Randy was born in late July 1943 in San Antonio, to Helen McNatt (Kothmann) and Ernie Glen McNatt. His mother, Helen, was the daughter of Heinrich Daniel Kothmann and Lina Loeffler Kothmann. His parents were married in 1941 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mason. His younger brother, Logan McNatt, was born in 1950, in Abilene, seven years later. The family moved to Brownwood, in October 1957, when Glen opened the first Social Security Administration Office. Randy spent his childhood exploring the outdoors, hunting, and fishing with his cousins on the Old Kothmann Ranch in West Texas. Surrounded by fields, rivers, and wild spaces, he developed a lifelong passion for fishing, hunting, and nature—passions that led to a long career as a Freshwater biologist and environmentalist.

Randy graduated from Brownwood High School in 1961, where he honed his skills on the tennis court and played the saxophone. His closest friends during this time were Jeff Morris, Bob Stout, Bert Massey, Jimmy Garner, John Mc-Farlane, Tommy Jordan, Skipper McBride, Don Howard, and Ray Bledsoe. While at Brownwood High School, he was selected for the All-Region Band and excelled in tennis, winning the district doubles title with his partner, Glen Wade. After starting his studies at Tarleton State, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. His deep curiosity about the natural world led him to pursue a master’s degree in biology and a PhD in zoology from Arizona State University.

A passionate conservationist, Randy dedicated his life to environmental causes. In 1978, he began his federal service with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Albuquerque. His work later took him to Vernal, Utah, where he studied native fish populations in the Green and Yampa Rivers. In 1983, he moved to Reno, Nevads, where he spent 22 years advancing conservation through research and habitat management with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management. As Nevada’s State Program Lead for Fisheries, Endangered Species, and Wetlands, Randy played a pivotal role in protecting ecosystems throughout the state. He retired in 2005.

Randy was a tireless advocate for public lands and wilderness. He served as the Nevada State Chairman of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and actively supported the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Nevada Tortoise Group, and Bat Conservation International. Even in retirement, he remained deeply involved—meeting with legislators, testifying at hearings, and fighting to preserve Nevada’s waterways and wild spaces. He was especially passionate about responsible land use and protecting the places he loved from off-highway vehicle damage.

Beyond his professional and civic contributions, Randy will be remembered for his sharp wit, brilliant mind, and boundless love of music. He had a knack for finding a twangy country lyric to suit any moment, and he never missed a chance to share a pun or Bloomsbury comic strip. His musical tastes ranged widely, but bluegrass held a special place in his heart.

Randy’s legacy lives on through his family, the wild lands he helped protect, and the countless lives he touched with his humor, intellect, and unwavering commitment to the natural world.

Randy is survived by his son, Eric McNatt, and daughter, Micah Sealy, as well as stepchildren Josh Pearson, Jessica Hein Youngdahl, and Scott Hein. His step-grandchildren, Dustin, Damon, Hailey, Logan, Colin, and Kate, along with many cherished friends and colleagues who admired his passion for conservation, adventure, and science, also survive him.

A private memorial service will be held on July 26 at the family ranch in Mason, Texas. Please contact randymcnattcelebrationoflife@ gmail.com for information. Donations may be made in Randy McNatt’s honor to Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, The Sierra Club, International Bat Conservation, or The Tortoise Group.