AUSTIN— While conducting aerial surveys for desert bighorn sheep in West Texas on Saturday, Aug. 8, three Texas Parks and Wildlife Department employees died in a helicopter crash on TPWD’s Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County.

The victims include Wildlife Biologist Dewey Stockbridge, Fish and Wildlife Technician Brandon White, and State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Bob Dittmar. The pilot, a private contractor, survived the crash and was transported to El Paso for further treatment.

“No words can begin to express the depth of sadness we feel for the loss of our colleagues in this tragic accident,” said Carter Smith, TPWD Executive Director. “These men were consummate professionals, deeply liked and highly regarded by their peers and partners alike for the immense passion, dedication, and expertise they brought to their important work in wildlife management and veterinary medicine.  Wildlife conservation in Texas lost three of its finest as they so honorably and dutifully carried out their calling to help survey, monitor and protect the bighorns of their beloved west Texas mountains.  We will miss Dewey, Brandon, and Dr. Bob deeply and dearly.  All of us at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department send our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Stockbridge, White, and Dittmar families in the wake of this devastating tragedy and continue to pray for the health and recovery of the pilot.”

The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Texas Game Wardens are currently investigating the incident. Further details will be shared with the public as they become available.

The purpose of the Fish and Wildlife Relevancy Roadmap is to serve as a guide to help agencies and organizations enhance conservation through broader engagement. It fulfilled the second recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The Wildlife Management Institute received a grant through the Multistate Conservation Grant Program to assist state agencies who would like to begin putting the roadmap into action.

To learn more information about the Fish and Wildlife Relevancy Roadmap, go to  Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. 

Many distinguished individuals were award recipients at the 2019 SEAFWA Annual Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina. 

Alvin Taylor awarded 2019 SEAFWA Watson Award. 

Gary Norman awarded SEAFWA's 2019 Wildlife Biologist of the Year.

Todd Ewing named SEAFWA's 2019 Fisheries Biologist of the Year. 

Cole Edwards named SEAFWA's 2019 Wildlife Officer of the Year. 

Rhonda Hurst received the SEAFWA Special Award.

Daniel Griffith, Aquatic Education Coordinator, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation received SEAFWA’s Diversity Outreach and Education Award on behalf of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.