POORT (Port Orford Ocean Resource Team) supports its mission of long term sustainability of ocean resources and community through various initiatives.  These include the Blue Water Task Force which tests water quality monthly as well as the Port Orford Community Stewardship Area that has identified traditional fishing grounds.  They also support many scientific efforts such as the Rockfish Tagging Project and the Dive Survey and Seaweed Collection.  Members of the POORT provide interviews and discuss information that is important to the unique small community of Port Orford i

Interview with Lindsey Parker born on December 18, 1956 in Atlanta, Georgia. Parker teaches at the University of Georgia as a Marine Resource Specialist and worked on TED development.

William Stanley "Corky" Perret was born November 22, 1942 in Cottonport, Louisiana.  He attended USL where he obtained a Master’s degree in Fishery Science. Mr.

Paul Raymond was born December 11, 1955 in Augsburg, Germany.  He is an Assistant Special Agent with NOAA Law Enforcement.

Interview with Susan Shipman, born February 4, 1954 in Dyersburg, Tennessee.  At the time of the interview, Susan was retired from her position as Director of Coastal Resources Division with the Georgia DNR and had oversight responsibility for marine fisheries as well as research, surveys and marsh/shore protection and permitting.

Interview with John Watson, born May 23, 1948 in Baton Rouge, LA. At the time of the interview he was retired from NOAA Fisheries and working as a consultant. He had been Director of the Mississippi Laboratories in Pascagoula, Mississippi overseeing all of the lab operations.

Interview with Michael Weber, born November 2, 1949 in Hawthorne, California.  At the time of the interview, Weber was a program officer for the Resources Legacy Fund.  In this interview, he discusses aspects of sea turtle conservation and issues surrounding the implementation of bycatch reduction devices. Redondo Beach

Interview with Walter Eley Ross, Sr., born March 16, 1924 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Ross was a fisherman and gear manufacturer.

Interview with Noah Saunders, born September 21, 1963 in Biloxi, MS. Saunders was a gear manufacturer who invented the Supershooter TED in collaboration with National Marine Fisheries Services.

Thomas Schultz Jr. was born in Biloxi, Mississippi October 22, 1932. Thomas was a 3rd generation shrimper. After forty-five years of shrimping, he retired then went to work for the Mississippi State University at the coastal research experimental seafood processing plant in Pascagoula for twelve years. His first job was at a bakery where his uncle was the baker. He quit school at the age of fourteen to work on his daddy’s boat. He was involved in a summer research program at Cape Canaveral Channel tagging turtles.

Interview with Wilber Seidel, born August 15, 1939 in Luling, Texas. At the time of the interview, Seidel was retired as Division Director of the NMFS laboratory in Pascagoula, Mississippi where he was in charge of gear research.

Dr. Rusty Brainard began work for NOAA on the first day he graduated from Texas A&M University in May of 1981. Shortly thereafter he was assigned as Station Chief for the Geophysical Monitoring for Climatic Change Station at the South Pole, Antarctica. From 1984-2002, he was based at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in Monterey, California studying

POORT (Port Orford Ocean Resource Team) supports its mission of long term sustainability of ocean resources and community through various initiatives.  These include the Blue Water Task Force which tests water quality monthly as well as the Port Orford Community Stewardship Area that has identified traditional fishing grounds.  They also support many scientific efforts such as the Rockfish Tagging Project and the Dive Survey and Seaweed Collection.  Members of the POORT provide interviews and discuss information that is important to the unique small community of Port Orford i

POORT (Port Orford Ocean Resource Team) supports its mission of long term sustainability of ocean resources and community through various initiatives.  These include the Blue Water Task Force which tests water quality monthly as well as the Port Orford Community Stewardship Area that has identified traditional fishing grounds.  They also support many scientific efforts such as the Rockfish Tagging Project and the Dive Survey and Seaweed Collection.  Members of the POORT provide interviews and discuss information that is important to the unique small community of Port Orford i

POORT (Port Orford Ocean Resource Team) supports its mission of long term sustainability of ocean resources and community through various initiatives.  These include the Blue Water Task Force which tests water quality monthly as well as the Port Orford Community Stewardship Area that has identified traditional fishing grounds.  They also support many scientific efforts such as the Rockfish Tagging Project and the Dive Survey and Seaweed Collection.  Members of the POORT provide interviews and discuss information that is important to the unique small community of Port Orford i

POORT (Port Orford Ocean Resource Team) supports its mission of long term sustainability of ocean resources and community through various initiatives.  These include the Blue Water Task Force which tests water quality monthly as well as the Port Orford Community Stewardship Area that has identified traditional fishing grounds.  They also support many scientific efforts such as the Rockfish Tagging Project and the Dive Survey and Seaweed Collection.  Members of the POORT provide interviews and discuss information that is important to the unique small community of Port Orford i

POORT (Port Orford Ocean Resource Team) supports its mission of long term sustainability of ocean resources and community through various initiatives.  These include the Blue Water Task Force which tests water quality monthly as well as the Port Orford Community Stewardship Area that has identified traditional fishing grounds.  They also support many scientific efforts such as the Rockfish Tagging Project and the Dive Survey and Seaweed Collection.  Members of the POORT provide interviews and discuss information that is important to the unique small community of Port Orford i

Interview with: Carl S. Bullock, Meteorologist with the Forecast Systems Laboratory AWIPS Development
Interview conducted June 2010
Run time: 1:04:36
Topics:  PROFS, AWIPS Requirements, the people behind AWIPS and the modernization

Interview with Dennis S. Walts, former NWS Meteorologist assigned to the Forecast Systems Laboratory AWIPS Development Team
Interview conducted June 2010
Run time: 40:35
Topics: PROFS, AWIPS, Role of Research

Interview with Douglas H. Sargeant, former Director, NWS Headquarters Office of Systems Development
Interview conducted August 2010
Run time: 1:37:25
Topics: GARP, Development of observational technologies, NWS Modernization Systems Development

Interview with Elbert W. “Joe” Friday, Jr., former NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services/Director, National Weather Service
Interview conducted January 2010
Run time: 47:06
Topics: NWS Modernization Process, NEXRAD, AWIPS, Restructuring Field Offices

Interview with Louis J. Boezi, former NWS Deputy Director for Modernization and Associated Restructuring         
Interview conducted May 2010 and March 2011
Topics: AFOS, AWIPS, NEXRAD, Transitioning to new technologies

Interview with Mark E. Brown, Chief Financial Officer, OAR, former U.S. Department of Commerce Budget Office
Interview conducted August 2010
Run time: 27:03
Topics: Dept. of Commerce Budget for Modernization, educating Hill staffers

Interview with Mary M. Glackin, NOAA Deputy Under Secretary, former AWIPS Program Manager
Interview conducted June 2010
Run time: 15:20
Topics: PROFS, AWIPS, long view of the NWS Modernization

Interview with Robert J. Serafin, Director, National Center for Atmospheric Research and former Chairman, National Academy of Sciences NWS Modernization Committee
Interview conducted June 2010
Run time: 46:45
Topics: National Academy of Science’s NWS Modernization Committee, NEXRAD, ASOS, AWIPS, GOES

Captain Albert “Skip” Theberge, Jr. was born in 1946 in Coquille, Oregon.  When Skip was three years old, his family moved to Santa Cruz, where he learned to surf and because fascinated with the ocean.  He graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a professional degree in geological engineering. Skip also has a master’s degree in management from the Naval Postgraduate School.  In 1969, Theberge was commissioned as an ensign in the ESSA Corps, which soon became NOAA Corps. He retired with the rank of captain in 1995, after nearly 27 years of commissioned service.

Dr. Pamela Heinselman was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1970 and moved to Maryland before her first birthday.  She came back to Missouri to study at St. Louis University, earning an undergraduate and master of science degree in meteorology there.  She went on to the University of Illinois to pursue a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences, but left after a semester to work for the University of Oklahoma Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies.  Her work there focused on the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler which was being implemented throughout the U.S.

Ralph Fulford is the son of 'Tink" Fulford, a fisherman, who had the Dixie Fish Co. and later the Fulford Fish Co.  Ralph ran the fish house from 1946 on.  He talks about the processing and operation of a fish house.  Also, he discusses his part in founding the Cortez Historical Society. 

Joe DiMassa grew up in San Pedro.  His family were early immigrants from Ischia, Italy who settled in the town of San Pedro in 1905.  They started their Fish Market business and were involved in a total of three businesses. 

Vernon Hall was born in San Pedro in 1936. He grew up in San Pedro, attended UCLA to study engineering, and then came back to San Pedro, where he lives today. His grandfather is Swedish, lived in Minnesota until they moved to San Pedro in 1905.  His grandfather and father were machinists who worked on ships in the harbor. 

Joe Marino was born in Rockford, Illinois, in 1927.  In 1941, invited by his childhood friend Mr. LaPenta, Joe’s father decided to move to San Pedro. Joe Marino immediately began working in San Pedro as a newspaper boy, where he sold newspapers on the corner of Sixth and Beacon Street. After high school, he enlisted in the Navy. He worked as a Fisherman for a few years after his military service. Joe decided to go to college and major in education. He became a teacher and retired as a Principal from the City School District in 1987.

Nir Barnea was born in Israel in 1956. Nir’s father, Daniel Barnea, survived the Holocaust, while his grandparents were deported and killed in Auschwitz in 1945.  Nir graduated in 1974 from Har Vagai High School in Upper Galilee, Israel, and served in the Israel Defense Forces until 1977.  Nir immigrated to the United States and earned his BS in Microbiology from the University of Washington, in Seattle.  He continued his graduate education at UW, earning a master’s degree in Environmental Health.  Nir is also a Certified Industrial Hygienist.

Dr. John Bossler was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1936.  He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in civil engineering in 1959 and went to work for the Coast and Geodetic Survey.  John earned a master's and PhD in Geodetic Science from Ohio State University.  Until 1986, John served as Director of the Coast and Geodetic Survey (C&GS) and the National Geodetic Survey (NGS).  As Director of C&GS, he was an Admiral in the NOAA Commissioned Corps.

Phil Powell was born in 1965 in Woburn, Massachusetts.  His family moved to Swampscott shortly after he was born.  He grew up and still lives in Swampscott. In high school, Phil started to work as a fisherman with some local fishermen.  When he was nineteen years old, Phil bought his first boat.  He has been gillnetting and lobstering off and on since then.

Wanda Fulford was born on March 23, 1933, in Cortez, Florida, to Elizabeth and James Jones.  James was a commercial fisherman.  The family moved to Englewood then to Stump Pass for a while so her father could fish for Mullet.  Her mother returned to Cortez with the family shortly, leaving James in Stump Pass.  Wanda had a sister and two brothers.  She left school with a year and a half to go to work.  Wanda worked at various jobs.

Doug Whiteley is the Division Chief of the Research to Operations and Project Planning Division (ROPPD). As Chief of ROPPD, Doug oversees pre-formulation and early formulation for new satellite systems as well as the execution of studies for project alternatives, such as foreign partnerships leveraging data and/or instrument exchanges, small-sats, payload hosting, commercial alternatives, and technology maturation to identify specific potential solutions to NESDIS top-level requirements.

Margaret Miller is the Research Director for SECORE International, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to creating and sharing the tools and technologies to sustainably restore coral reefs worldwide.  She leads SECORE’s research strategy and fosters research collaborations with scientific partners. Margaret serves on the US-Acropora Recovery Implementation Team (ARIT) and as a Councilor-At-Large for the International Coral Reef Society.

Alison works in the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office in the Coral Conservation Branch of the Protected Resources Division. Her area of expertise is coral ecology, particularly reproduction, recruitment, and restoration. She provides scientific support for management actions and coordinates recovery-related activities for the seven species of Caribbean coral listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Oral history interview with Alexander E. “Sandy” MacDonald, NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, former Director, Forecast Systems Laboratory  
Interview conducted: October 2010  
Run time: 50:28    
Topics: PROFS, AWIPS, NWS Modernization R&D    

Interview with Joe Scavone

Interview with Tom Jefferies

Interview with Tom Jefferies

Rear Admiral Samuel P. DeBow Jr. was born in Philadelphia in 1953.  He earned his B.S. degree in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel University.  When RADM DeBow graduated in 1976, he became a commissioned officer in the NOAA Corps.  Sam earned his M.S. in Hydrographic Sciences from the Naval Postgraduate School, and was also a Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Oral history interview with Ethan Schmidt, Sea Cadet and Astrophysicist.  Engineer on a Gas Line and multiple ships out at sea. 

Subjects/Topics:
Life of Ethan Schmidt, Life as a sea cadet, Life as a engine cadet, NOAA, Bouchard Transportation, Good/Bad Effects of The Sea.

Hans Laufer, resident of Storrs, Connecticut, Research Professor at the University of Connecticut, Retired Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology focusing on Crustacean and Annelid Reproduction as well as aquaculture.

Oral history interview with : Len Sawyer, resident of Mystic, Connecticut, retired lobsterman from the long Island Sound.

Recording format/notes: Recorded phone interview digitally, using one phone on speaker to talk, and another phone to record to the app “Voice memos”. Recorded at my computer desk at home while on the phone. Phone interview necessary during Coronavirus, otherwise, it would have been a physical face-to-face interview.

• Associate Professor at UCONN Avery Point in Maritime English
• Lead Foreman of the Mystic Seaport Museum’s Demonstration Squad
• Prominent Herman Melville Scholar

• Grew up in inland MA, but had a house is Warham
• After he graduated he took an internship with the Marine Biological Labs in Woods Hole
• Took and VW bus and got a job with the University of Washington Research Ship as part of the deck crew

Interview with Shannon Kelly.

Interview with Dr. Sylvain De Guise about the Long Island Sound Blue Plan.

Interview with Zachary Howe, who served in the United States Navy for 14 Years, and currently resides in Ledyard, Connecticut.

Subjects/Topics: Family background, Navy life and background, What his job entails, Opinion on life in the navy, Favorite story, Community perceptions, Final thoughts.

Interview with Linda, Charles & Savannah Rhodes

Dr. Russell Schnell, a distinguished scientist and expert in atmospheric science, has made significant contributions to the field of climate research and environmental monitoring. Born and raised in Castor, Alberta, he has a rich ancestral heritage traced back to Norka. Dr. Schnell earned first-class honors degrees in Biology from the University of Alberta and Chemistry from Memorial University in Newfoundland. Seeking further specialization, he obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Wyoming.

Craig McLean was born in Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1957. His father was a first-generation immigrant from Scotland who served in the US Navy during World War II. His mother was a second-generation daughter of Sicilian immigrants. He grew up along the Passaic River, was a self-described "river rat," became a certified diver, and worked for a boatyard next to his house. At Rutgers College, Craig studied marine biology and zoology and worked on research cruises with NOAA ships. During the summers, he worked in the commercial and retail dive industry.

Dr. Elbert "Joe" Friday, Jr. was born in De Queen, Arkansas, in 1939.  Elbert graduated from high school in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he studied engineering physics and graduated in 1961.  Upon graduation, Joe received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force and went on to complete his master's and PhD in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma.  Friday served for 20 years in the Air Force, including a tour in Vietnam as Weather Detachment Commander.

Sarah Fangman is superintendent of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, overseeing management and operations of a protected area covering 2,900 square nautical miles. She was appointed to the position in July 2017 after serving as superintendent of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Georgia. She has been with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries since 1998, after serving as a US Presidential Management Fellow with NOAA Fisheries in the Northwest and the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program in Washington, D.C.

Rear Admiral William Stubblefield was born and raised in Medina, Tennessee.  He attended Memphis State University and graduated in 1962 with a major in secondary education and a minor in chemistry.  After graduation, Stubblefield was commissioned in the United States Navy and attended Naval Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island.  He served on a minesweeper and ice breaker at sea, operating all over the globe.

LaToya earned her Ph.D. through the NOAA Environmental Cooperative Science Center at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. She conducted research in collaboration with the NOAA Air Resources Laboratory for an interdisciplinary dissertation focusing on atmospheric deposition of pollutants and their impact on ecosystems. Her study had implications for both human and environmental health.

Professor Chirayath grew up in Southern California with a passion for NASA's mission and space exploration. In 2003, a sophomore in high school, he modified a consumer digital camera and telescope to successfully detect an extra-solar planet, 150 light years away, roughly twice the size of Jupiter. Since then, his research interests have relied on the intersection of multiple disciplines, including aeronautics, astrophysics, earth sciences, engineering, and optics.  

Kalani is the Founding and current Director of the Olohana Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit based on Hawaii’s Big Island since 2008. Olohana focuses on building community capacity, cohesiveness, resilience, and emergency preparedness around food, energy, water, and knowledge systems. Kalani is also a Coastal Community Resilience Trainer with FEMA Consortium member, the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Ryan Okano works for the Division of Aquatic Resources for the State of Hawaii.  

Owen J. Carney is a retired state worker from New Jersey who has a unique history with the Salt Hay Rope Making machine, a piece of equipment that is now in the possession of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve. Carney's family history is deeply intertwined with the machine. His father worked for a cast iron pipe company in Camden, NJ, where salt hay rope was used in the making of cast iron pipes. After leaving the company, his father obtained one of the machines and brought it to his property in Port Norris.

Olin McConnell is a passionate storyteller and the grandson of Charles "Chillie" McConnell, a renowned artist. Born and raised in Port Norris, New Jersey, Olin developed an appreciation for his grandfather's artistic legacy from a young age. Growing up surrounded by McConnell's artwork and hearing tales of his grandfather's artistic endeavors, Olin developed a keen eye for detail and a profound understanding of the impact of art on communities. Olin became a knowledgeable and enthusiastic advocate for preserving his grandfather's artistic contributions.

Ken Graham is the Director of NOAA's National Weather Service and is the Assistant Administrator for Weather Services at NOAA. In this role, he is responsible for the day-to-day civilian weather operations for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters, and ocean areas. Prior to becoming the 17th NWS Director on June 7, 2022, he served as the director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, leading the nation through numerous hurricanes, including 30 named storms during the record-breaking 2020 hurricane season.

Dr. Dave Peters was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, but spent his formative years in South Dakota. He developed a deep fascination with aquatic life, particularly fish. Dave embarked on an academic journey that would shape his future as a prominent fish biologist. He attended Utah State University, where he completed his undergraduate studies in Fish Biology. He honed his understanding of fish ecosystems. Dave continued his graduate education at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. While working towards his graduate degrees, he worked for the U.S.

Dr. Charles "Chuck" Manooch III was born in Raleigh, NC. In 1962, he joined the U.S. Army and served for several years before enrolling at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. In 1966, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Biology. Chuck's career in marine biology started with a brief stint as a unit biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission in central Florida after graduation. Then he pursued further studies at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh, working under Dr.

Ray Allen is a dedicated environmentalist with a deep understanding of the importance of freshwater to bays and estuaries. He has been instrumental in the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, where he has worked tirelessly to ensure that educational programs are tailored to meet the specific teaching requirements of students and teachers. Allen's work has not only been focused on the scientific aspects of the environment but also on the historical and artistic elements, providing a holistic learning experience for students.

Ed Bradley is a former marine biologist who worked with Texas Parks and Wildlife. Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Bradley's early life was marked by frequent moves due to his mother's work as a waitress. His interest in marine biology was sparked by a high school counselor in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he spent most of his childhood and attended college at the University of Corpus Christi. Bradley's career took a turn when he accepted a job as a newspaper distributor, a position he held for about nine years. During this time, he met his wife, Sue, through a mutual friend.

Cindy Loeffler is a seasoned hydrologist with a rich background in water resources and environmental conservation. Born in Colorado, she spent her early life moving around different states, including Virginia, Wyoming, Louisiana, and finally Texas, due to her father's work with the U.S. Geological Survey in water resources. Her interest in water and environmental conservation was sparked at a young age, with her family's connection to water resources and her personal experiences playing around water.

Chuck Naiser, a native of Mobile, Alabama, was born during World War II at Brookley Air Force Base. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Texas, where he was raised in a small town called East Bernard, a German-Bohemian Czech farming community outside of Houston. His father, who was the superintendent of the schools, was a significant influence in his life. Naiser grew up hunting, fishing, and being a diligent student, activities that were encouraged by his father. His early fishing experiences were primarily with farm ponds and creeks, where he fished for catfish and bass.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon is a renowned climatologist who has dedicated his career to the study of weather and climate, particularly in relation to Texas. Born and raised in Northern California, he developed an interest in weather at a young age, conducting his own weather observations and experiments from the age of ten or eleven. He pursued his passion for weather and climate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he studied for ten years before completing a postdoc in Albany, New York.

Dr. Ken Kramer is a native Texan, born in Brenham, a small city about seventy miles from Houston. He grew up in Houston, but his parents were from Austin and Washington Counties in Central East Texas, and they both grew up on farms. This gave him the unique experience of both urban and rural environments from an early age. Dr. Kramer's interest in environmental issues began to take shape during his time in the Army and later in graduate school at Rice University.

Joe Trungale is an environmental engineer with a focus on water issues. Born in Chicago, Trungale moved around the Midwest and East Coast before settling in Dallas for high school. After high school, he attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he earned an English degree. Following his undergraduate studies, Trungale spent time traveling and volunteering in Latin America, specifically in Nicaragua, where he worked on water issues.

Myron Hess is a native Texan, born in 1955, who grew up in the small town of Muenster, North Texas, near the Red River. His early life was spent on a farm, where he developed a deep appreciation for the natural world and the importance of water for both agriculture and the environment. This early interest in water and ecology influenced his later career in environmental law, with a particular focus on water and freshwater inflow issues in Texas.

Dr. Donna Shaver is a renowned wildlife biologist who has dedicated her career to the preservation of endangered species, with a particular focus on Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. She grew up in upstate New York, where her early interest in wildlife biology was influenced by her grandfather's love for nature and his saltwater aquariums. Dr. Shaver attended Corcoran High School and later pursued her undergraduate studies at Cornell University, where she majored in traditional wildlife biology. However, her passion always lay in the recovery efforts of threatened and endangered species.

Scott Murray was born on September 15, 1945, in Edinburg, Texas, just thirteen days after the signing of the peace treaty in World War II. His parents, Melba Murray and Louis Murray, both had rural agricultural backgrounds and a deep love for the outdoors, which they passed on to Scott at a very early age. Murray moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, when he was about three years old and attended Sam Houston Elementary, Baker Junior High, and W. B. Ray High School, graduating in 1963. He then attended Del Mar Junior College, where he met his wife, Paulette.

John Sutton is a lifelong resident of the Texas coast, having lived in various cities, including Brownsville, Corpus Christi, and Kingsville. He comes from a family of sports fishermen, which includes his grandfather and father. Sutton's early life was largely spent on the coast, with fishing being a significant part of his upbringing. His first memory of Baffin Bay dates back to 1957, when he caught an extra-large speckled trout at the age of thirteen, an experience that deepened his love for Baffin Bay. Sutton's fishing experience extends beyond his early life and into his adulthood.

Mike Blackwood is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, with a deep-rooted passion for fishing and hunting. He attended Ray High School and later graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in microbiology, specializing in viral studies. Blackwood's love for the outdoors, particularly fishing and hunting, was nurtured from a young age. He spent a significant part of his life on the water, fishing, and hunting ducks. He also enjoyed bird hunting and bow hunting for elk in Colorado.

Cliff Webb is a native of South Texas, born in Port Lavaca Hospital. His father was a game warden, and his family moved to Corpus Christi in 1962 when Webb was around five years old. His father was tasked with protecting the bay systems, specifically Baffin Bay and Laguna Madre, from illegal commercial fishing activities. Webb grew up witnessing his father's efforts to protect the bay systems from illegal netters and commercial fishermen, which sparked his interest in the local marine life and fishing.

Dr. David McKee is a seasoned marine biologist with a rich history of involvement in the field. Born and raised in Sinton, Texas, Dr. McKee spent his early years with a keen interest in nature, often found with a BB gun in one hand and a fishing rod in the other. His passion for the outdoors was nurtured by his family, particularly his uncles and grandfather, who were avid hunters and fishermen. Dr. McKee's academic journey began with a bachelor's degree in biology from Texas A&M-Kingsville (formerly A&I).

Captain David Rowsey is a seasoned fisherman and real estate appraiser known for his passion for saltwater fishing, particularly for trophy trout. Born in Ferriday, Louisiana, he was raised by a family of fishermen and developed a love for fishing from a young age. After his mother's divorce, he moved to Natchez, Mississippi, and later to Hunt, Texas, where he continued to nurture his love for fishing. Rowsey's first taste of saltwater fishing in high school marked a turning point in his life, shifting his interest from freshwater bass fishing to saltwater fishing.

Cookie Cooper is a seasoned fisherman with a rich history of fishing experiences across the United States. Born into an Air Force family, Cooper lived in various locations before settling in Texas in 1966 during the Vietnam War. His early life was marked by a love for fishing, which began with catching perch in a creek near his childhood home using safety pins, string, and a stick. Cooper's fishing journey took a significant turn when his family moved to Texas. Initially, he engaged in bass fishing in the lakes around San Antonio, a passion he pursued for about fourteen years.

Bo Kratz is a seasoned fisherman with a rich history in the sport, dating back to his childhood in the Midwest. Born and raised in Burlington, Iowa, a small town located on the southeastern corner of the state, Kratz was introduced to fishing at a very young age by his father, a passionate fly fisherman. His early fishing experiences were centered around the Mississippi River, where he and his father would wake up early in the morning to fish for bluegill, crappie, and bass.

Reese Hunt, born in 1947, is a lifelong resident of Corpus Christi, Texas, and an avid fisherman with a deep connection to Baffin Bay and the Laguna Madre. His passion for fishing was inherited from his father, who was introduced to the sport by family members after moving to Corpus Christi from Mexia, Texas, following his service in World War II. Hunt began fishing in the Laguna Madre at a young age, around ten to twelve years old, when his father and a group of friends built a fishing cabin at Marker 69-A.

Dr. Jeff Govoni's was born in Wareham, Massachusetts, and spent his formative years in the Village of Buzzards Bay, fostering a deep fascination with the local plants and animals. He pursued a Bachelor's Degree in Biology at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, which he successfully completed in 1970. Following his graduation, he joined the Massachusetts National Guard. In the years that followed, from 1972 to 1974, Jeff worked with a consulting firm, focusing on describing the distribution of fish eggs and larvae in Narragansett Bay.

Mariko Quinn, also known as Mari, is a passionate marine science enthusiast and a junior at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Growing up in Hawaii near Kaneohe Bay, her love for the ocean was deeply influenced by her father, a boat captain, and her upbringing near the water. Witnessing a coral bleaching event in 2015 sparked Mari's interest in marine life and coral reefs. In response, she conducted a science fair project to track the recovery of 24 individual coral colonies in her local reef, discovering the impact of environmental stressors and the resilience of some coral colonies.

Commander Pamela Chelgren-Koterba, born in 1950 in Annapolis, Maryland, grew up in various places across the United States. She was the third of seven children in the family of Captain John Chelgren, a distinguished U.S. Navy officer, and Ruth Henderson, a talented singer. Growing up, Pam played the piano and flute.  She studied bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and graduated in 1972. During her time at Berkeley, she worked at the Space Sciences Laboratory, contributing to the OGO 5 satellite data verification. In 1972, Pamela joined the NOAA Corps.

Dr. Andrew Sansom is a renowned figure in the field of water and environmental conservation. He grew up in Lake Jackson, Texas, near the mouth of the Brazos River, where he spent a significant part of his childhood exploring the outdoors. This early exposure to nature sparked his interest in parks and recreation, leading him to pursue a degree in Park Administration from Texas Tech. During the Vietnam War, Sansom was offered an internship with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in Washington, which allowed him to avoid the draft.

Phil Blackmar is a former professional golfer and an avid fisherman with a deep-rooted passion for both sports. Born into a family with a strong affinity for fishing and golfing, Blackmar's father, a Navy officer and a skilled golfer, introduced him to both sports at a young age. Blackmar's early life was characterized by frequent travels due to his father's naval career. However, since 1973, he has been a resident of Corpus Christi, Texas. His fishing journey began in Southern California, where he engaged in bass fishing as a child.