Don Kennard
Encyclopedia
Don Kennard was a United States politician for the Democratic Party representing Fort Worth
and Tarrant County
in both the Texas House of Representatives
and the Texas Senate
from 1953 to 1973. Kennard represented the former District 60-3 in the Texas House from 53rd
through the 62nd Legislature
s, and the Tenth District
in the 58th
through the 62nd Legislature
s.
Kennard was an early proponent of a wide variety of conservation-related initiatives in the Legislature. He is particularly celebrated for his success in securing dedicated funding for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
from cigarette taxes.
Kennard was indirectly responsible for the Fort Worth Zoo
obtaining a baby elephant in 1964.
Following his service in the Legislature, Kennard taught and led research efforts at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
at the University of Texas. He is especially noted for coordinating the Natural Area Survey, which provided the blueprint for many years of later public land acquisitions of Texas areas of special ecological, scenic, or historic value.
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
and Tarrant County
Tarrant County, Texas
Tarrant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, it had a population of 1,809,034. Its county seat is Fort Worth. Tarrant County is the sixteenth most populous county in the United States and the third most populous in Texas. The county is named in honor...
in both the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
and the Texas Senate
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
from 1953 to 1973. Kennard represented the former District 60-3 in the Texas House from 53rd
Fifty-third Texas Legislature
The 53rd Texas Legislature met from January 13, 1953 to May 27, 1953 and March 15, 1954 to April 13, 1954. All members present during this session were elected in the 1952 general elections.-Sessions:Regular Session: January 13, 1953 - May 27, 1953...
through the 62nd Legislature
Fifty-seventh Texas Legislature
The 57th Texas Legislature met from January 10, 1961 to May 29, 1961 in Regular Session. Three special sessions were held during 1961 and 1962 as well...
s, and the Tenth District
Texas Senate, District 10
District 10 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves a portion of Tarrant county in the U.S. state of Texas. The current Senator from District 10 is Wendy Davis.-2008:-2004:-2002:-2000:...
in the 58th
Fifty-eighth Texas Legislature
The 58th Texas Legislature met from January 8, 1963 to May 24, 1963. All members present during this session were elected in the 1962 general elections.-Senate:-House:-Senate:* Lieutenant Governor: Preston Smith...
through the 62nd Legislature
Sixty-second Texas Legislature
The 62nd Texas Legislature met from January 12, 1971 to May 31, 1971 in regular session, and again in four more special called sessions...
s.
Kennard was an early proponent of a wide variety of conservation-related initiatives in the Legislature. He is particularly celebrated for his success in securing dedicated funding for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is a Texas state agency that oversees and protects wildlife and their habitats. In addition, the agency is responsible for managing the state's parks and historical areas...
from cigarette taxes.
Kennard was indirectly responsible for the Fort Worth Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo
The Fort Worth Zoo is a zoo in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Founded in 1909 with one lion, two bear cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock and a few rabbits, the Zoo now is home to 5000 native and exotic animals; has been named as a top zoo in the nation by Family Life magazine, the Los Angeles Times...
obtaining a baby elephant in 1964.
Following his service in the Legislature, Kennard taught and led research efforts at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs is a graduate school at The University of Texas at Austin that was founded in 1970 to offer professional training in public policy analysis and administration for students interested in pursuing careers in government and public affairs-related areas...
at the University of Texas. He is especially noted for coordinating the Natural Area Survey, which provided the blueprint for many years of later public land acquisitions of Texas areas of special ecological, scenic, or historic value.