Samuel Reuben Warner

A professor of biology at Sam Houston State University, Dr. Warner was one of the earlier scientists to perform a modern ecological study of the Big Thicket. In 1926, he published “The Distribution of Native Plants and Weeds on Certain Soil Types in Eastern Texas”, a novel look at the role of the soil history, texture and chemistry that supports the Thicket’s diversity. In 1936, with support of U.S. Senator Morris Sheppard, Warner joined Hal Parks and Victor Cory at Camp Jackson, west of Kountze, in a biological survey of the Big Thicket. This research sought to show the biological uniqueness and establish the boundaries of the Big Thicket, and ultimately helped form the foundation for efforts to protect the Thicket.