COLLEGE STATION – A team of Texas AgriLife Extension Service landscape experts who helped with Hurricane Ike recovery efforts along the Texas Gulf Coast has received a Superior Service Award.
Drs. William Johnson, Extension horticulture agent for Galveston County, Don Wilkerson, Extension horticulturalist, Sam Feagley, Extension soil environmental specialist, Tony Provin, Extension, soil chemist and Kevin Ong, Extension plant pathologist and director of the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, received the award for their expertise and work carried out in assisting with landscape recovery work resulting from the hurricane.
Saltwater from the severe weather devastated landscapes along the Upper Texas Gulf Coast, damaging mature trees, shrubs and other plants.The team provided assessment of damage, conducted diagnostic analysis of soils, developed educational materials and led seminars to help individuals affected by the severe weather event, according the award nomination.
“A remarkable (AgriLife Extension) team assembled aid to residents in assessing damage and beginning restoration of trees and other landscape plants,” wrote Margaret M. Canavan, Galveston Island Tree Conservancy board member, in a nomination letter.
Stephen Holmes, Galveston County commissioner, said in his support letter, “These professionals demonstrated an exemplary interdisciplinary team approach: they identified and addressed a variety of disaster-related issues on local landscapes brought on by Hurricane Ike.”
The Superior Service awards recognize agency faculty and staff members who provide outstanding performance in AgriLife Extension education or to the organization.
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