The Borderlands Research Foundation has named Nyle Maxwell as the 2026 West Texas Conservationist of the Year, recognizing his leadership in land stewardship, wildlife conservation and service to Texas communities.
Maxwell, a native of Austin and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, built a four-decade career in the automotive industry and now serves as CEO of the Maxwell family’s dealership network. Over the past 25 years, he has also become a prominent conservation-minded ranch owner across West Texas and the Hill Country.
The Maxwell Family of Ranches encompasses more than 125,000 acres across three regions of Texas, including High Lonesome Ranch near Brady, El Cielo Ranch on the Escondido Rim between Alpine and Marfa, and the Double M and Sweetwater ranches in Hudspeth County east of El Paso.
According to the foundation, conservation serves as the guiding principle across the properties, where land management efforts focus on habitat restoration, water conservation and science-based wildlife stewardship. Native rangelands are managed to support wildlife species including pronghorn, elk, mule deer, quail and whitetail deer, while grazing practices emphasize long-term land health.
“Nyle Maxwell represents the very best of conservation leadership in Texas,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, director of the Borderlands Research Institute. “Through his work across multiple regions of Texas, Nyle has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to conserving working lands, wildlife habitat and the values that make Texas unique.”
Maxwell’s conservation work extends beyond his ranch operations. Since joining the Texas Wildlife Association in 2008, he has risen to serve as president, advocating for private land stewardship, hunting heritage and wildlife management policies statewide.
His civic involvement also includes serving as mayor of Round Rock from 2002 to 2008 and founding the Central Texas Community Foundation, which has awarded more than $35 million in grants since 2004. Maxwell also served as founding chair of the Dell Children’s Medical Center Foundation and remains active in philanthropic efforts supporting health care and veterans.
The annual West Texas Conservationist of the Year award recognizes individuals whose stewardship and leadership leave a lasting impact on the lands, water and wildlife of West Texas.
