Nearly six feet tall with wavy red hair and green eyes, Ned Fritz was a striking figure in the courtroom. His eyes twinkled on the trails of the East Texas forests he so passionately defended. More than being Texas’ greatest environmentalist, Ned was a wonderful person.
David Gray, TCA board member, says of the group’s founder: “Ned had the courage to speak truth to power and to speak out against abusive policies and proposals. Yet he was always respectful, polite, and understanding of people on both sides of issues he raised and argued. He was our leader, our friend, and our hero.”
A group of naturalists in Dallas is creating Ned’s long-overdue biography titled Ned Fritz Legacy, a crowdfunded website. On the Biography tab select “Ned in a Nutshell" to read an overview of his achievements, including the founding of what became Texas Land Conservancy and the Texas Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, leading to over 200,000 acres preserved in Texas.
The project team includes Amy Martin, author of three books, and Kristi Kerr Leonard, a long-time naturalist who’s leading a restoration team on the Ned and Genie Fritz Texas Buckeye Trail in Dallas, in which TCA participates. To volunteer for restoration activities, please email Kristi@NedFritz.com.
Do you have a favorite Ned Fritz story? Have you any photos of Ned, his wife Genie, or the places they preserved? The team would love to hear from you. Please send an email to Amy@NedFritz.com.