Maxine has been dubbed Godmother of Big Thicket National Preserve and has been a tireless advocate and protector of the preserve, which took 50 years to establish. She has twice served as president of the Big Thicket Association, is the recipient of too many awards to list here, and even had her own day named after her: Maxine Johnston Day, from the Hardin County Texas Commissioners. Maxine's efforts have helped secure roughly 100,000 acres of unique, highly diverse habitat within the Thicket as a federal biological preserve.
Maxine has been dubbed Godmother of Big Thicket National Preserve and has been a tireless advocate and protector of the preserve, which took 50 years to establish. She has twice served as president of the Big Thicket Association, is the recipient of too many awards to list here, and even had her own day named after her: Maxine Johnston Day, from the Hardin County Texas Commissioners. Maxine's efforts have helped secure roughly 100,000 acres of unique, highly diverse habitat within the Thicket as a federal biological preserve. 
