About Us

Walter Negley, STPRA founding board chairman, is president of two heavy industrial product manufacturing concerns based in Houston, Texas. Other business affiliations include past board member of Highland Resources, a family owned real estate company founded by Herman and George R. Brown, and the A. S. Gage Ranch, founded by family members in Brewster and Presidio Counties in West Texas in 1883.

Walter has served as a director of the Brown Foundation, which was founded in July 1951 and has awarded more than $1.1 billion in grants. He has also served as a board trustee for the Kinkaid School, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Neuhaus Center, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Walter graduated from Trinity University in 1977 with a B.A. in Economics and attended the MBA program at the University of Texas at Austin. Walter grew up in San Antonio and now resides in Houston with his wife, Suzette, and three daughters.

Mr. Durham is the manager of El Tule Ranch in Brooks County. Previously, he was manager of the King Ranch, Norias Division and manager of the King Ranch Wildlife Department. Mr. Durham has also served as County Commissioner, Constable and School Board trustee in Kenedy County.

In addition to his current service as a director of the South Texans’ Property Rights Association, Mr. Durham serves as vice president of the Rural South Texas Economic Development Corporation and as an appointed member of the Region N Water Planning Group. He was a founder of the Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District. Mr. Durham holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Range Management from Texas A&M University at College Station.

Family has been ranching in south Texas since the 1750’s

Graduate of Falfurrias High School ‘62
Graduate of University of Texas ’67 BS in Pharmacy

Pharmacist, Oil/Gas Investments and Oil/Gas Development, Real Estate Investments

Member of Board of Regents for University System of South Texas from 1986 to 1991 which included Texas A & I University, Corpus Christi State University and Laredo State University

Member of Board of Directors Brooks County Independent School District 12 years

Member of Board of Directors for Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District

Married: Patricia Leo

Daughter: Andrea Lauren Garcia

Eduardo Hinojosa comes from a three-generation ranching family. Eduardo took over the family ranching operation in 1953 after the death of his father. Leased approximately 12,000acres from La Brisa Land and Cattle Co. in Starr County from 1953-1960. In late 1960 moved cattle operation to Rancho La-Fe in Jim Hogg County where he and family continue with cattle raising and white tail deer/quail management. He was awarded the Loma Blanca Soil and Water, Conservation District Rancher of the year for 2003, Area III Soil and Water Conservation Districts Absentee Conservation Rancher for 2004, and Recipient of invaluable contributions to Ranching Traditions Starr County Texas, 2004

Eduardo worked in numerous administrative positions for Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. Retiring after 30 years of service in 1993 as director, Foster Grandparent Project, Corpus Christi State School. He started his tenure with the State of Texas as a Texas Game and Fish Warden.

He received a Bachelors Degree from Pan American University, Edinburg, Texas and a Masters Degree from Corpus Christi State University, Corpus Christi, Texas.

Eduardo moved to Corpus Christi in 1970 and quickly became involved with the community. He has served on numerous boards and commissions for the City of Corpus Christi including Crime Stoppers, Ethics Commission for the city and Corpus Christi Housing Authority Commission. Eduardo graduated from Leadership Corpus Christi Class XX.

Member of Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Wildlife Association, South Texas Property Rights Association.

Eduardo married his wife Ann in 1971. They have 2 children, Edward S Hinojosa and Yvonne Oliver and 4 grandchildren.

Robin Borglum Kennedy is proud to be part of a pioneer South Texas ranching family. She and her immediate family, through La Rucia Ranch Company have ranched in Brooks and Hidalgo County for nearly 30 years. The opportunity to understand more fully the complex issues and challenges ahead for property owners has been an important reason to support STPRA. Only by a combined effort on common interests can these problems be resolved.

Berdon Lawrence is President of L3 Partners, LLC, which manages the assets and investments of his family. He is Chairman Emeritus of Kirby Corporation, a tank barge company moving petrochemicals and petroleum products on the inland waterways. Kirby operates 900 tank barges and 200 towboats, and provides employment for over 3,100 people. Kirby Corporation is headquartered in Houston.

Lawrence is the past Chairman of the Waterways Council, past Chairman of the Inland Waterways Users Board, past Chair and member of the American Waterways Operators, Clean Channel Association, National Waterways Council and Texas Waterways Operators. He is a member of the Houston Maritime Association and the Texas World Presidents’ Organization.

Lawrence is on the Board of the Kinkaid School and a member of the M.D. Anderson Board of Visitors. He is a member of the Tulane University Business School Council, the Galveston Bay Foundation, the Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Bone Disease Program of Texas and a member of St. Martins Episcopal Church.

He received a BBA degree in 1964 from Tulane University and an M.B.A. the following year, also from Tulane.

Lawrence owns the Laborcitas Creek Ranch which is located In Brooks County on Highway 285, west of Falfurrias.

James McAllen Jr. is currently serving on the board of South Texas Property Rights Association, Linn San Manuel Community Improvement Commitee, Private Lands Advisory Board-Texas Parks and Wildlife, Native Plant Materials Center, Kingsville, Texas, Red Sands Groundwater Conservation District, American Akaushi Association, and Breed Improvement Commitee-Beefmaster Breeders United.

James is formerly president of Los Caminos del Rio, a bi-national organization helping preserve historical sites along the Rio Grande River Corridor and former advisory member of the Texas I69 Corridor Project.  He is also President of Texas Exports, LLC. A global distributor of Texas produced beef and set to launch a new branded beef program for Texas in the latter half of 2010.  He attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth Texas, graduating with a degree in Business Finance and Fine Art.  He has traveled widely in South America, Europe,and the Middle East.

James is married to Katherine McAllen and father to two children, James and Salome McAllen.  James is also land manager and herdsman for the McAllen family in Hidalgo and Starr County.   

Beth Knolle Naiser is part of a family which has ranched in Texas since its members arrived with Stephen F. Austin’s first colony. Beth grew up in Houston, where her father was manager of the Houston Livestock Show for 22 years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1971 and has lived in the Coastal Bend area since that time. She now raises beef cattle on the Knolle Farm & Ranch, which was once one of the nation’s largest dairy operations. In 1997, she opened a bed and breakfast on the ranch, specializing in hospitality and "country luxury". Beth is married to Stephen Naiser, who has been in the custom grass planting business for 27 years. Besides her service on the STPRA board, Beth is a member of the board of directors of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and is very involved with that organization’s promotional activities.

Sam Rodriguez has owned and operated R.Y. Livestock Sales, Inc. for the past 18 years. He is a former director of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and past president of Livestock Marketing Association of Texas. Sam has been a co-host of the annual Driscoll Children’s Hospital fundraising event for over 25 years and is a director of Easter Seals of the Rio Grande Valley. He also a member of the U.S.D.A.-F.S.A. County Committee and the Career and Technology Committee of the Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District. Sam resides in Rio Grande City with his wife of 40 years, the former Nedina Yzaguirre, and they have two children and one grandchild.

Jesse W. Howell has been a board member of STPRA since 2006 and a lifelong South Texan. Living just west of Premont in Jim Wells County, Jesse is proud that his three grandchildren are the fifth generation to love and work the land that has been in his family for over 100 years. He has a deep desire to protect and preserve the land for future generations.

From cow-calf to stocker to feedlot, Jesse has experienced every aspect of the cattle business. Currently, Howell Cattle Company's feeding operation has a one-time capacity of over 13,000 head. He is a partner in South Texas Mix, a liquid feed manufacturing plant. He is the past president of the Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District and has been a Texas Ag Finance Board member for 28 years. He is also a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Falfurrias, Texas.

A native of Sarita, Texas, Lee Lytton is a Professor of Law at St. Mary's Univ. School of Law. He graduated from St. Mary's in 1968, Magna Cum Laude. Following graduation and service as a briefing attorney for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, he briefly practiced law in Houston, Texas, before joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Special Agent. He later returned to law practice in Austin and Corpus Christi and while practicing law as a title attorney in Corpus Christi, founded an oil and gas exploration company along with several partners. After the mid-1980’s decline in oil and gas activity, he was invited to join the St. Mary’s law faculty in 1987, and continues today to teach in the areas of Property Law, Oil and Gas Law, Mortgages and Real Estate Financing, and related subjects.

A. R. "Felo" Guerra is descendant of early pioneering Valley families which were ranching on the banks of the Rio Grande dating back to the mid 1700's.  He attended McAllen & Edinburg schools graduating from Edinburg High & afterwards attended Pan American College.  Since the 1960's he has been involved with his family in managing their agricultural & mineral interests in Hidalgo & Starr Counties.  He is active in his community as a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church, Linn-San Manuel Community Improvement Committee, Easter Seals, UT-PAU Foundation Board & First National Bank Board.  He also operates a cow-calf operation and occasionally runs some stocker calves.  Felo & Maxine, his spouse of 35 years, are pleased parents & grandparents of 4 children 2 grandaughters.

Cullen R. Looney is a life-long resident of Edinburg, Texas where he practiced law and has been involved in banking, farming, ranching and oil and gas. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in finance and a law degree and served for three years in the U.S. Army, being honorably discharged as a 1^st Lieutenant. He has been very active in numerous local and state organizations including The Texas Ethics Commission, South Texas Higher Education Authority, The University of Texas Chancellors Council Executive Committee and the Museum of South Texas History.  He served as a state representative for South Texas from 1977 to 1981.  Looney is currently president of EIA Management, LLC.

A.C."Dick" Jones IV of Hebbronville,Tx. manages his cattle operations through Jones Ranch LLC. His ranching headquarters are at Jones Borregos Ranch south of Hebbronville in Jim Hogg Co.

In addition to ranching, Jones' other business activities include directorships with First National Bank of Hebbronville, First National Bank of Beeville,and Mestena Oil & Gas Co. He is also a director of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Wildlife Association, advisory director Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and trustee of Texas A&M Kingsville Foundation.

He and his wife Ann have three children, Katherine Camille, William Whitby III and Laura Christina.

Presnall Cage is a third generation South Texas rancher who operates his family’s property in Brooks County, Texas. Presnall was raised in Falfurrias and graduated from Texas A& I University in Kingsville where he was an officer in the Sigma Chi fraternity. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force and became an instructor pilot at Laredo Air Force Base and a forward air controller in Vietnam. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, he was discharged from the service in 1973with the rank of captain. He is currently a pilot of both fixed wing aircraft and a helicopter…the latter used primarily for cattle work.Presnall raises commercial Hereford and crossbred cattle and manages the family’s mineral holdings in Brooks and Maverick Counties in Texas as well as Lincoln and Cheyenne Counties in Colorado.

Presnall and his wife, Stephanie, reside on the ranch near Falfurrias, where Presnall is a director of the First National Bank, having been a founder and director of the Greater South Texas Bank. They have three children, Grady Cage, Valerie Ziegler, and William Cage and three grandchildren. Presnall serves as a director of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, is a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Texas Order of St. Hubertus (a hunting and game conservation group) as well as several San Antonio social organizations, among them, The Order of the Alamo, The German Club, The Argyle, and The San Antonio Country Club.

John Prukop, age 55, lives in Jim Wells County and has been farming since 1974 in Jim Wells, Kleberg and Nueces Counties.  Mr. Prukop holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A & I University in agricultural economics.  Mr. Prukop serves as chairman of the Kleberg-Kennedy Soil and Water Conservation District and is Vice Chairman of Texas AgFinance, where he has served as a director since 1990.

Born August 16, 1948 in Robstown, Texas, Hugo graduated from Mary Carroll High School in Corpus Christi in 1965. He served in the United States Army Reserves from 1968 to 1974 and earned his Associate of Arts Degree from Del Mar College in 1971 and his Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas A&I University of Kingsville in 1973.

In 1975, Hugo was elected to the newly created single-member legislative district in Nueces Country(House District 34). Throughout his legislative career, Hugo served as a member and chairman of many important committees and served as Speaker Pro-Tem of the House for three terms. He was named one of the ten best legislators multiple times by Texas Monthly and received ”Legislator of the Year” awards from numerous, diverse organizations.

After retiring from the legislature in 1997, Hugo began his consulting business, Berlanga Business Consultants (BBC). BBC specializes in providing legislative consulting services to alternative energy interests and the health care community, but also works with the telecommunications industry, municipalities, port authorities and several other groups.

Hugo Berlanga married the former Laura M. Garza, of Corpus Christi in 1970 and they have one son, Omar Hugo Berlanga. They enjoy spending time on their property in Duval County.

Susan Durham has been executive director of STPRA since its inception in 2006. She is a life-long South Texan and has 35 years of experience in ranching. Ms. Durham studied Business at Texas A&M University at Kingsville. She has owned and operated a wildlife breeding business and other agri-businesses. In addition to serving as STPRA’s executive director, Ms. Durham currently oversees the operations of her 1400 acre ranch in Jim Wells County. She is the mother of six children and a member of the First United Methodist Church. Ms. Durham is married to Lavoyger J. Durham of Falfurrias.

Robert Howard serves as an organizational and public policy consultant to STPRA’s board and staff. He has over 30 years’ experience in organizational management, economic development, and public policy legislation and administration. He represents STPRA on the Ag Council and assists in advocating for STPRA’s positions at the state and federal levels. Robert, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., lives in Austin and travels to South Texas frequently.

Tobi Kibbe, Marketing Director for STPRA, was raised in Midland, where she graduated from Midland High in 2002. She received a marketing degree from Texas Christian University in 2006. Upon graduation, Tobi worked in the sales and marketing department for Graves Group Promotions in Fort Worth before accepting a position in Colorado Springs, Colorado as a business development representative. She returned to Texas to work in the oil and gas industry and now lives near Falfurrias with her husband, Avery Kibbe, owner of Nueces Helicopters.

Although she is fairly new to South Texas, Tobi has always believed in fighting for private property rights. Her family ranches in New Mexico and has done their fair share of fighting for similar interests. She sees STPRA as an ambitious organization with great potential and is happy to be a part of it.