Robert L. Cook To Be Named Outstanding Texas A&M Alumnus
Oct. 11, 2004
Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.texas.gov
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AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Executive Director, Robert L. Cook, will be named a 2004 Outstanding Alumnus of the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on Oct. 22.
The award presentation will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Koldus Building of the university campus in College Station.
Last year, Cook was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Science at Texas A&M University.
Cook attended Texas A&M University from 1961-65, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management.
After graduation in 1965, Cook began his career at TPWD as a wildlife biologist stationed in Junction. In 1972, he became the area manager at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area in Hunt. In 1975, Cook was promoted to program leader for the statewide White-tailed Deer program. He initiated Texas’ White-tailed Deer program on a statewide basis and established standardized deer data collection and analysis procedures by the Wildlife Division.
Cook left TPWD in 1979 to work for the Shelton Land and Cattle Company. While there, he served as wildlife biologist on six large ranches in Texas and Montana and as Vice-President of Ranch Operations.
In 1990, Cook returned to TPWD and served as Chief of Wildlife for more than three years in the combined Fisheries and Wildlife Division and in September of 1994 was promoted to director of the Wildlife Division. Cook was then promoted to senior division director for TPWD land policy in 1997 and served as acting division director for the State Parks Division for almost two years. He then took over as Chief Operating Officer for TPWD until he was named TPWD executive director in February 2002, the position he currently holds.