Horned Lizard Heroes

Many members have contributed to the Society with their time and expertise. We have honored these people with two major gifts, a limited Honorary Membership and Lifetime Membership in the HLCS. Honorary Memberships are one year memberships to the Society. Life-time member awards for Outstanding Service and Conservation Efforts have been given to:

Clare Freeman - Former Texas Chapter Treasurer and National Board of Director for her hard work and efforts to keep the HLCS in order and so much more. Clare has been a valued member since the Society's inception.

Larry Wisdom - Amazing sculptures and displays for educational purposes.

Monty Harper - Donation and copyright privileges to the song entitled, "Horny Toad" and all proceeds of the song.

In addition to these wonderful contributions, we have some other very special members that are true Heroes.

Abraham and Noah Holland

Also known as the Traveling Toads, Abraham and Noah convinced their local State Representative to honor a Bill in the Texas Legislature honoring the Texas Horned Lizard with the status of State Reptile (see State Reptile to read the proclamation). In addition to this, they also spent several years touring the state as the Traveling Toads. The "Toads" presented an educational program to thousands of kids and parents throughout Texas until they retired (outgrew) their costumes!.

Bette and Jim Armstrong

Bette and Jim are Eastland, Texas, residents that took their passion and put Eastland on the map, yet again. In 2001, Eastland was proclaimed by the Texas Legislature as the place with the most Famous Horned Toad, Ol' Rip. Every September, Bette and Jim work the Eastland Horny Toad Festival educating everyone about the horned lizard, and started a race, the Horned Toad Derby, featuring remote controlled horny toad racers. They also participate in the February commemoration of the opening of the Eastland County Courthouse Cornerstone, where the famed Ol' Rip resided for 31 years. Bette and Jim also work with local landowners to census properties for populations of the Texas Horned Lizard. Bette is the current HLCS Membership Services director.

Mary Hawley

Artist. Mary has been contributing her skills as an artist for HLCS fund raisers and newsletter. She drew two posters and donated them to the HLCS as a means to raise money for the protection of the Flat-tailed horned lizard in California and Arizona. Mary conitnues contributing wonderful cartoon art for our newsletter. She has a positively unique style of drawing and humor!

Joyce Gibson Roach

Writer and Historian. Donated her book, The Horned Toads' Christmas to the Society. Joyce writes a bi-monthly column on folklore and has an online audio column, "The news from Horned Toad, Texas." Joyce also spends time on surveys and promoting HLCS.

Dr. Hinckley

Hinckley Preserve. Dr. Hinckley has been a strong supporter of the HLCS for many years. He often makes the long drive to Austin to attend our meetings and visit with his daughter. He has long regaled us with stories and pictures of "his" toads which reside on his property in the Panhandle of Texas. Dr. Hinckley has dedicated his property to the protection of horned lizards in perpetuity.