Location
Elray S. Nixon
Years: 1931–2016 | Role: Botanist | County: Nacogdoches
Topics
Description
Born in 1931 in Escalante, Utah, Nixon earned his B.S. and M.S. from Brigham Young University, completed his Ph.D. in 1963 at the University of Texas at Austin, and went on to teach for more than 30 years in the biology department at Stephen F. Austin State University (1961-93).
His research focused on botany, ecology and taxonomy. Nixon published three books, Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of East Texas (1985), Plant Characteristics, Aids to Plant Identification (1989), and Ferns and Herbaceous Flowering Plants of East Texas (1993), and helped build the SFASU herbarium to a collection of more than 75,000 specimens.
He was also active in conservation work. He volunteered and served as president of the Texas Organization for Endangered Species, surveyed rare plants, collected and propagated seed to create new populations of at-risk species, and identified threats to species from timber harvest, channel dredging, and reservoir impoundment. In recognition of his lifetime contributions, the Native Plant Society of Texas awarded him the C.H. Weddle Award.
Location Notes
Given Nixon’s years of research on East Texas flora, and his long affiliation with Stephen F. Austin State University, perhaps a marker in his honor could be placed at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, at 2900 Raguet Street, in Nacogdoches.
Files
- Elray Nixon, "Personal History of Elray Nixon: Educational and Professional Activities, Part 1".
- Elray Nixon, "Personal History of Elray Nixon: Educational and Professional Activities, Part 2".
- Elray Nixon, "Personal History of Elray Nixon: Educational and Professional Activities, Part 3".
- Elray Nixon, "Successional States in a Hardwood Bottomland Forest near Dallas, Texas", the Southwestern Naturalist, Vol. 20, No. 3, P. 323, October 10, 1975.
- Elray Nixon, et al, "Species Diversity of Woody Vegetation in the Trinity River Basin, Texas", Castanea, Vol. 55, No. 2, P. 97, June 1990.
- Elray Nixon, R. Larry Willett, and Paul W. Cox, "Woody Vegetation of a Virgin Forest in an Eastern Texas River Bottom", Castanea, Vol. 42, No.3, P. 227, September 1977.