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By Joe Ranzau, Treasurer Most of you knew Gill, or knew of him. For the rest, a short introduction. Gill Ediger started caving as a kid in the storm drains under Sinton, co-founded a grotto at Texas A&I University in 1967, and spent the next fifty-plus years making sure Texas cavers had community, places to gather, reasons to show up, and someone to needle them into doing some of the work. He co-founded the Texas Cavers’ Reunion in 1978, then ran more than twenty of them. He chaired the TSA multiple times, the first and last 27 years apart. He edited The Texas Caver. He compiled the first full membership directory in decades. He led trips to Mexico that turned first-timers into lifelong cavers. He spearheaded building the cabin at Cueva del Brinco for Proyecto Espeleologia Purificacion. He printed many of the T-shirts. He married cavers to each other, some with legal authority. He was also a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, a railroad engineer, a rafter, and a rancher of sorts, and none of that ranked above caving for him. Gill died on January 4 at 78 after a long decline. Many of you helped care for him in those

HYE, Texas – Garrison Brothers Distillery this year has donated $15,000+ to Texas Cave Management Association to help protect the world-famous commercial cave, Caverns of Sonora. On April 3, Distillery Co-founder Nancy Garrison and Distiller Samantha Olvera presented a check for $15,205.00 to TCMA and the Mayfield-Ingham family who own and manage Caverns of Sonora, to help preserve the caverns for all to enjoy for generations to come. The donation, made possible by Good Bourbon for A Good Cause, represents the total funds raised by Garrison Brothers, the first and oldest legal whiskey distillery in Texas, and the first distillery outside of Kentucky to produce authentic, handcrafted, corn-to-cork bourbon whiskey. Garrison Brothers committed $5 from every bottle sold from their Sonora Texas Straight Bourbon Finished in Rye Whiskey Barrels first release in 2025 to this cause. The donation was raised from Garrison Brothers’ first release of Sonora Bourbon in 2025. “The Caverns of Sonora are extremely proud and privileged to be a part of such a wonderful collaboration. A huge thank-you to Garrison Brothers and their outstanding team for allowing us to be included in such inspiring endeavors. We continue with our commitment to working together with TCMA to help

By Jay JordenWe’re 40 years old! Texas Cave Management Association’s exciting journey started with meetings in 1986 among cave explorers in Austin, Texas who decided that the growing state needed an organization to systematically start saving caves and cave resources from development. So the cavers reached out to government leaders and became activists. Today, TCMA has grown to own or manage 14 preserves, becoming the southwest region’s premier cave conservancy. Setting the standard in cave resource stewardship, TCMA has 200+ members who actively support the organization through volunteerism and giving. On our 40th anniversary, the mission remains the same: – Acquiring, conserving, and managing caves– Promoting scientific research and education regarding caves and karst – Providing cavers responsible access to caves and preserves that have been acquired “It’s been a long climb for us, but with help from the caving community, we have been building on our successes,” said Jim “Crash” Kennedy, TCMA president. “And we’re going to have some exciting news soon regarding a new acquisition.” Protecting new cavesAt this writing, TCMA is very close to closing on an addition to one of its popular North Austin preserves. More to come … In 1986, Mike Walsh announced the formation

Texas Cave Management Association is pleased to invite you to an open house at San Antonio’s Robber Baron Cave Preserve. You will have a rare opportunity to take a self guided tour of this unique and fascinating cave. Join us at the corner of Nacogdoches Road and Camilla Drive for this special event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, November 14 (rain or shine). Admission is available on a first-come basis. Donations are requested to help maintain the preserve. Robber Baron Cave is the longest and one of the most significant caves in Bexar County, with one mile of mapped passage. It has many interesting features: a complex maze of passages, unique underground biology including two endangered species, and an unusual geologic history. A popular commercial cave during the 1920s and 30s, Robber Baron today is protected by TCMA as a preserve and a place where people can learn about and experience the underground environment.During the open house, you will be invited to take a self-guided tour through the cave, learn about Robber Baron and the TCMA, and meet the cavers who explore and maintain it. Because Robber Baron is an undeveloped cave, sturdy shoes and appropriate apparel is

By Joe Ranzau Dear cavers and friends of underground places: As we look back on the year, we’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Your support has directly protected Texas caves, restored natural spaces, and inspired new generations of cavers. A few highlights of the progress made possible by your generosity this year include reopening Robber Baron Cave Preserve, hosting naturalist groups at our Williamson County preserves, and continuing our financial support of the Texas Speleology Center. Your dollars also helped our ongoing legal negotiations for perpetual access to a major West Texas cave and hosting workshops at our preserves, including graffiti removal training at Wurzbach Bat Cave. Thanks to your support, we’ve also continued to host young explorers at our preserves, introducing them to the wonders beneath the surface, fostering a lifelong love of conservation. We’re facing a $6,000 budget shortfall as we close out the year. We rely almost entirely on donors like you. Our membership dues make up only a small part of the puzzle. We rarely receive federal or state funding, making every gift count. Your contribution today will directly close that gap and enable us to continue protecting these incredible places and planning for