The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

A new slate of officers was elected for 2013 by the Board of Directors at the annual meeting of the Sabine River Authority of Texas (SRA) recently held in Orange, Texas.

David Koonce of Center was elected as Board President. Other elected officers include Vice President Cliff Todd of Carthage, Secretary/Treasurer Mac Abney of Marshall and Secretary Pro Tem Connie Ware of Marshall. Other members of the SRA Board include Past President Earl Williams of Orange, Don Covington of Orange, Stan Mathews of Pinehurst, Connie Wade of Longview and J. D. Jacobs, Jr. of Rockwall.

President Koonce is president of General Shelters of Texas Ltd. and also has partnership interests in five small businesses.

He is past president of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, past president and treasurer of the Shelby County Bass Anglers, co-chairman for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Area Go Texan committee, past vice chairperson for the Shelby County Historical Commission, committeeman of Shelby County Ducks Unlimited and board member for Center Crime Stoppers.

Mr. Koonce received a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin University.

In his spare time he enjoys hunting, fishing, skiing, travel and spending time with his grandson.

He and his wife, Angela, are members of the First Baptist Church and reside in Center.

The Sabine River Authority of Texas is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors appointed by the Governor of Texas. The Board is responsible for overseeing the development of water resources in the Sabine River Basin. Members of the Board are required to reside within a county situated wholly or partially within the watershed of the Sabine River. They are leaders in their communities dedicated to serve as active participants in the water issues being addressed by the Sabine River Authority of Texas.

Created by the Legislature in 1949, the Sabine River Authority is an official agency of the State of Texas. The Authority was created as a conservation and reclamation district with responsibilities to control, store, preserve, and distribute the waters of the Sabine River and its tributary streams for useful purposes.

Photo: From left to right: Mac Abney, Secretary/Treasurer; David Koonce, President; Cliff Todd, Vice President; and Connie Ware, Secretary Pro-Tem.