Gene Riser
 George West, TX

Gene Riser grew up on a working cattle ranch southwest of George West with nothing between the ranch and Freer but that "sea of brush." This was during that famous drought of the 50's and before the Screw Worm Eradication Program that ultimately changed everything about deer. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1967 with a degree in Agricultural Economics.
Deer Hunting was always important to his family. His father and grandfather were part of the state's early re-stocking program and kept deer in "soft release" pens in the 1930's and early 40's. They started building the high fence around the place in 1975. Then in 1988 Gene and his dad decided to build some pens to raise deer to supply bucks to the ranch to enhance hunting. It turned out a lot of people had that idea, and soon everybody's hunting hobby became the great South Texas Deer Industry that we know today.
In 1999, Gene joined his friends Jerry Johnston and James Kroll in forming the Texas Deer Association for the express purpose of supporting and protecting the deer industry. Their continuing pledge is to protect our right to hunt and to keep growing bigger deer and making better experiences for our hunters. Gene still lives on the ranch near George West with his wife of 30 years, Vicky Harhay. They have 3 children. Anna is 21, Mike is 20, and Jane just graduated from high school.

 Sue Spivey Killam
 Laredo, Texas

Sue Spivey Killam (Mrs. Radcliffe Killam) is a resident of Laredo, Texas. She attended public schools and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.
In Laredo she has served on the Boards of the United Day School and The Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra. She is an honorary member of the Women's City Club and a former member of The Society of Martha Washington.
She has continued to remain involved with her alma mater, serving on the Centennial Commission and also on the University of Texas Development Board. She served for a number of years on the Liberal Arts Foundation Advisory Council, which council honored her with the Pro Bene Meritis Award. She is presently a member of the Executive Committee of the Chancellor's Council.
Mrs. Killam also served as a member of the Board of Regents of the University System of South Texas, which supervised three universities in South Texas and has now merged with the Texas A&M System.
Mrs. Killam has received numerous awards and honors in her name through the Laredo Rotary Council, Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Laredo UT Exes, and Cola Blanca Deer Contest to name only a few.
Mrs. Killam won the Muy Grande All Around Women's Division 1st Place in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. She became a member of the Boone & Crockett Club in 2010 with her Muy Grande trophy that scored 174 3/4 B&C Typical Net.
She enjoys bird shooting but her true passion is hunting trophy deer in her ranch in Laredo-the Killam "Ortiz" Ranch. Besides hunting in Texas, she has been in several African safaris as well.
 

RANCHER OF THE YEAR 2010

William Yoder
 Las Lomas Ranch/Duval County

Dr. Ivan Lynn Esse
Chambers Ranch (not pictured)
 

 2010 GUIDES OF THE YEAR

Jerry Tkak - Sombrerito Ranch, Webb County
(Leonel "Muy" Garza, Jerry's family and landowner, Bill Carter)


* * picture coming soon **
Daniel Senter - Rhode Ranch , McMullen County
(Leonel "Muy" Garza and landowner, Mike Jensen)



David Kitner - Duval County Ranch/Killam Ranch, Duval County
(Leonel "Muy Garza and David Kitner)
 

44th Muy Grande Awards Ceremony