January 2009

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Every year since 2002 , The Junior League of Houston, Inc., presents the
Adelaide Lovett Baker Award in honor of the founding League President. This year the League
will be honoring Terese “Terry” Tarlton Hershey for her outstanding commitment to “Building a
Better Community” even after her years of active service to the League have ended. The
prestigious award will be presented at a luncheon to be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at
the Junior League of Houston at 1811 Briar Oaks Lane. Past recipients of this distinguished
award are Virginia Holt McFarland, Sara Houstoun Lindsey, Mary Frances Bowles Couper,
Sadie Gwin Allen Blackburn, Carolyn Monteith Clarke and Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson
Smith. Chosen for her profound effect on the Houston community as an environmentalist and
conservationist, Terry has been a founding member and board member of numerous boards :
Houston Audubon Society, Urban Harvest, Memorial Park Conservancy, Trees for Houston,
San Jacinto Lung Association Air Conservation Committee, Citizens Who Care, and the Citizens
Environmental Coalition, Houston League of Women Voters (she was the first chair of the
present Environmental Resource Committee), Museum of Natural Science, Green Ribbon
Executive Committee (city, county, state, and promote park and open space in Houston and
Harris County, Buffalo Bayou Coalition, Legacy Land Trust, Houston Zoo Advisory board,
Billboards Ltd., Trust for Public Lands, and the National Parks and Recreation Association.
Terry served on Lady Bird Johnson’s Highway Beautification Award Selection Committee from
1976 to 1991 and in 1985, at Mrs. Johnson’s invitation, became a founding board member of
the National Wildflower Research Center. Mayor Kathy Whitmire appointed her to the Houston
Parks Board in 1990, and she was reappointed by both Mayor Bob Lanier and Mayor Lee
Brown. In 1991, Buffalo Bayou Park was renamed Terry Hershey Park and in 1995,
Championship Park was dedicated in her honor with the inscription, “A champion of
Environmental causes, ecology and nature.”The Junior League of Houston, Inc. is an
organization of more than 5,000 members committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the
potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of
trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Founded in 1925, this
year the League will donate more than $1.9 million in volunteer time and direct financial support
to the Houston community. The League also serves more than 34 community projects, which
address a variety of vital concerns including basic needs, abuse/neglect of women and children,
healthcare, literacy, cultural exposure for children, and issues impacting the elderly. For more
information about the Junior League, visit the website at www.juniorleaguehouston.org.