Longtime CCA Leader Mark Ray’s Legacy Honored with Endowed Directorship at Harte Research Institute

Mark Ray has spent much of his life either hunting or fishing. He first picked up a fishing pole at five years old, then when he was 11 his family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, beginning a lifelong connection to the coastal outdoors and its rich fishing culture.

Ray spent some of his early life in West Texas and was living in Ohio prior to his move to Corpus Christi, so venturing to an area with a vibrant saltwater fishing community shaped his appreciation for coastal fishing and marine life. He said a friend even gave him some lures at Christmas in anticipation of the move, which he still has in his possession.

“It was a fantasy to go somewhere where there were deep sea animals and I was super excited about that,” said Ray, who still lives in Corpus Christi. “I began saltwater fishing the minute we were down here.”

Ray’s outdoors journey has never stopped. It has led the Amarillo, Texas-native to being one of Texas’ most well-known and top conservationists. 

Ray, who is Chairman of the Board for the national Coastal Conservation Association, will now have his name tied with one of the country’s top marine science institutes. The Mark W. Ray CCA Texas Endowed Directorship of the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation (CSSC) at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi was announced this week.

The newly established endowed fund will help support CSSC leadership and its ongoing work to research and conserve the Gulf of Mexico’s vibrant fishery, continuing a long-standing relationship between CCA and HRI.

“It’s extremely gratifying, and incredibly humbling,” Ray said. “That money that’s being invested in the university is from the hard work of thousands of volunteers in Texas and CCA national. To have my name associated with their hard work at the university is just very, very humbling.”

The directorship was endowed with a $750,000 gift from CCA Texas and matched by the Harte Charitable Foundation, totaling $1.5 million of permanent funding designed to attract and retain a top-notch scientist in the discipline and provide resources needed to dream big, take calculated risks, foster innovation, and make rapid progress in sportfish and other related research.

“We are grateful that CCA Texas and the Harte Charitable Foundation has put together this endowed directorship as we build on our longstanding relationship,” said Dr. Greg Stunz, HRI’s Senior Executive Director. “This endowment will help the CSSC expand the work that has been such a vital part of the conservation of the Gulf of Mexico for more than a decade. CCA’s partnership has been instrumental in advancing research and conservation efforts aimed at sustaining Gulf fisheries and ensuring their health for generations to come.”

CCA was instrumental in the founding of the CSSC as it donated $500,000 in 2012 for its establishment, beginning a long-lasting partnership dedicated to coastal conservation and sustainable resource management. Stunz served as CSSC’s director prior to becoming HRI’s senior executive director in April 2023.

Ray’s conservation journey with CCA began in the mid-1980s, shortly after he moved back to Corpus Christi after spending some time away to attend college and begin his career in the insurance industry.

Ray, 64 and known for his recognizable handlebar mustache, has since held multiple positions with CCA, including chapter president and on the state board of directors, as he built a reputation as someone who is deeply committed to protecting coastal resources and fostering community engagement in conservation efforts, especially in his native Texas.

Under Ray’s leadership, CCA has advocated for initiatives that include the creation and enhancement of marine habitat, championed greater angler access to marine fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, and developed key influential recreational fishing policy. Ray was also instrumental in the creation of the CSSC and currently serves on its advisory board.

Ray has seen the connection between HRI and CCA grow through the years and said HRI’s approach to solutions is a key reason for its success over the last 25 years.

“CCA has always rested on the notion that we base our decisions and initiatives on unbiased university-based science,” Ray said. “There are lots of partners and almost all of our states have from good to fantastic relationships with the learning bodies in their backyard. HRI’s model is information gathering that has an application, and that model is what really appeals to me.”

Dr. Matt Streich, who has worked with the CSSC since 2012, will assume the title of the Mark W. Ray CCA Texas Endowed Director of the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation. Streich will lead a team of researchers to continue its work as being a leading research hub focused on the science and sustainability of recreationally and commercially important sportfish. The CSSC works on multiple projects including tagging and tracking fish, population dynamics, habitat conservation, and angler engagement. The addition of this endowed directorship will help enhance and expand that work.

“We want to thank CCA Texas and the Harte Charitable Foundation for their continued partnership and support through this endowment. This endowment represents a commitment to science-driven solutions and underscores the importance of collaboration in protecting our coastal resources,” Streich said. “Together, we can continue to make a lasting impact on the ecosystems and communities that depend on the Gulf of Mexico.”

This endowment is a testament to Ray’s work with CCA and will continue to build on his legacy of conservation and stewardship.

This partnership not only strengthens the CSSC's ability to advance critical research but also highlights the vital role of collaborative efforts in safeguarding the Gulf of Mexico’s vibrant ecosystems. Ray’s lifelong dedication to conservation serves as a powerful example of how individuals can drive meaningful change, leaving a lasting impact on the natural world and the communities that cherish it.