Ron Kendall (’80 Ph.D. in fisheries and wildlife sciences) was a finalist for the 2013 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The awards program honors individuals, organizations, and businesses that protect the state’s human and natural resources while ensuring clean air, clean water, and the safe management of waste.

Kendall was presented with an individual award signed by Gov. Rick Perry to recognize his work as founding director of the Institute of Environmental and Human Health at Texas Tech University. The institute, ranked as one of the country’s best environmental toxicology graduate programs, is a leader in the integration of environmental impact assessment of toxic chemicals with human health consequences.

“I’m thrilled with this recognition because it is considered the highest environmental award given in our state,” said Kendall, director emeritus of the institute.

Under Kendall’s direction, the institute received the Texas Environmental Excellence Education Award in 2009. Kendall, a past recipient of the college’s Gerald E. Cross Alumni Leadership Award, currently serves on the faculty of both the institute and the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech.