Dr. F. Eugene and Mrs. Katherine Hester

The F. Eugene Hester Wildlife and Fisheries Experiential Learning Fund Endowment was established in 2016 by Dr. Gene and Mrs. Katherine Hester. The fund provides awards for students to participate in hands-on learning experiences related to fish and wildlife conservation.
Eugene Hester is a native of Wendell, NC. His father, Dr. Joseph R. Hester was a medical doctor and his mother was active in several community benefits. After attending Wake Forest University for two years, Eugene transferred to NC State University in the Wildlife Conservation and Management program. He received a BS in 1954 and an MS degree in 1956 under Dr. Thomas Quay. He built nest boxes for wood ducks and made autumn counts of wood ducks coming to roost in local swamps at sunset.

After studying wildlife at NC State, Eugene attended Auburn University to study fisheries under H. S. Swingle and Dr. Jack Dendy. He received his Ph.D. and became an assistant professor there in 1959. He accepted a faculty position back at NC State University where he did research and teaching in the Zoology Department. The university entered into a Cooperative Fisheries Unit program with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and in 1963, Dr. Hester was chosen as its first leader. He became a US Fish and Wildlife employee stationed on the university campus, where in addition to teaching and research, he advised undergraduate students and research by graduate students.

In 1971, the Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Washington, DC selected him to head the agency’s Fisheries Research and subsequently both Fisheries and Wildlife Research. He later was selected as Deputy Director which is the internal manager of the service. This was followed by assignments as Associate Director for Natural Resources in the National Park Service and Deputy Director of the National Biological Service. He is the only person to have been a senior executive in all three bureaus. He received the department’s Meritorious and Distinguished Service Awards and was personally presented significant awards by presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. His positions were regarded as equivalent to a General or Admiral in military service.

In 2015, he was inducted into the NC Wildlife Federation Conservation Hall of Fame. Dr. Hester is married to the former Katherine Sherron of Wendell.
Katherine Hester is the daughter of Tal and Eva Sherron of Wendell. After she attended Peace College she married Dr. F. Eugene Hester. She has been a supporter of her husband throughout his college and professional career in Raleigh, Auburn, Alabama and Washington, D.C. She has a strong interest in the nation’s fisheries and wildlife and is committed to helping students accomplish their goals by providing funding for them to gain experiences while an undergraduate. She enjoys meeting students and learning about their experiences. She and her husband are the parents of Thomas, Jason, and the late Gene Ill.