| Archive Description | Oral History - Charles D. Stutzenbaker
Mr. Stutzenbaker, born in the Fairchild-Needville area in 1934, is a descendant of some of the first
Czechs to move to Texas in the mid-1800s from Moravia, which is in the current Czech Republic. The
original family name was spelled Sturtzenbecker but later went through several spelling variations.
Charles shares numerous stories of his ancestors prior to and after arriving in Texas including one who
met General George Armstrong Custer who was stationed in Texas before the infamous 1876 battle.
Growing up in Fort Bend County, enjoying hunting, fishing and camping, Charles provides details of
his youth including photos of family and friends. He was involved in the scouting program and earned
the rank of Eagle Scout and continued through the Explorer Scout program. After service in the Army,
he saved enough money to attend and graduate from Texas A&M University with a degree in Wildlife
Science. This degree and his love of the outdoors led to an almost 40 year career as a Biologist with the
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department without leaving his beloved home in Port Arthur.
Prior to retirement in 1995, in addition to numerous scientific reports and popular magazine
magazines, Stutzenbaker published three major books. The first was the definitive work on the mottled
duck and is entitled “The Mottled Duck, Its Life History, Ecology and management” The second was a
school textbook entitled “Wildlife Management”. The third book wa |
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Fort Bend County