Houston Regional Group - News

I found out recently that Mr. Emil O. "Kinch" Kindschy, Jr., a founder of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, died in February 2006. Mr. Kindschy and his wife June, helped with the founding of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club in November of 1965 and served as editors of the Lone Star Sierran for many years of the Chapter's existence and also served on the Chapter Executive Committee.

Mr. Kindschy, who lived in Conroe, Texas, served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and was a chemical engineer from Shell. "Kinch" was involved through the 1960's and 1970's with the founding, construction, and maintenance of the Lone Star Hiking Trail. He had an interest in the proper management of the National Forests in Texas (NFT) and participated in numerous meetings and on many issues related to logging, wilderness, and other activities on the NFT.

Mr. Kindschy chaired the Big Thicket Coordinating Committee in the late 1960's and or early 1970's which was an alliance of many organizations who wanted a portion of the Big Thicket in East Texas protected. The Big Thicket Coordinating Committee was instrumental in pushing for the successful establishment of the Big Thicket National Preserve.

When I first got involved with the Houston Sierra Club in 1976 I met "Kinch". He was a big man who was always on the go and wanted to get things done. It is always sad when we lose a Sierran. Our thoughts and prayers go to the Kindschy family. Emil set an example of what a Sierran is all about: service, loyalty, and camaraderie. He will be missed!

April 2007

Last updated:  04/01/2007.   Content © 1999-2007 by the Sierra Club.