about us
created in 1959
The Red River Authority of Texas was created in 1959 by Acts of the 56th Legislature as a conservation and reclamation district, a political subdivision of the state, a body politic and corporate under Article XVI, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution.
During the 2018-2019 Legislative Session, under the 86th Legislature, the Authority was reviewed by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission. One of the recommendations that derived from the review included codifying the Authority under state law. Effective April 1, 2023, the Authority’s codification became effective under the Special District Local Laws Code, Chapter 8510.
Within its Legal Territorial Jurisdiction, the Authority provides stewardship for the water resources in which its legislative charges shall be administered in all of any partial county lying within the watershed of the Red River in Texas. The total complement is 43 Texas counties. Although the Authority’s enabling legislation includes the Canadian River Basin counties of Lipscomb, Hartley and Hutchinson as part of the Authority’s legal jurisdiction, these counties are not part of the three regions.
Within its Legal Territorial Jurisdiction, the Authority provides stewardship for the water resources in which its legislative charges shall be administered in all of any partial county lying within the watershed of the Red River in Texas. The total complement is 43 Texas counties. Although the Authority’s enabling legislation includes the Canadian River Basin counties of Lipscomb, Hartley and Hutchinson as part of the Authority’s legal jurisdiction, these counties are not part of the three regions.
governing body
The governing body shall be composed of a board of nine directors, all of whom shall be property taxpayers, legal voters of the state, and residents of a county within the Authority’s territory. The Directors shall serve six-year staggered terms upon appointment of the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. From the Directors the Governor will appoint a President, and the Directors will elect from their membership a Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer. The Directors may also elect an Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors meet regularly on the third Wednesday of January, April, July and September of each year. Special Board meetings may be called, if necessary.
jerry bob daniel
president
Hometown: Truscott, TX
Tenure: 06/23/2008 to 08/11/2027
Jerry Bob Daniel is a self-employed rancher and real estate investor. He is co-founder with his wife, Eugenie Daniel, of the Circle Bar Ranch located in Knox County. He is a director of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, serving as member and former chair of the Cattle Health and Well Being Committee. He is also a member of the National Cattlemen Beef Association and serves on the Agriculture Policy Committee. Additionally, he is Vice President of the Pitchfork Land and Cattle Co. Board of Directors and is the Finance Committee Chairman. Daniel received an associate degree from Vernon Junior College.
conrad j. masterson jr.
vice president
Hometown: Cee Vee, TX
Tenure: 10/26/2021 to 08/11/2027
Conrad Masterson of Cee Vee is a retired technology executive and investor. He was previously the Founder and CEO of Nanotechnology Foundation of Texas, CEO of Commerciant, Vice President of Houston Technology Center, and managing director of ROI Group. He previously served as President of the Technology Executives Roundtable and a member of the Institute of Management Consulting. He was with Ford Motor Company in his early career, where he held management positions in corporate finance and systems. Masterson received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from The University of Oklahoma.
michAEL r. SANDEFUR
Secretary/Treasurer
Hometown: Texarkana, TX
Tenure: 07/26/2018 to 08/11/2029
Mike Sandefur is CEO of various real estate and other entities including Loblolly Land Company, Barkman Creek Land Company, and Barkman Bluff Farms. He is board member for Texarkana College Foundation, and previously served as president of the Texarkana College Board of Trustees and the Sulphur River Basin River Authority Board of Directors, chairman of the Financial Advisory Committee of Bowie County and the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army in Texarkana. Sandefur received a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Accounting, and a Master of Business and Public Management from Rice University.
jerry dan davis
Director
Hometown: Wellington, TX
12/06/2019 to 08/11/2029
Jerry Dan Davis of Wellington is an owner and operator of a farm and ranch operation located in Collingsworth, Childress, and Hall counties. He formerly served on the Wellington ISD School Board, Collingsworth County Library Board, Panhandle Peanut Growers Association, Farmers Co-Op Gin Board, and the Collingsworth County Agricultural Advisory Board. Davis received a bachelor’s degree in general agriculture from West Texas A&M University.
joe l. ward
Director
Hometown: Telephone, TX
Tenure: 07/26/2018 to 08/11/2029
Joe L. Ward of Telephone is a full time rancher, and operates a Santa Gertrudis cow-calf operation. He has interests in an insurance consulting business, redevelopment projects in downtown Bonham and investments in land and family-owned restaurants. He is a board member for the Fannin County Multi-purpose Complex, volunteer for the Telephone Volunteer Fire Department, director for the Bigbee Cemetery, and member of the Telephone Baptist Church. He is also a former gubernatorial appointee to the State Soil and Water Conservation Board, and formerly served on the Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce Board of directors. Ward served in the Army National Guard from 1969 – 1971 and served in the Air Force National Guard from 1971 – 1976. Ward received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University.
Tonya D. Detten
Director
Hometown: Panhandle, TX
Tenure: 05/03/2022 to 08/11/2031
Tonya Detten of Panhandle retired as Director of Benefits at the Pantex Plant, where she also worked in Labor Relations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration from West Texas A&M University in Canyon and is a certified Project Management Professional. She has been actively involved in her community, serving on numerous boards of local organizations in the Amarillo area. She completed a six-year term as a lay member of the Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas. In addition, she has dedicated 18 years of service to the Highland Park Independent School District.
TROY L. WEBER
Director
Hometown: Denison, TX
Tenure: 04/15/2026 to 08/11/2031
Troy Weber of Denison is a retired executive from Texas Instruments and the president of Weber Advisors, Inc., where he serves as a technical consultant, chemical engineer, and executive coach. Through his firm, he advises business owners and leaders on improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and strengthening strategic planning, drawing on extensive corporate leadership experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University and has a strong foundation in both technical and business disciplines. In addition to his professional work, he is actively involved in his community, serving as a deacon and finance committee chair at Parkside Baptist Church and volunteering with Center Cross Soup Kitchen.
RON A. MULLINS
Director
Hometown: Archer City, TX
Tenure: 04/15/2026 to 08/11/2031
Ron Mullins of Archer City is a retired public service professional with extensive experience in utility regulation and water system oversight. He previously served as a utility regulatory officer for the Red River Authority of Texas, where he contributed to regulatory compliance and operational accountability for public water systems. Mr. Mullins has demonstrated strong leadership within the industry, including his service as former president of the Northwest Texas Water Utilities Association and as past chairman of the TWUA Central West Texas Regional School in Abilene. In addition to his professional career, he remains actively engaged in his community, serving as budget committee chairman at First Baptist Church – Archer City and as treasurer of Archer County Shooting Sports.
RUBIN ARIAS
Director
Region
fabian a. heaney
General Manager
Hometown: Wichita Falls, TX
Fabian Heaney previously served as the Assistant General Manager of the Authority for five years. Prior to the Authority, Fabian worked for the City of Houston for over 26 years in Drinking Water and Utility Operations. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He has a Class A Water License and a laboratory Technical Manager designation from the State of Texas. Fabian represents the Authority as a committee member of the Red River Valley Association, Nortex Regional Planning Commission, and Region B Regional Water Planning Group. He is a current volunteer with the Knights of Columbus No. 7371, and a former volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America 3T0, where he earned his Eagle Scout award.