Stephen F. Austin State University

The Texas state forester and director of the Texas Forest Service will be the speaker for the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Fourth Friday Luncheon at noon Jan. 26 at the Fredonia Hotel.

James Hull, a Stephen F. Austin State University graduate, has held the position since 1996, when he was named Texas' seventh state forester and associate vice chancellor for the agriculture program by the Texas A&M Board
of Regents.

Prior to this appointment, Hull held Texas Forest Service district forester appointments in Kirbyville, Woodville and Linden until 1975, when he was named agency assistant director. In 1981, he was named associate director and relocated to the agency's headquarters in College Station.

In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree in forestry from SFA, Hull is a certified forester and, in 1988, was elected as a Fellow in the Society of American Foresters. He serves as president of the National Association of State Foresters and has extensive experience in all areas of forestry, particularly forest management, policy, wildfire protection and administration.

Under Hull's leadership, the Texas Forest Service has gained national prominence in wildfire protection and prevention. Early successes in the Texas Wildfire Prevention Plan, the model for other state and federal organizations, resulted in the agency being awarded the prestigious Gold Smokey in 2003.

For more information, call the chamber at (936) 560-5533. Reservations are required. Cost is $15 paid at the door, or $13 if paid at the chamber by Thursday, Jan. 25.