Ramona Bass

Ramona Bass

A sixth-generation Texan and native San Antonian, Ramona was raised between her hometown and her family’s South Texas ranch. She and her husband, Lee, share their enthusiasm for the Texas ranching heritage and traditions, and for wildlife conservation worldwide, with a focus on Texas wildlife conservation and education in particular. They also share a love for history, most especially the history of Texas.

As the driving force behind the Fort Worth Zoo’s renaissance, Ramona guided the 115-year-old institution through privatization and a long list of advances, resulting in the Zoo’s recognition as one of the top zoos in the country. With the opening of Texas Wild! in 2001, she was able to combine her passion for Texas history, the ranching heritage and native wildlife conservation into one immersive educational powerhouse. Texas Wild! is the only experience of its kind. While it celebrates the private landowners of Texas for their positive stewardship of wild things and wild places, it takes guests on an ecosystem tour of the Lone Star State. It allows millions of visitors to explore and learn about the diversity and complexity of the animals and the land within our great state that have informed our history, our character and our culture.

Ramona was appointed Chairman of the TPW Education and Advisory Committee, which launched the Parks and Wildlife’s iconic Life’s Better Outside initiative. She served for four years as Vice President of the Alamo Endowment. In 2018, she received the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) Award of Excellence in Conservation. In 2019, she and Lee were inducted into the Texas Parks and Wildlife Conservation Hall of Fame. This year, she was honored to receive the inaugural Kay Bailey Hutchison Award for Women in Texas History.