 acres of private land in Texas. They have been involved with hunting programs in several other states and foreign countries, as well. Each year, WSI caters to hunting clients from over 30 states, and this Company’s emphasis on quality control and customer service is one of the reasons WSI was selected 2002 Dodge Outfitter of the Year from a cast of over 450 hunting operations in North America.
Simons is actively involved in various other nonprofit and peer activities. He has held office in Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, serves on White-Tailed Deer Advisory Committee for State of Texas, is on an advisory committee for Texas AgriLife Extension in San Angelo, and is assistant chair for San Angelo Convention & Visitors Bureau board. He is also cofounder of West Texas Deer Study Group. Simons has given seminars and programs across the country on wildlife and hunting enterprise related topics.
Regarding TWA activities, Simons has been a member since 1986, is past Region 3 chair, and is currently a President’s Council member. He has also been actively involved in TWA’s North Texas Buckskin Brigade as cook, fundraiser, and instructor. He also currently serves on TWA’s Deer Management Committee.
Greg and his wife Deborah, along with son Tyler and daughter Erin, reside in San Angelo.
