Leadership & Board of Directors

My life journey has been an adventure. I am 5 th generation Jeweler, sat down at the bench at the age of 15 in 1974. I am very community orientated and love teaching all ages about shooting, hunting and wildlife. I have lived on the Barrow Foundation Ranch for nearly 50 years, but believe it or not I did not start hunting until 1981 – yes I went
hunting with my father since an early age and LOVE watching wildlife in any capacity. Teaching the next generation about shooting, hunting and wildlife conservation has been a passion for a long time. Our family got into Pre 1840 reenactments, we used to attend the Santa Fe Trail Rendezvous on the Whittington Center property in Raton New Mexico, enjoying shooting Black Powder rifles. In 2003 I became a Huntmaster in TYHP (Texas Youth Hunt Program) and ran hunts until 2021 – I still cook for hunts and
guide on some hunts especially TPWD 101 hunts. I have been honored to receive West Texas Region Volunteer of the Year in 2017, TPWD Volunteer Team in 2021, TWA Volunteer of the Year award in 2021 and the TD Carroll award from THEIA in 2026. I have served THEIA as the Treasurer 2022-2026 and now I am honored that the membership has placed me in the Vice President position. I will do my best to continue to serve the THEIA membership.

I’m honored to serve on the THEIA Board as Treasurer. I have a passion for Hunter Education, responsible firearm ownership, and for helping others discover and enjoy the
outdoors.

My journey into Hunter Education began with a simple desire to spend more time volunteering alongside my now-husband, Randy, while we were dating. What started as
an opportunity to be together quickly grew into a genuine commitment to the Hunter Education program and the incredible volunteers who help make it successful.

Since becoming an instructor, I’ve assisted with Hunter Education classes and supported numerous events behind the scenes. I’m also
an NRA Recruiter, and I enjoy encouraging safe, ethical hunting while helping introduce men, women, and children to hunting, shooting sports, and our outdoor heritage.

Outside of my volunteer work, I own Sage & Stitch, a small handcrafted business where I manage the finances, operations, and day-to-day responsibilities. My experience as a small business owner has strengthened my organizational and financial management skills, and I’m excited to bring those skills to my role as THEIA’s Treasurer.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside such a dedicated board and look forward to supporting THEIA’s mission and helping our organization continue to grow and make a positive impact in the hunting and outdoor community.

The best way to describe me is: jump in feet first and do the best I can. I have always been told by my parents that my first hunting experience was in the blind in diapers cause my dad missed me.

My first hunt I remember is with my dad and my Uncle Jeff who was quadriplegic in ground blind learning how to set up the rifle stand to his chair and playing with a knife sharper I called a “baby dinosaur”. When I was 16 one of the Ag classes I took ended up getting my hunter education card, that Christmas I got my first rifle and was taken on my first hunt for myself. Ever since then I started assisting in Hunter Ed classes with Sandy Mason, and over time it turned into setting and tearing outreach event set ups. In my last semester of college I helped in the kitchen on a Youth Hunt, the next hunt I was trained as a guide and have been on every hunt I can since. Along with taking up Youth Hunts, Sandy asked me to think about taking and getting certified as a Hunter Ed Instructor…safe to say I did not think twice and signed up right away.

Now I am not only a Hunter Ed Instructor but a Bow Hunter Ed Instructor and have integrated that into the Youth Hunts. Labor Day weekend 2025 I received a call asking if I would take over the Secretary position of THEIA…once again feet first I did and have now been officially elected for this position by my peers. The one thing I did not expect and still in shock over is receiving the statewide Hunter Education Instructor Award of 2025. I hope to continue to live up to that accomplishment and further the education of the youth in Texas and always make my Uncle Jeff proud in Heaven.

I began my affiliation with TPWD in 2009 taking a Hunter Education class with my son.

Soon after that a member of the local school board was discussing the Hunter Education class at the local high school and how limited the size was. That led to me becoming a Hunter Education Instructor and working with the local ISD in Joshua Texas to teach Hunter Education in the school’s community room.

I became more involved in Hunter Education programs and in 2019 was the recipient of the TD Carroll award from THEIA. In 2018 and 2019 I traveled over 5000 miles teaching classes from Rockdale TX to Sanderson Texas.  I became an area chief along the way and began holding Hunting 101 classes. These have included Antler Scoring, Ammunition Reloading, White Tail Deer Hunting and Bow Hunting classes. I am the Parliamentarian for THEIA , a Bowhunter Instructor, do scoring for TBGA and am a Tree Stand Safety Instructor.

I’ve had an interest in hunting and fishing all my life, one grandfather was an avid fisherman and the other an ardent bird hunter. That grandfather would either borrow his brother’s bird dog or have me fetch his downed dove and quail.

My passion is shooting and big game hunting and I’ve been very fortunate to enjoy both of these for over 50 years. As a Navy veteran I was selected to become a Navy Armorer and Master Small Arms Instructor. I shot handgun and shotgun competitively during my different enlistments and have attended numerous classes and programs on firearms and ammunition maintenance and alterations all over the world.

I also became involved with the Texas Youth Hunter Program and became a Huntmaster in 2015. Both TPWD and TYHP programs have led me to some wonderful times working with youth hunters and youth programs. I’ve also met several amazing landowners who’ve allowed me to host TYHP Programs, Veterans programs and let our volunteers do hog hunts on their ranches.

Recently I was asked to be the liaison between THEIA and the newly forming Instructor Association in Michigan working with the state’s DNR group and volunteer instructors. This is an inspiring task and I  thoroughly enjoy the drive and commitment the instructors in Michigan have in building their program.

I would encourage any of our volunteer instructors to be active through the year with Hunter Education and Youth programs. The opportunities to be visual at community days, county celebrations, veterans meetings, and hosting education stations at local events puts TPWD and THEIA volunteers in the community focus.

Being visible at the local Academy or Tractor Supply stores on a Saturday, giving a safety brief at the local Trail Life group,  or teaching a private course for a church or VFW Post are all areas that can occur year round.

In closing, take some time to look around and meet with the new hunters in your area. Invite them to be more involved with the outdoors and ask them to help you with a class or local event. Give these folks the opportunity to work and become the next generation of instructors and volunteers to carry our traditions and safety culture into the future.

Full biography has not yet been provided.

Full biography has not yet been provided.

My name is Russel Thomas and it is an honor to serve on the THEIA board. I am Paramedic with 26 years of experience in the field and a Stop the Bleed instructor for 8 years. Being a Paramedic has prompted me to provide the community with injury prevention and safety courses, after personally seeing many hunting accidents in the field. I am passionate for hunter’s safety, which also led me to be a volunteer on-site medic for many years at the North Texas Buckskin Brigade. As part of my community outreach, I have hosted an annual Hunter’s Education course for the past 12 years until 2 years ago I was privileged to be able to take an instructor course and take on the new to the role as a Hunter’s Education Instructor myself.

Full biography has not yet been provided.

Full biography has not yet been provided.