Dr. Ray C. Telfair, II, was born March 5, 1941 in Ennis, the son of Ray C. Telfair and Jessie Mae Beasley Telfair. He was reared in Ennis and graduated from Ennis High School in 1959. He received bachelors and masters degrees in biology from the University of North Texas in Denton (1965, 1967) and a doctoral degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences from Texas A&M University in College Station (1979). He was a member of the teaching program of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department where he developed mitigation evaluations and guidelines for highway construction, surface mines, and proposed reservoir construction. He retired in May 2004.

He was active as a member of the Boys Scouts of America in Circle Ten Council where he became an Eagle Scout with Bronze Palm, Chief of the Mikanakawa Lodge of the Order of the Arrow and Vigil honor Member, and worked 8 years as a summer camp counselor in natural history at Camp Constantin at Possum Kingdom reservoir in Palo Pinto County. At the University of North Texas and Texas A&M university, he was advisor to the local chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He was a member of 20 professional societies; was a certified wildlife biologist, president of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society; and, served on several committees of the chapter and national level. He authored about 112 publications, both scientific and popular, most involving ornithology, checklists of flora and fauna/nature trail guides/and interpretive brochures for wildlife management areas, maps of vegetational and ecological regions of Texas, the Texas Plant Information Database for erosion control and wildlife use, wetland management, and conservation education.

Throughout life, he had the good fortune of having many friends and associates--too many to acknowledge individually--all of whom contributed on his behalf, some in small ways, other in large ways, but all essential; and, for whom, he is grateful.

He is survived by his sister, Mrs. Nancy Telfair Varnell, brother-in-law, Dr. Gilbert I. Varnell, one niece, Rachel Varnell, and two nephews, Jeffery and Christopher Varnell all of California.

Ray has requested there be no formal service conducted.

Obituary submitted by Ray C. Telfair, II