Dalrymple Conservation Award Endowment

Created to honor the memory of Mr. Aubry Dalrymple, who was the Field Representative for the State Soil and Water Conservation Board from Region I at the time of his death.

In late 1974, Flip Calhoun contacted Bill Reece concerning the desire of the Hale County Soil and Water Conservation District to initiate an award to honor the memory of Aubry Dalrymple. Mr. Dalrymple was the Field Representative for the State Soil and Water Conservation Board from Region I at the time of his death. Other Soil and Water Conservation Districts wanted to participate in this effort, so it became a project for Region I. Bill Reece visited with John R. Hunter at Texas Tech University concerning this project, and they agreed that this was a very appropriate way to honor the memory of Aubry Dalrymple. Fred Squires also worked with the Districts to promote the establishment of this fund.

In December of 1974 an initial contribution or $802.00 was deposited at Texas Tech University and the initial forms processed for this award. At this time, there was no indication of how large this fund would eventually be (and at that time, it required $5000.00 to establish an endowment at Texas Tech University). From 1976 through 1980, additional contributions were made by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Region I totaling $800.00. This made a total of $1602.00 ($802.00 + $800.00) contributed by the soil and Water Conservation Districts. Although the Soil and Water Conservation Districts initiated this effort, the Dalrymple Family was very appreciative and became very interested in this project, and they made contributions totaling $3000.00.

This made the total $4602.00 plus the interest which had not been used for the plaque and the annual scholarship, In 1979, Mr. Hunter realized that this would soon reach the $5000.00 necessary for an endowment, so on March 27, 1979, he processed revised forms to establish the endowment and also the interest account (current restricted account) from which the plaque is purchased and the scholarship is awarded.

Over the years the endowment investment has grown from "interest earnings" and contributions. As of February 2009 the principal balance in the endowment account was $11,286.56 and there were sufficient funds in the award account to fund the 2009-2010 scholarship award.

Recipients have been selected form the Natural Resources Management Department and the Plant and Soil Science Department. Although all of the recipients have been from these two Departments, it could be awarded to any major in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The recipient is to be an upperclassman and should have an interest in pursuing a professional career in conservation. The student's accomplishments at Texas Tech University are a consideration. The number and amount of awards given annually varies.

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