Texas Forest Country Partnership

In 1959, a group of 8 counties met in San Augustine for the first time to form what was called the Deep East Texas Development Association. At that meeting, the Lt. Gov. of Texas Ben Ramsey, a native of San Augustine served as Master of Ceremonies. Federal District Judge Joe Fisher spoke at the meeting as well. The organization was formed as a non-profit economic development partnership with its main purpose at that time to get roads planned and built into two huge lakes in the East Texas area -- Toldeo Bend Reservoir and what was going to be called McGee Bend Reservoir, later to be named Sam Rayburn Reservoir. The Deep East Texas Development Association was legally established in March 1960.