Mr. Phil Wilson, LCRA’s 11th general manager, guided LCRA through a vital time in the history of the Colorado River, as LCRA managed the river through record-breaking droughts and floods and significantly increased the region’s water supplies by constructing and bringing the new Arbuckle Reservoir online in Wharton County. During his tenure, LCRA worked with a variety of interests throughout the basin to update LCRA’s Water Management Plan three times to help ensure a balanced approach to meeting the diverse and sometimes-competing water needs through the basin while maintaining significant accomplishments across every dimension of the organization resulting in a healthy, flowing River.
Working with the Texas Legislature, LCRA secured the authority to expand its mission, building out a broadband and telecommunications network that will support critical emergency communications for years to come. During Phil’s tenure, LCRA provided more than $17 million to support the communities it serves through robust community grant programs.
Since 2001, the Colorado River Alliance Board has honored an individual, couple, group, business, or organization for contributions to the preservation and protection of the Texas Colorado River. The John Lay River Hero award, renamed in 2020 for our beloved and longtime supporter, Mr. John Lay, is an integral aspect of the annual fundraising gala, Cocktails for the Colorado.
Honorees have included Central Texas business leaders, corporations, environmentalists, elected officials, news outlets, a photographer, film makers, vineyard owners, and youth education advocates.
