Born:           June 21, 1938: Midland, Michigan
  Reared in Brizoria County, Texas
  U.S. Army Veteran, 1960- 1963

 OCCUPATION:

     Retired USDA—Soil Conservation Service, State Range Conservationist (Louisiana)
Grazing Lands Consultant
Cattleman - Ratter J Ranch, owner (commercial cow/calf operation)

 EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

1958-60  (Geology) Tarleton State College

1966        B.S (Range Science); Texas A & M University

            1978        Graduate Short Course. Interdisciplinarv Plant Sciences. University of Nebraska

            1981        Commercial Pesticide Applicators Short Course, Louisiana State University

            1983        Working Effectively with Livestock Producers, Ranch Management Program, Texas Christian University

            1992        Plant Ecology Short Course, Texas A & M university

            1992        Marsh Burning Workshop, Pockefeller Refuge, Grand Cheniere, Louisiana

 AWARDS:

              1954       Conservationists Award, Philmont Scout Ranch

             1957        Eagle Scout. Boy Scouts of America

             1979        Certificate of Appreciation, Southern Section, Society for Range Management(SRM)

1980        Certificate of Appreciation, Southern Section, 5PM

1981        Distinguished Service Award, Southern Section, SRM

1982         President’s Award, Southern Section, SRM

1982         Special Achievement Award, USDA—SCS

1986         Certificate of Merit, Special Act Award, USOA—SCS

1988         Certificate of Merit, Superior Achievement Award, USDA-SCS

1991         Certificate of Appreciation, USDA-SCS

1992         Certificate of Merit, Special Act Award, USDA-SCS

1993         Certificate of Appreciation, Southern Section, SRM

1996         Outstanding Achievement Award, Society for Range Management

 1996         Governor’s Award, Governor M. J. Foster, State of Louisiana 

CERTIFICATION~:

Certified Professional Agronomist, American Registry of Certified Professionals in Agronomy, Crops and Soils, 1980 to present.

Commercial Pesticide Applicators License, State of Louisiana, 1981 to present.

Certified Range Management Consultant, Society for Range Management, 1984 to present.

Certified Professiona7 Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Specialist, Soil and Water Conservation
Society, 1989 — 1897.

 ORGANIZATIONS /AFFILIAT IONS

                     Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association (LCA) – Life Member

                     Board of Directors; District III V.P.; Chairman, Private Lands & Environment Committee

                             Louisiana Beef Industry Council Board of Directors

                      Louisiana Grazing Lands Conservation Coalition Secretary-Treasurer; Steering Committee Member

                      Louisiana Pesticide Applicators Association (LPAA) President - 1990

                      National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Member, Private Lands & Environment Committee

                     NCBA Representative on GLCI National Steering Committee

                     International Society for Range Management (SRM) (Life Member)

                     Producers Affairs Committee, Chairman – 1979

                     Public Affairs Committee, Chairman – 1984

                     Consultant Certification Panel, Chairman – 1996

                     Southern Section Society for Range Management President – 1977 & 1996

                      Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) National Steering Committee Member,
                           NCBA Representative