In
Region 6, one plus one equals more than two. For the third consecutive year, the
Region 6 Service Award has been presented to a most-deserving couple. Although
both hold full-time jobs, Ray and Mary Houston have long contributed many, many
hours of service to our Region.Both Ray and Mary are currently serving the Region as Co-editors of the Region 6 Newsletter. Ray is a former RVP/Editor (1992-93), so this is his second term as Newsletter Editor and he contributed numerous articles for the Newsletter when he was not the Editor. Ray promoted the approval of four American Hemerocallis Society Display Gardens in Region 6 during his term as RVP. He is also currently serving as Region 6 Webmaster, and has done a superb job in building our new web site. He served as President of the Brazosport Daylily Society in 1986. He served on the RVP Nominating Committee in 1998.
Both Ray and Mary are Garden Judges, Exhibition Judges, and Exhibition Judges Instructors. They are active participants in the Brazosport Daylily Society, where Mary is currently Program Chair. They opened their garden for Regional Meeting tours in 1987 and 1993. They hosted the Annie T. Giles and Edna Lankart Awards Beds when their garden was on tour in 1993.
Mary has served as Region 6 Secretary. She was the Region’s first Exhibition Judges Liaison, and served two terms at that position. Whether as an officer or not, Mary is always an avid advocate for Exhibition Judges, helping to set up clinics and encouraging more participation.
Mary served as 1st Vice President of the Houston Area Daylily Society in 1991. Mary currently serves on three American Hemerocallis Society committees - Education, Exhibitions, and Exhibition Judges. From 1992-98, she served as American Hemerocallis Society Exhibition Judges and Clinics Chair.
In 1997, both Ray and Mary assisted in the revision of the Judging Daylilies Handbook and are currently assisting with revisions for the new Handbook which is to be released in the near future.
It has been the good fortune of our Region to have these two working for us, both as dedicated, talented individuals and as a team. Congratulations to Ray and Mary Houston on this well-deserved honor and on behalf of Region 6, thank you for your many contributions.