Celebrity hunt will provide scholarships in Hurst's memory
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

HURST

As first a wildlife biologist and later as a Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden, Justin Hurst was all about taking advantage of being outdoors and enjoying the natural beauty of Texas.

With that idea in mind, the board of directors of the Justin Hurst Celebrity Waterfowl Hunt decided to hold their fundraiser outdoors as well.

"We came up with the idea of a celebrity hunt to raise money for scholarships in Justin's memory," JHCWH President Troy Albrecht said. "But to pay for organizing the hunt, we needed some working capital. But we didn't want to do a bake sale or dinner.

"We wanted something outdoors and something that would be open to everyone."

So Albrecht and others got together and decided a golf tournament was just the thing.

"Golf's a sport that is enjoyed by people ages 13 to 90 and played by entire families. I think it is an activity that Justin would approve of doing."

The tournament is scheduled for May 17 and will be held at the Newgulf Golf Course in Boling. The entry deadline for the tournament is 5 p.m. on May 9.

The format for the tournament is a four-player string scramble and the entry fee is $200 per team which breaks down to $50 per player.

"We had to limit it to 36 teams and teams will be included on a first comefirst serve basis according to when their entry fees are paid," Albrecht said.

"And it's geared to be a fun event so even a first-time player will have the opportunity to pick up a prize during the day."

The entry fee includes green fees, a cart, refreshments and lunch. There will be a morning and afternoon tee time with the meal served between.

For golf tournament entry information, call Albrecht at 559-0515, Shawn Chilek at 642-0711 or Doug Light at 533-3005.

Volunteers interested in helping with the tournament or businesses and civic groups interested in serving as sponsors can also contact Albrecht, Chilek or Light.

Funds raised by the golf tournament will go toward the organization's first celebrity waterfowl hunt, scheduled for Dec. 12.

Organizers are hoping various film, television and sports celebrities will accept invitations to attend.

Plans include holding a ticket event to meet the celebrities, a possible meal, live auction and possibly even a concert event at the Crescent Fairgrounds.

The organization is also tentatively planning to award its first scholarship later this year.

Albrecht said the plan is to hold a logo contest that would be open to students attending Wharton County Schools at the start of the next school year.

The student submitting the selected entry would receive a scholarship, he added.

Hurst was shot and killed just after midnight on March 7, 2007 following a pursuit that involved a number of law enforcement units.

James Freeman, 27, of Lissie has been charged with capital murder in the case.

Following his death, the state of Texas honored Hurst's memory by renaming the Peach Point Wildlife Management area as the Justin Hurst WMA.

The area is part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Central Coast Wetlands Ecosystem Project and where Hurst spent the first six years of his career as a TPWD biologist before becoming a game warden in 2001.

While the scholarship is named for Hurst, Albrecht stressed the activities sponsored by the Hunt organization, which has been established as a non-profit corporation, are not limited to law enforcement.

"We want our events to be open to the public," he said. "The idea is to raise money for scholarships that will be given out to students with an interest in wildlife related studies and open to applicants from all over the state of Texas.

"Justin loved the outdoors and was dedicated to protecting Texas' natural beauty and wildlife," Albrecht continued.

"And that is something everyone can appreciate."

For more information on the Justin Hurst Celebrity Waterfowl Hunt, Inc., contact one of the board members, Albrecht, Chilek, Leslie Jennings, call 578-3422 or contact Renee Hamilton at 713- 582-8083.