The RFA-TX Annual Banquet proved to be a success once again, this year honoring Texas artist John (Jack) P. Cowan with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" and Texas Parks & Wildlife Commissioner John Parker with the "2008 Man of the Year Award" on Thursday night, June 20th at South Shore Harbour Resort in League City, TX.

Cowan has been Texas' leading outdoors artist for over 40 years and has worked to support sportfishing groups along with many other outdoor groups, giving both his time and artistic talents. His paintings have appeared as cover art and illustrations in such magazines as Sports Afield, Outdoor Life, Fortune, Life, Look and Esquire. He was named "Texas State Artist" in 1978-79, has been awarded silver medals by the Houston Artists Guild and is past "Artist of the Year" for Ducks Unlimited. He was also selected as one of the top 12 contemporary artists in the 100th anniversary of Sports Afield magazine.

"Jack has led a fortunate life, and Texas sportsmen/women have benefited enormously from his efforts," noted Jim Smarr, RFA-TX Chairman. "Fishing and hunting was in his blood and he was able to combine his passion for the outdoors with his incredible talent, to capture the true essence of hunting and fishing in Texas. He was extremely generous in giving his time, his talents and his energy to help sporting groups organize to conserve our fish and game and ensure that future generations of Texans will have abundant resources to preserve our outdoor heritage. For more than a half century, Jack has led the wa y for conservation and outdoors groups and no one could be more deserving of a Lifetime Achievement Award."

Cowan, along with well-known sportsman Perry Bass, was instrumental in identifying the need to take legislative action to address commercial destruction of the red drum (redfish) population in Texas bays in the 1970's. Working with then-Texas State Representative Joe Allen, they crafted a bill and helped fight to ensure its passage in the Texas legislature. The law was passed and Texas bays were freed of commercial gillnets. As a result, redfish and trout populations exploded to make Texas one of the preeminent fishing locations for these species in the U.S.

Commissioner John Parker was presented with RFA-Texas' "2008 Man of Year Award" in recognition of his tireless efforts on behalf of Texas coastal fishermen. Parker has continually fought to preserve recreational fishermen's interests. He has personally attended virtually every Texas and National Marine Fisheries management meeting along the Texas Gulf Coast, in Austin and in other states where issues could impact Texas.

"Commissioner Parker has consistently been accessible, has maintained a personal and professional commitment to protecting Texas' resources and to preserving the future of Texas' outdoors for generations to come," said Smarr. "He's been a friend of Texas anglers and other outdoorsmen/women and he truly understands the legislative and regulatory issues and has helped assure that actions taken by Texas Parks & Wildlife are based on hard facts and science so that agency has real credibility with Texas citizens. He's clever, ethical and straightforward, even when the truth doesn't match conventional wisdom."

RFA-TX would like to recognize the following major sponsors for their generous contributions that made the this year's event a success: American Custom Yatchts, Dan and Debra Friedkin, Bealine Services, Moody National Bank, Oil Field Development Engineering, Weldsonix, Delbert Fore-EPCO and Del Papa-Budweiser.

The RFA-TX's principal objectives are to ensure reasonable regulations for fisheries, to construct artificial reefs in Texas waters, creating more habitat and increasing fish populations and to ensure coastal passes are kept open to protect marine estuaries.

Special thanks go to the RFA-TX representatives who made this event successful- Jim Smarr, Dan Bulla, Charlie Everts, Monty Weeks, Jason Parrish, Mike Myers, Alex Parker, Hefner Appling, Bobby Grumbles, Steve Morris and Mark Schweitzer.