Lutcher Stark attended public school in Orange and graduated from the University of Texas in 1910 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He became active in banking, insurance, manufacturing, real estate and the petroleum industry; however, he was best known for his contributions to the lumber industry through the successful Lutcher & Moore Lumber Company founded by his grandfather, Henry Jacob Lutcher. In 1919, Governor William P. Hobby appointed Lutcher Stark to the University of Texas Board of Regents, a position previously held by Lutcher Stark’s father. Lutcher Stark served on the board for a total of 24 years, including 12 years as chairman. Stark has been credited with naming the university’s mascot – the Longhorn. His name was added to the University’s Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1958. In the fall of 2008, the University of Texas will open the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports as part of its renovation of the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, in recognition of Lutcher Stark’s long relationship with the university during his lifetime. An active member in the community, Stark was a charter member of the Orange Rotary and a member of the Boy Scouts of America, the National Association of Audubon Society, the Iris Society of Louisiana, and the Texas Ornithological Society. He also sponsored the development and activities at local Orange schools, including the Bengal Guards, the Bengal Lancers, and the Lutcher Stark Boys Band. Stark was also awarded two honorary doctor of laws degrees, one from Baylor University in 1933 and the other from Southwestern University, Memphis, Tennessee, in 1938. In 1963, Stark received a distinguished service award from Texas Woman’s University. Lutcher Stark married Nita Hill of Austin, Texas, on April 6, 1911, and they later adopted twin boys, Homer B.H. Stark and William H. Stark II. Nita Hill Stark died on October 11, 1939. Stark thereafter married Ruby Childers, on April 6, 1941. She died on July 12, 1942. He then married Ruby’s sister, Nelda Childers, on December 16, 1943. Together, Nelda and Lutcher Stark actively collected crystal, porcelain, and rare botanical books and prints. They also acquired a significant collection of American Western art, with a focus on Southwestern artists. Nature was another passion of Lutcher Stark, and this love led him to create Shangri-La Botanical Gardens in Orange, Texas, in the 1940s. The gardens were open to the public and featured azaleas, Stark’s favorite flower, as well as wildlife such as swans, ducks, and egrets. The gardens closed in 1958 after being devastated by a major ice storm. In 1961, Lutcher Stark, together with his wife, Nelda, established the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, a private foundation that aims to improve the quality of life in Southeast Texas by encouraging, promoting, and assisting education, the arts, and health and human services. Stark served as chairman until his death on September 2, 1965. Upon his death, the bulk of Lutcher Stark’s estate passed to the Stark Foundation, which thereafter established the Stark Museum of Art, constructed the Frances Ann Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts, and restored The W.H. Stark House. The Foundation also restored and reopened the gardens originally developed by Lutcher Stark in the 1940s, now known as Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, in order to further its educational mission as well as carry on the vision of Lutcher Stark. All of these venues are open to the public in fulfilling the charitable mandate of the Foundation that bears Lutcher Stark’s name. The Stark Foundation today continues the philanthropic legacy of Lutcher Stark and his wife, Nelda, through the programs of the Stark Museum of Art, The W.H. Stark House, the Lutcher Theater, and Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, as well as through the support of charitable programming in and around Southeast Texas.

Thailand’s first National Park is also its second largest, and certainly one of its best! Khao Yai National Park spreads to four different provinces with the bulk of its 2,169 square kilometers in Nakhon Ratchasima. The park has a variety of terrains from deciduous forest to savannah and houses some 3,000 species of plant. Wildlife in the park is as varied as its terrain and it is home to around 200 wild elephants. The park also houses tigers, gibbons, bears, deer, bats, wild pigs, and a major bird population including a wide variety of hornbills. The park is 400 metres above sea level and as a result reasonably cool all year round. During the dry season temperatures can drop to 4 degrees Celsius. Because of its cool conditions Khao Yai’s 50 kilometres of hiking trails are a favourite and the park receives a lot of birdwatchers. The park also sports some breathtaking waterfalls and the best time to see them is the rainy season from May to October. 80-meter-high Nam Tok Hew Suwat a particular favorite with visitors and featured in the film with Leonardo DiCaprio The Beach. A great way to explore the park is by trekking or river rafting. Kids love to walk through such tunnels and crossing little streams and ofcourse swimming in a calm river surrounded by the green of jungle. Photo taken in the Khao Yai National park - Thailand. Today it was our last day in Khao Yai National park. A portrait of my son BieJee when he was swimming in the local river. Khao Yai is het oudste wildpark en natuurreservaat van Thailand. Het 2169km2 natuurreservaat Khao Yai is grotendeels bedekt met primair regenwoud, waarin orchideeen groeien. Volgens kenners behoort het Khao Yai park bij de top-5 van de wereld. Je kunt heuvelachtige terrein een aantal fraaie tochten lopen. De trials door Khao Yai zijn over het algemeen goed bewegwijzerd en ook goed zonder gids te doen. Voor meerdaagse trekkings is een gids wel aantebevelen.Tijdens een voettocht langs de woudreuzen van Khao Yai maak je veel kans apen, zwijnen, dwergherten, civetkatten, neushoornvogels, vlinders en misschien ook de gevaarlijke koningscobra en een of meer van de ruim 200 olifanten van het park te zien. Beren en tijgers waarvan hun aantal op 60 tot 70 wordt geschat zul je hoogst waarschijnlijk niet op je pad treffen. In totaal meer dan 60 soorten zoogdieren en 300 vogelsoorten. Je kunt ook gaan zwemmen in kristalheldere beekjes en bij klaterende watervallen. De film The Beach is hier nog opgenomen met acteur Leonardo DiCaprio. Een mooie manier om het park te ontdekken is per voet of per boot: rivier rafting. In het park kun je fantastische wandelingen maken. Zo'n mooi regenwoud loopt heerlijk. Af en toe een rivier oversteken en natuurlijk lekker zwemmen in het rustige gedeelte van de rivier omgeven door prachtige hoge groene jungle.