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By MELISSA HAYES/The Lufkin Daily News

The new Dr. Bill and Emily Shelton Pavilion — a vision and partnership that took nearly 13 years to realize — has the perfect view overlooking a portion of Sam Rayburn Reservoir near Zavalla.

Officials from the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, along with Angelina County, the Corps of Engineers and Texas Parks and Wildlife, dedicated the Cassels-Boykin County Park Expansion project, including the pavilion, on Friday morning.

The pavilion, designed with natural wood, river rocks and stone floors, was named in honor of the man who continually pushed for the project’s completion. Dr. Shelton avidly fished the local lakes and had stressed to his friend, James Slack, the importance of restoring Cassels-Boykin Park.

After Shelton’s death in 2006, Slack took over the project and saw it through.

“From 1997 to 2003 we really couldn’t get any traction on the project,” Slack said at the dedication ceremony. “In February 2003 we had our first meeting. That was the beginning, and we all knew it was a monumental task we were undertaking.”

Shelton’s wife, Emily, also helped keep the passion alive.

“She continued to push to get this done,” Slack said. “I would fax her all of my e-mails to keep her informed.”

The first seed money for the project came in April 2004 in the form of $5,000 checks from Memorial Health System of East Texas and Woodland Heights Medical Center, Slack said.

Along with numerous private donations, the project received funding from the TLL Temple Foundation, which gave $1.6 million; Texas Parks and Wildlife, which gave $500,000 for boating access; the Pineywoods Foundation, which gave $105,000; and the Lower Neches Valley Authority, which gave $250,000, Slack said.

“I’m as amazed as you are that this was built,” Slack said. “It is bigger and better than any of us could imagine.”

The pavilion, a 100-space truck and trailer parking lot, boat ramps and restrooms adequate for hosting special events are the results of phases one and two of the project.

“This is an amazing venture and an amazing accomplishment,” Angelina County Judge Wes Suiter said. “Because of the partnership with The Chamber, the county and the Lake Enhancement Task Force, we will be able to maintain and operate this facility on a first-class basis. This is a major asset to Angelina County, and we reap many benefits from this facility. You will continue to see improvements out here.”

The next step will be to build a handicap-accessible fishing pier.

“Dr. Shelton was concerned about people with disabilities, and the new pier will be the first-handicap accessible fishing pier on Lake Sam Rayburn,” Suiter said.

Carter Smith, executive director of Texas Parks and Wildlife, said Angelina County set the bar high on the project.

“Our state is blessed with 2,000 miles of waterways and 800 lakes and rivers, but nothing is finer than having Lake Sam Rayburn in your own back yard,” Smith said. “Texas Parks and Wildlife could not be prouder than to provide some of the funding for this project.”

Two of the Sheltons’ daughters attended the ceremony and expressed words of gratitude and honor.

“If my dad was here, he would have greeted everyone in the crowd with a fist-crushing grip, and my mom would have followed that up with a warm hug,” daughter Emily Watts said. “So with a hearty handshake and a heartfelt hug, the Shelton family is very grateful. We are humbled by this project and so honored.”

Sam Rayburn Reservoir was constructed for the purpose of flood control, hydroelectric power generation and conservation of water, and was dedicated in 1965.

The first two phases on the Cassels-Boykin County Park Expansion project were completed June 10, 2010. The pavilion can be rented through the Lufkin Convention and Tourism Bureau.

Melissa Hayes’ e-mail address is mhayes@lufkindailynews.com.

Full article from The Lufkin Daily News