Scholarship effort to honor fallen game warden
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Contributed Photo On The Hunt Fallen Texas Game Warden Justin Hurst, above, will be honored with the efforts of the newly formed Justin Hurst Celebrity Waterfowl Hunt. The group hopes to provide scholarships for youngsters interested in wildlife fields. Hurst was killed in the line of duty March 2007 chasing an alleged poacher.

With the goal of honoring a fallen Texas Game Warden, the Justin Hurst Celebrity Waterfowl Hunt is in the planning process.

And the organization is going to need help, said President Troy Albrecht who is also a Wharton County Sheriff's Deputy.

The first plan is to hold a fund-raiser for their fundraiser - a waterfowl hunt in December.

"The Justin Hurst Celebrity Waterfowl Hunt was formed to generate money for scholarships," Albrecht said, adding those dollars would go to youngsters wanting to pursue careers in "wildlife related fields."

Hurst, a Texas Game Warden, was killed in action a year ago in a confrontation with an alleged poacher near East Bernard. His widow, Amanda, and infant son, Kyle, still live in El Campo. Hurts parents, Allen and Pat Hurst, also live in El Campo.

The Hurst hunt group is still in the process of establishing itself as a non-profit organization, Albrecht said, but already plans to start working toward its goal.

That goal is a celebrity waterfowl hunt set for Dec. 12 with the hope of drawing film, television and sports figures to the county; offering a ticket event meet and greet meal, live auction and possible concert at the county fairgrounds.

But to do that, the group needs startup cash.

And they are hoping a golf tournament May 17 will help.

Scheduled for the New Gulf golf course, the event is "a way to generate money. We were trying to think - we didn't want to do a bake sale. This is an outdoor event, an outdoor sport and a lot of people participate. Young people as well as older people can participate in it."

The cost is $50 including lunch and a cart.

Those wanting to register can contact Albrecht at (979) 559-0515, Shawn Chilek (832) 642-0711 or Doug Light (979) 533-3005.

The deadline is 5 p.m. May 9.

The organization is also looking for individuals wanting to volunteer their time for the effort.

"This is not a law enforcement event. It is open to anybody," Albrecht said.

The group hopes to have a logo contest in Wharton County school districts at the start of the next school year.

The one chosen will receive a scholarship, he added.