This site is dedicated to John A. Haislet, forestry educator for the Texas Forest Service from 1960 to 1987. Through his leadership and vision, the agency published Famous Trees of Texas as a hardcover book in 1970.

A native of St. Petersburg, FL, Mr. Haislet graduated from the University of Georgia in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in forestry. He followed up with a master's degree from the prestigious Duke University School of Forestry. He was a member of the forestry honors society, Xi Sigma Pi, and the Society of American Foresters.

Mr. Haislet began his forestry career in 1951 as an area manager for Riegel Paper Co. in Clinton, NC, and then on to Jacksonville, FL to work for St. Regis Paper Co. In 1960, John and his wife, Marge, (along with their two children) moved to Texas to pursue careers as educators - John in forestry and Marge as an elementary school music teacher.

At the Texas Forest Service, Mr. Haislet held various titles over his career, most in the Information & Education Department - from Educator to Department Head. Over the years, he served the department as editor of Texas Forest News, coordinator of the annual State Arbor Day celebration, registrar for the Texas Big Tree Registry, director of the "short course" for new foresters - as well as editor of Famous Trees of Texas. In 1974, he was promoted to Department Head, and in 1981 he was named Assistant to the Director. Mr. Haislet retired in 1987 after more than 27 years with the agency.