Texas Black Bass Unlimited is a non-profit organization that exists for the future of Texas lakes. For three of the past four years, the Houston chapter of TBBU has raised funds to aid the Houston area lake determined to be in the most need. In October of 1993, a TBBU Houston Gala was held at the Woodlands Executive Conference Center to raise funds for the Lake Livingston Channel Marker Project. The Gala saw donations totaling almost $46,000 from generous members. Once again, Lake Livingston, along with Lake Conroe, were deemed in need of TBBU’s assistance in 1994. The 1994 Houston Gala was held at the Greenspoint Wyndham to raise funds for the Lake Livingston and Lake Conroe Habitat Projects. The project’s goal was to bring the ideal fishing of past years back to the lakes by improving the fish habitat. Members of TBBU have been working with scientists of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the last three years to this end. The 1994 Gala saw proceeds in excess of $44,000. The funds necessary for the habitat projects were still needed in 1996, so TBBU held a Houston Fishfest ’96 Gala at the Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. The goal of this project was to raise funds to complete the habitat projects begun in 1994. This year, TBBU is raising funds for Lake Houston. They hope to raise funds to build a fishing pier on the lake for the physically challenged, elderly, and underprivileged youth of the Houston area. The pier will be constructed on Lake Houston at Deusen Park. The entire project is expected to cost approximately $60,000. The goal of TBBU is to raise $30,000 at the Gala. Matching funds have been promised for the project from the City of Houston, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Operation Kidfish. These are just a few state organizations who want to see this pier on Lake Houston become a reality. TBBU is pledging, along with the pier, their ongoing support to City of Houston youth with monthly instructional fishing seminars at the pier. Volunteers from Houston area bass clubs will conduct the seminars. TBBU believes the seminars and the fishing provided at the pier will give Houston’s young people a desirable alternate activity. Everyone is invited to the seminars and a sign will be posted stating the times they will be held. The ’97 Houston Gala will be held at the Marriott Greenspoint in Houston on Saturday, November 8. There will be a banquet dinner and a live auction of boats, vacation trips, hunting and fishing equipment, and much more. Doors will open at 5:00 with *****tails served and auction items on display. Dinner will be served at about 7:00 PM. Activities are expected to conclude by 10:00 PM. The ’97 Houston Gala is being sponsored by many fishing and boating merchants in the Houston area, including Platinum Sponsors Mercury Outboards, Astro Boats, Champion Boats, Fisher Boats, Nitro Boats, and ProCraft Boats. Patrick D. McCarty is Chairman of the TBBU Steering Committee that is organizing the Gala. He is very excited about this year’s Gala. “We hope to exceed prior years’ attendance at this year’s exciting event. Everyone is personally invited.” So come out and show your support for this worthy cause. General admission tickets are $25.00. For reservations and information, please call Pat McCarty at 409/856-8537 or see the TBBU ad on their website: www.tbbu.com.