TNLA History
 Texas
Association of Landscape Contractors History
The Texas Association of Landscape Contractors (TALC) was founded
by a group of concerned Dallas contractors in 1964. At the same
time, TALC became a sponsoring member of the Associated Landscape
Contractors of America (ALCA).
Goals of the association were to create a team of professionals
to deal with the problems and promotion of the landscape industry
TALC continued to grow and in the fall of 1981, TALC incorporated
into the North Texas. Over the next few years TALC added seven chapters:
Houston, 1984; Austin, 1982, San Antonio, 1984; Ft. Worth/Mid-Cities,
1984; East Texas (Tyler), 1986; Central Texas (Waco), 1990; and
Southeast Texas (Beaumont), 1990.
TALC reached another milestone in 1989 with the decision to offer
the designation "Texas Certified Landscape Professional."
The first landscapers were certified in 1990. In 1998, TALC initiated
the Certified Landscape Technician Program, a national certification
program licensed by ALCA, in Texas.
In 1999 TALC merged with the Texas Association of Nurserymen to
form the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association.
Texas Association of Nurserymen History
Born precisely at the turn of the century, the fledgling Texas
Nurserymen's organization met once each year to discuss common business
problems until, in 1918, they merged with the Southwestern Association
of Nurserymen. That name was maintained for 17 years, but as public
awareness of the industry grew, with a corresponding increase in
the number of nurserymen and volume of business, leading nurserymen
in the state demanded a association of Texas members to deal specifically
with Texas problems.
In 1935, at Mineral Wells, Texas, the Texas Association of Nurserymen
was revived with the decision to hold annual meetings on the first
Wednesday of September, and an executive committee was appointed.
Members of that initial committee were: Chairman, J. M. Ramsey of
Austin; Treasurer, Lee Mosty of Center Point; Secretary, Wilma Gunter
of Beaumont; and members E. L. Baker of Fort Worth; C. C. Mayhew
of Sherman; W. C. Griffing of Beaumont; and Edward Teas of Houston.
Both of TAN's first two presidents, J. M. Ramsey, and his successor
during the 1937-38 term, R. P. Verhalen, had sons who became presidents
of the Association. Steve Verhalen from 1944-46 and Murray Ramsey
from 1949-50. Other father and son presidents were Frank Cornelius
and Sterling Cornelius, and Gene Howard and Hank Howard. George
Pletcher's son-in-law, Larry Galbreath also served as president.
During the term of J. M. Ramsey, on November 2, 1936, a charter
was issued to the Association verifying its incorporation. This
charter states that the purpose of the Association is to "support
an educational undertaking having for its purpose the advancement
of the interests of all persons who buy and sell trees and plants,
and the dissemination of information pertaining to varieties, proper
care of trees and plants, and methods of propagation."
After World War II, trade associations came into greater prominence
than ever before, as people in all types of business realized the
importance of group representation for effective action. Wishing
to solidify their organization and expand its function, the officers
and directors of TAN decided to employ a full-time paid executive
to administer Association affairs. The first executive secretary,
William M. Collins, a graduate of North Texas State College, was
employed in January of 1953. His office was located temporarily
in Longview until a permanent headquarters could be opened that
August in Austin. Mr. Collins resigned two years later and was replaced
on June 1, 1956, by B. R. "Bill" Fullingim, a graduate
of The University of Texas. Bill Fullingim served until 1990 when
he was succeeded by Eddy D. Edmondson. Edmondson is a graduate of
Texas A&M University. During the term of Bill Fullingim, the
title of the chief staff official was changed to President, and
the chief elected official assumed the title of Chairman of the
Board.
TAN's first headquarters was in the Commodore Perry Hotel. In
1970 they moved to more spacious headquarters on Riverside Drive.
In 1988 the Association built and dedicated its own building at
7730 South Interstate 35 in Austin. This building and grounds have
won both design and landscaping awards.
TAN's organizational structure has been flexible, changing to
meet the needs of a growing industry. In 1956 the original constitution
and by-laws were amended to provide a framework for more efficient
operation. Probably the most significant change arising from this
reorganization was the division of the state into six, and later
seven regions based on geographical distribution of nurseries.
In order to apply the original purpose of the organization as
an "educational undertaking' for the benefit of both buyers
an sellers of nursery products, TAN implemented a dual program of
education within the industry, and of public education.
A major effort in industry education was the creation of the Texas
Certified Nurseryman's (Now Texas Certified Nursery Professional
(TCNP) program in 1976. This program is a system of training, testing,
and certification for retail employees. A second level of certification,
the Texas Master Certified Nursery Professional, was started in
1986
TAN aided the legislature in understanding the nursery industry,
its needs, and its considerable contribution to the economy of the
state. TAN President Eddy Edmondson and governmental affairs staff
person James K. Presnal monitored legislation and worked with regulatory
bodies in the State of Texas.
Recognizing that different segments of the nursery industry have
different problems, and that solutions must be sought for each,
TAN provide internal specialization through its committee structure.
One of those committees, the Scholarship Committee, grew to be an
independent organization. In 1995 the TAN Education and Research
Foundation, a 501(c)(3) foundation, was formed to support education
and to establish research funding for issues of concern to the Texas
Nursery industry.
Communication is a vital part of any association. The main communications
line in an association which covers a state the size of Texas must
be a strong one. In 1970 the TAN Bulletin, a four-page newsletter,
was expanded to a full sized four color magazine, The Texas Nurseryman.
In 1995, TAN developed a site on the World Wide Web, the GrowZone,
and invited all other nursery associations in North America to join
them in creating a central information site for the horticulture
industry on this new communications vehicle.
TAN's Annual Trade Show, TAN-MISSLARK, was created in 1937. It
was a partnership with Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas Nurserymen's
Associations. In 1996 TAN introduced an Outdoor Equipment Demonstration
in conjunction with TAN-MISSLARK.
An important intangible benefit from membership in any association
is official recognition from fellow professionals in the field.
The TAN Arp Award recognized the Texas nursery professional who
has "by unselfish effort, diligently rendered unusual service
to his fellow nursery professionals." The award was presented
in the form of a silver bowl, donated in 1942 by Arp Nursery Company
of Tyler. It is engraved each year with the name of the winner and
is retained by that winner through the year of his or her honor.
A second annual award is called the Staff Award. First presented
in 1975, this award honored an individual whose contributions to
TAN were of outstanding help to the TAN office staff. The award
consists of a plaque which bears the recipient's picture, the date,
and an inscription describing the work done. In 1995, TAN initiated
a new award, the Young Leader Award, honoring a member who is 40
or under.
In 1999, TAN merged with the Texas Association of Landscape Contractors
(TALC). All of TAN's historical services and honors continue, with
the addition of new programs that had been a part of TALC.
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