Staff

Back L to R: Jay Reichard, Dr. Mike Hooper, Robert C. Lee, Janet Wallace, Gyna Cole,
Dr. Larry Farley, Debbie Tennyson, Willie Harrigan, Shirley Ryle
Front L to R: Dr. Mark Wallace, Dr. Lew Densmore, Carol Lee, Leanna Smith

Carol Lee, Executive Director

Carol founded SPWRC in 1986 to meet the need for a wildlife rehabilitation facility in West Texas. A native of Pennsylvania, Carol moved to Lubbock in 1980 and continues her service to South Plains communities as executive director of SPWRC. In addition to teaming with manager Debbie Tennyson to provide hands-on animal care, she directs the Center's administrative operations and works closely with the Board of Directors to raise funds and plan for the Center's future. Carol holds an R.N. degree from Allentown Hospital School of Nursing. She has three children, Kim, Greg, and Louis, who reside in Austin. Carol writes a wildlife column each week for the Sunday edition of the Lubbock Avalanche Journal.She is also a contributor to various wildlife rehabilitation journals and educational events. She serves as a Texas state representative on the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and is a member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association and Texas Ornithological Society. Carol also serves on the Llano Estacado Audubon Society's Board of Directors.

Debbie Tennyson, Manager

Debbie was our on-site manager of SPWRC since 1993. She began caring for animals during her childhood, knowing one day she would make her love for animals her life's work. Debbie manages day-to-day operations at the center and coordinates volunteers and educational presentations. Her husband, Rick, is always eager to help build cages and assist with grounds maintenance and enhancements to SPWRC's facility. Their son, Josh, is often on call when another pair of hands is needed to help medicate hawks or feed babies, and he is a valued member of the on-site team. Debbie is a member of several professional organizations, including the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association. She is a licensed falconer and member of the Texas Hawking Association and the North American Falconry Association.

Gyna Cole

Gyna is the owner of The Ad Shoppe, a full-service advertising agency specializing in marketing solutions. Gyna joined the SPWRC Board of Directors to do her part to improve the image of conservation of wildlife on the South Plains. Gyna is hopeful that her role as a SPWRC board member will help establish long-term fundraising and publicity practices that will perpetuate the center and its efforts. Gyna and her husband, Dayvid, are both from rural communities and enjoy gardening, bird watching, restoring antiques and enjoying their three grandchildren.

Lew Densmore

Lew is an associate professor of molecular systematics and evolution at Texas Tech University. He contributes his grant writing skills and brings a naturalist's understanding of organisms to SPWRC. In addition, he serves as a liaison to the research community. Lew holds bachelor's and master's degrees in biology from the University of Houston and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine. Lew has a tremendous respect for SPWRC's contribution to the community, and he strives to help the organization in any way possible. He and his wife Erika enjoy wildlife and the opportunity to support SPWRC. Lew also values spending time with his children, Lee and Scott.

Pat Harris

Pat Harris is a CPA and shareholder in Mason Warner & Co P.C. Pat joined the SPWRC Board of Directors because she so admired the work that Carol lee and Debbie Tennyson were doing. Pat says she was not able to do hands-on wildlife care, but was able to use her accounting skills as treasurer for the organization. Pat has a bachelor's degree in journalism from LSU and a master's degree in accounting from Texas Tech. Pat and her husband James live in Lubbock and are both avid gardeners. One of the warm weather pleasures they enjoy is having breakfast outdoors and listening to the songbirds in their yard, which is very wildlife friendly.

Jill Haukos

Jill teaches freshman botany and zoology at South Plains College. She joined the SPWRC board to contribute her knowledge and experience in wildlife management and to assist in the development of an effective and efficient working board. Jill holds a bachelor's degree in wildlife and fisheries management from South Dakota State University and master's degree in zoology from Texas Tech University. Jill and her husband David, a regional migratory bird specialist, have one daughter, Katie. Jill is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Center and the community as secretary of the Board. She believes we have the choice to either stand and watch the world go by, or we can jump in wholeheartedly and contribute to the world in a positive way.

Christie Billing

Christie is currently overseeing her family's foundation, the Chapman Forestry Foundation, which provides scholarships and helps to promote the planting of trees in West Texas. Her objective as a board member is to promote the Center and to help ensure its continued growth and success. Christie envisions the Center not only growing in size, but expanding in wildlife education and awareness in Lubbock and the surrounding communities. Christie has a bachelor's degree in nutrition from CalPoly in Pomona. Her husband, John, is a landscape architect and associate professor at Texas Tech University. The couple has two teenage boys, Jason and Michael. In her spare time, Christie enjoys supporting her children's athletic and school activities. In addition to doing needlework and stained glass projects, she loves to spend time in her yard, gardening and planting flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Dr. Larry Farley, D.V.M.

A native of West Texas, Dr. Larry Farley has been a veterinarian for over 20 years. He volunteers his time as an SPWRC veterinarian along with his colleagues, Dr. Lane Preston and Dr. Tim Polk of Animal Medical Center in Lubbock. In addition to caring for wildlife in crisis, Larry assists with the decision-making and future direction of the organization as a member of the SPWRC Board. He is a graduate of Texas A&M's college of veterinary medicine and has a true passion for wildlife medicine. Larry pursues a number of outdoor activities and interests in his spare time. Larry and his wife, Marion, have three children, Brady, Ginger, and Jeff.

Mike Hooper

Mike is an environmental toxicologist and associate professor of biology at Texas Tech University. Mike joined the SPWRC Board in 2000, bringing with him a background in forensic research and a familiarity with issues of pesticides and chemical contaminants and how they impact wildlife. Mike has a doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology and works with his graduate students to investigate and decrease chemical effects in wildlife. He hopes to put his experience to work with the SPWRC by helping to better define and prevent some of the suspected chemical-related issues that cause wildlife to find their way to the Center's doors. Mike enjoys birdwatching and traveling, particularly when the latter allows him to transfer knowledge and technology to less developed countries to help them protect their own (and sometimes our migratory) wildlife.

Karen McDonald

Karen is a Zoonosis Control specialist with the Texas Department of Health. She was initially an advisor to the SPWRC Board, assisting with the interpretation of the state quarantine law and distribution of (preventive) rabies vaccine. She has a great respect for the work done at the center and would love to see Carol's dream of a new facility come to fruition. Karen earned her bachelor's degree in wildlife sciencaiology and a master's degree in biology. She lives in Lubbock with her husband, Dwight, and two daughters whose favorite activity is feeding the ducks at the area lakes.

Robin Adams Parks

The same thing that motivates Robin to work as a consultant for Lubbock's children's initiative,Success By 6, is the same thing that leads her to serve on the South Plains Wildlife Center board -- a desire to help those who cannot help themselves. Robin hopes her education in conjunction with her background as an organizational consultant, will be an asset in helping SPWRC with its public awareness and fundraising needs. Currently doing graduate work in communication studies, Robin has a bachelor's degree in public relations from the University of Florida. Robin has looped her husband Don and their three children into innumerable domestic and wildlife rescues in the 18 years she has lived in Lubbock. Her youngest son, Michael, has worked as a volunteer for SPWRC and focused his Eagle Scout project on SPWRC building refurbishing. The family is devoted to their two dogs and cats and anything to do with the outdoors.

Ed Price

Ed is the managing partner of Price, Heald, & Price, a law firm with offices in Lubbock, Midland, and Irving, Texas. An original member of the Board of Directors, Ed and his wife Leesa have been long time friends of Carol lee and Rob Lee. They share Carol's goal of creating a first-class wildlife rehabilitation center that is self-sustaining, educational and a sanctuary for animals in distress. A Lubbock product, Ed graduated from Monterey High School, Texas Tech University School of Business Administration, and the Texas Tech School of Law. He has been practicing for 18 years. Ed and Leesa have a daughter, Lauren, who is a sophomore at Texas Tech University majoring in graphic design, and a son, Joseph, who is a junior at Trinity High school and a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Ed's hobbies include stained glass, reading, restoring classic automobiles, golf, snow skiing, scuba diving, travel, and sculpture.

Rob Lee

Rob is a retired special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He has been an advocate for the Wildlife Center since its inception and is an avid participant in SPWRC's educational, fundraising and other endeavors. Rob is a 1998 recipient of the Guy Bradley Award from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation for his 10 years of work to eliminate waste oil hazards to migratory birds in West Texas. He holds a master's degree in biological science from California State University, Sacramento. When Rob isn't working or helping with SPWRC activities, he enjoys hiking, disc golf, and having his "knees to the breeze" while exploring the South Plains and beyond by motorcycle.

Leanna Smith

Leanna is an assistant professor of biology at South Plains College in Levelland. She is originally from Kansas and graduated from Emporia State University with bachelor's and master's degrees in biology. Botany and ecology were her fields of interest in graduate school and she came to love birds at a later date. She has been active in Audubon chapters since 1980 and has served as president, treasurer, newsletter editor, and conservation chair in various chapters. She also has been a delegate to the state Audubon councils in both Kansas and Texas and has served as president and secretary of the Texas council. Leanna joined SPWRC as an advisor to do her part in giving wildlife a second chance after they have a negative encounter with man and his environment.

Mark Wallace

Mark is an assistant professor of wildlife in the Range, Wildlife and Fisheries Management department at Texas Tech University. Urban wildlife issues are both a professional interest and an avocation for Mark. He joined the SPWRC Board in an advisory capacity in 1998. Mark's main objectives with SPWRC are to link Tech students to opportunities for experience and involvement and to enhance the educational outreach done by SPWRC. Mark and his wife Janet with their two children Steven and Sarah live in Lubbock.