John Kern Strecker, Jr.

Born in 1875 in Illinois, and later moving to Waco, John Strecker developed a deep interest in amphibians and reptiles and became known as the “Father of Texas Herpetology.” He wrote many popular and technical articles on Texas natural history, with pieces on birds, mammals, mollusks, reptiles, amphibians, and particularly, snakes. He served as curator of the Baylor University Museum from 1903 through 1933, but also explored areas far from Waco, including the Chisos Mountains.