Texas Game Warden Green Named National Boating Officer of the Year

Media Contact: National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, (859) 225-9487; icle__media__contact">Media Contact: National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, (859) 225-9487; Tom Harvey, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., (512) 389-4452, tom.harvey@tpwd.texas.gov

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Corpus Christi, Texas — The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has presented its prestigious national Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award to Game Warden Chris Green of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, marking the first time the award has gone to a Texan at the national level.

NASBLA presented the award at its 50th annual meeting being held in Corpus Christi this week. The organization established its Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year program in 2000 to celebrate the nation’s outstanding marine officers. Sponsored by ACR Electronics Inc., the Boating Officer of the Year Award is presented to deserving recipients at three levels — state, regional and national. This year, 41 officers across the country were nominated for the national award.

A native of Duncanville, Green began his TPWD career as a game warden cadet in 1993. He is currently stationed in Smith County and his patrol area includes popular recreational hotspots lakes Tyler and Palestine as well as the Neches and Sabine rivers.

Through his own efforts and in cooperation with others, Green has helped to bring about a positive safety record to area lakes. Passionate about his job, Green often volunteers for special assignments to utilize his expertise in boating issues. In 2008, he logged 352 boat hours, recording 71 citations/warnings.

Additionally, he is available and active with lake residents and boaters and serves as an invited member of a city mayor’s roundtable regarding boating safety. Recently, he organized boating safety classes at area lakes and conducted programs to area schools, churches and civic groups. He also regularly organizes boat rides for mentally/physically challenged residents in the area.

"Chris is very personal in his approach with media and family members regarding boating accidents/fatalities," said Alfonso Campos, who serves as the boating law administrator for Texas. "Victim family members of accidents/fatalities have expressed their appreciation for Chris’s compassion and sincerity, saying that he treated them ‘like family’ during their ordeal."

Green also serves as his district’s media representative and provides information through print and broadcast news media. He possesses a "natural" delivery in his speech and is exceptional at presentations for boating education classes, TV/radio interviews, media ride-alongs and live broadcasts.

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories.

NASBLA offers a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards and publications. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, the organization affects the lives of over 83 million American boaters. To learn more about how NASBLA continues to make the waterways safe, secure and enjoyable, visit the organization Web site.

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