Cy Wilson has had a fishing pole in his hand since he could walk. “That was what my dad and I did,” he recalled. “My dad was a football coach, and when he wasn’t on the field, he was taking me golfing or fishing. I spent a ton of time out in the woods and on the water, and that really fostered my love for the outdoors.”
That passion stuck. Wilson played football at Abilene Christian University, married his college sweetheart Elizabeth, and settled in Abilene, where they’re now raising three young children.
He has built a career as a strength and conditioning coach, training everyone from scholarship athletes to a 75-year-old female client who can deadlift 200 pounds. In his free time, he never strays far from the woods and rivers. “Right around 2018, I really started pushing into hunting again. I took up archery, and that became a huge part of my life.”
His outdoor adventures grew into something larger. “I started planning big paddling trips,” he said. “I’ve done the Devils River three times now, most recently with a group of nine guys. That’s some hardcore camping, paddling, and fishing.”
Along the way, a friend told him about Stewards of the Wild and encouraged him to connect. That’s when he met fellow Abilene outdoorsman Zach Jennings. “Zach was like the last man standing, trying to keep the Abilene Chapter alive,” Wilson said. “I jumped in, and that’s really how I found my people.”
Today, Wilson serves as co-chair of the chapter. Reviving it hasn’t been easy, but he’s proud of the progress. “When we started, there were about five of us,” he said. “In the last year and a half, we’ve doubled that. If we can keep doubling, we’ll be in great shape.”
Their efforts include creek cleanups that have hauled away dumpsters of trash, trail-building projects at Abilene State Park, archery tournaments, fishing contests, and plenty of socials.
“We’re focused on recruitment, but also on doing projects that get people engaged,” he said.
For Wilson, the mission of Stewards of the Wild connects directly to what he hopes to pass on to his children. “Personally, being outdoors has been an incredible way to grow closer to God,” he said. “But it’s also about teaching my kids that we take care of what we enjoy. If we’re not going to eat that fish, we’re not going to kill it. If we’re not going to eat that animal, we’re not going to shoot it. Those are important lessons.” His five-year-old son is heading out on his first dove hunt this year, while his three-year-old recently caught his first fish on his own.
Wilson believes strongly in the role conservation-minded hunters and anglers can play in Texas.
“Our model for hunting and fishing is the gold standard,” he said. “The most important thing we can do is make sure we don’t wake up one day and say, ‘Man, those were the good old days when we could go float the Devils River.’ We need to preserve the beauty of Texas so my kids and my grandkids can enjoy it, too.”
