NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) – Ellen Trout Zoo Director in Lufkin is retiring after 48 years of service.
Gordon Henry took his first steps at the Ellen Trout Zoo in 1976
“I walked out the front door and saw three palm trees and thought, ‘Wow, that’s smoke!’ This must be a great place,” Henry said.
Henry’s first project was to place wildcats in a larger exhibit.
“And along these lines, we will be establishing Friends at the Zoo, which will be the fundraising arm to achieve these goals,” he said.
Under his leadership, he says, dozens of programs and events have been created, including science education services to “convey messages about conservation, education, and natural history.”
He was also instrumental in the Louisiana Pine Snake Reintroduction Program, which successfully rescued the endangered species.
“We’re releasing 500 of these animals together and breeding them,” Henry said.
Henry said during his stay, the zoo grew to twice the size it was when it was founded.
Henry hopes to assist the new director in the transition by providing the zoo’s history and resources to learn and grow.
“That’s one of the things I’m very proud of, is being able to turn it over to someone who has the ability to jump-start it and keep it going,” he said.
But Henry’s time at the zoo isn’t over yet. The zoo is currently preparing for “Zoo Boo” on October 18th.
Visit our Facebook page for more information.
Copyright 2024 KTRE. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
