Dr. Larry McKinney is a seasoned scientist and environmentalist with a rich background in resource protection and environmental management. Born and raised in West Texas, McKinney comes from a family of original settlers who were primarily ranchers and farmers. His early life was spent in the small town of Coahoma, near Midland, Odessa, where his family had been on their home place for over one hundred and twenty-five years. McKinney's upbringing on a farm, where his family primarily grew cotton, instilled in him a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Despite the economic challenges his family faced, his parents prioritized his education, ensuring he and his sister had all they needed. McKinney's career in environmental science began at Texas A&M in Galveston, where he excelled in organizing and managing large field projects. His knack for team-building and proposal writing led him to establish and manage the Environmental Engineering Laboratory in Galveston. However, after a period of intense work, he was approached by a colleague about a job opening at Texas Parks and Wildlife. Initially, McKinney joined Texas Parks and Wildlife for what he thought would be a short stint to help establish a new resource protection division. However, he ended up staying for twenty-three years, eventually becoming the Director of Resource Protection.

Scope and Content Note
December 17. 2020: Dr. Larry McKinney, a marine scientist and former resource manager at Texas Parks and Wildlife, discusses his upbringing during a severe drought in Texas, his journey into marine biology, his research on amphipods and the impact of shell dredging, his work at Texas Parks and Wildlife on resource protection and environmental assessment, and his efforts in dealing with endangered species and destructive fishing practices. He also talks about the shift in focus of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the challenges of managing fisheries and navigating politics.

December 18, 2020: Dr. Larry McKinney discusses various topics in this oral history interview, including the importance of protecting the menhaden fish population, challenges faced in developing inflow recommendations for bays and estuaries, the growth and impact of the Harte Research Institute, the significance of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the potential for scientific discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico, the challenges of using science-based solutions, efforts to manage recreational fishing, and future plans for the Center for Environment and Economy at Harte.