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Staff Information
Greg Simons - Company Owner
Simons formed WSI upon graduation from Texas A & M University in 1987. In addition to his busy
schedule overseeing the general management of WSI, Simons has also been involved
with a multitude of industry and civic related activities. He is past
officer of Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, co-founder of West Texas Deer
Study Group which has hosted 8 different symposium type meetings, board member and officer
of Texas Wildlife Association and past Region 3 Chair for TWA, and currently
serves as chairman of San Angelo CVB board. He has served on
numerous committees, including White-tailed Deer Advisory Committee for the
State of Texas, TWA Deer Advisory Committee, and has been involved with the
highly successful Texas Brigades youth camps with fundraising and other
associated activities. Simons has been called on to give a wide range of
seminars and programs across the Country including entrepreneur related topics,
marketing hunting, outfitting hunting trips, wildlife habitat related topics,
harvest photography, and other enterprise type topics. He has served as an
expert witness in court cases, and is also former co-owner of Texas Hunting
Directory. Simons has hunted around the globe including 6 foreign
countries. He, his wife Deborah and their two children reside in San
Angelo.
Ruben Fernandez - Field Manager
Ruben is a
consummate outdoorsman. Growing up in San Angelo, he has spent
most of his adult life in the field, either working on ranches or
fishing, trapping, and hunting. For several years he worked
full time for a large ranching enterprise near San Angelo. He
has regularly worked as a hunting guide since the early 1990’s, has
fished competitively, and trapped as a part time business venture.
Ruben is good with his hands and as field manager for WSI, he
oversees a variety of related projects from carpentry to plumbing,
masonry to welding, and just about anything else that needs to be
done. He runs several camps during our busy seasons and he and
his family still reside in San Angelo.
Deborah Simons - Controller & Special Projects
Deborah grew up in
Houston and met WSI owner Greg Simons while attending Texas A & M University.
After moving to San Angelo in 1988, she finished up with a math degree from
Angelo State University, though those around her say she should have been a
computer science major. Indeed she is a wiz on computers and is closely
involved with WSI’s computer needs from designing brochures, updating our
website, and troubleshooting computer related problems. She takes care of
WSI books including receivables and payables, and also assists on other
miscellaneous matters. Deborah is a very active volunteer especially with
activities associated with her children including school functions, Boy Scouts,
and coaching her daughter’s basketball team. She is an active tennis
player and competes locally in a USTA sanctioned amateur league. She grew
up deer hunting with her dad and though she seldom gets to hunt anymore, she has
an appreciation for hunting and the outdoors.
Justin Bryan - Office Manager/Business Development
Upon completion of an M. S. degree, Justin has continued to diversify his experience by working for the USDA-NRCS, The Nature Conservancy, and various private landowners. His travels have taken him from work locations in the sky-island ecosystem located in the Davis Mountains of West Texas, to the High Plains, Rolling Plains, South Texas, and even into the Wrangell Mountains of Alaska. From 2002-2007, Justin directly managed, consulted for, or assisted management on nearing 200,000 acres of rangeland, improved pastures, farmland, and scientific deer breeding facilities throughout Texas.
Tex Speck - Guide
Speck grew up in a ranching family near Menard, Texas. His upbringing on a ranch provides him
with an innate understanding of rural affairs and the nuances associated with
the unique needs and demands from landowners and ranch people. He received
a bachelor’s degree from Texas A & M University in Agriculture Business and a
master’s degree in real estate finance. His hands on experience of growing
up and working on a ranch combined with his advanced education make him a
capable individual. He served as Director of Development for WSI for 4 years, and recently formed his own business in a different industry. He still guides on a part-time basis.
Jackie Murphy - Guide
Jackie grew up in Brownfield, Texas and left after high school to attend Texas Tech University. He graduated with an accounting degree and worked as a CPA for a “Big Eight” firm and other companies for 20 plus years. Following his lifelong dream, he then attended a guide’s school in Colorado and hasn’t looked back since. He serves us as a camp manager and guide throughout the entire year and has one of the strongest work ethics as anybody we know. He’s been around since 2005.
Trey Cowan - Cook
Often mistaken as ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill or Billy Gibbons, Trey has been one of our cooks since 1998. He comes from a cooking family that has a Cajun base by way of Ingram, TX and Colorado. He got his first cook job at the age of 18 and has spent the last 24 years cooking and in the construction business emphasizing in stucco.
Mike Messman - Guide
Father of two, Mike, has guided for WSI for multiple years (2003). He calls Kerrville home and runs a lawn care business when he’s not in one of our camps. You won’t meet a nicer guy than Mike.
Gabe Price - Guide
Where do you start? Gabe lives in Harper, TX with his wife and 3 kids. He owns Gabe’s Lawn Care and an oilfield service company. Gabe has been a camp manager/guide for WSI since 1997. With his humor, optimistic attitude, and endless energy, he will give you a hunt not soon to be forgotten.
Don Richardson - Guide
Don or “Bass” has been around longer than anybody else. After returning from Vietnam, he made a career as a fireman serving under Captain Benny Simons (Greg’s father). When Mr. Simons was busy working, Don would take Greg hunting with him and has been helping WSI as a camp manager/guide since 2001. Don has lived the majority of his life around Mesquite, TX and currently lives in Wylie.
Eric Henard - Guide
From Trinidad, TX hails our local bow expert, Eric. Introduced to WSI in 2002, Eric has been serving WSI as both a cook and guide. He repaired/installed appliances, HVAC’s, and carpet for many years and now spends the off-season selling and repairing bows. He is dern sure handy to have around and there is no doubt that Eric has the biggest heart of any fellow we know.
Dr. Scott Keating - Guide
Scott (or One-Shot) has been guiding part-time for WSI since 1995. Having spent most of his life in the agriculture industry, One-Shot, received his doctorate at the age of 58 in rangeland ecology and now owns two consulting companies that keep him busy when he isn’t working with WSI as a guide. With his unique personality filled with flare and the fact that he is always prepared, Scott is no doubt a “full service guide.”
Mike Gray - Guide
When Mike isn’t selling Ag chemicals he prefers to be out in the field. He has been serving WSI as a guide since 2000 on both the La Rucia and H. Yturria Ranches and calls south Texas home.
Todd Lee - Guide
Todd has spent most of his life in Coke County. He currently lives in Bronte, is the father of two sons, and
works for Verizon in the field. He has spent significant time over the last 15 or so years on
the Foster Ranch helping his dad and WSI since 2005 conduct hunts.
Mike Palermo - Guide
When Mike isn’t running his taxidermy business (Mike Palermo Taxidermy) or hanging out with his wife, you can find him in a Wildlife Systems whitetail camp. He grew up in Bryan, Texas where he learned the taxidermy business from his father and is where he met Greg Simons in the mid 80’s. He began guiding in 1989.
Albert Hernandez - Guide
Albert and his wife, Selina, live in Falfurrias, TX along with their two sons where he has lived his entire life. He has worked for the La Rucia Ranch since 1999 and is currently the ranch foreman.
Matt Bonner - Guide
Between real estate, bass fishing and guiding whitetail hunts for WSI, Matt stays busy. He grew up in Fairfield, TX were he still resides today and has been working for WSI since 2005.
Rocky and Diana Campbell - Guide and Cook
No strangers to the outfitting business, Rocky & Diana, own their own hunting business based out of Summerville, OR. During the month of December you are likely to find Rocky heading up the La Rucia hunts while Diana heads up the kitchen. They have one son, Cody, who is an accomplished bull rider and often found high up in the PBR standings. The “Duo” has been coming to Texas to help WSI since 2005.
Wes Christensen - Guide
Having grown up in San Angelo and on the S Ranch, Wes has proven to be a valuable intern, part-time guide, and seasonal employee of WSI since the fall of 2006. He is fun loving, caring, and has a passion for cat fishing.
David Griffith - Cook
After 24 years of teaching Ag. Science, acting as a paramedic after hours, and catering in between, David is enjoying semi-retirement. Fortunately, for WSI he loves to cook and spends ample time throughout the year keeping hunters’, guides’, and Greg’s bellies full and has since 2004. Between Wildlife Systems and his wife, grandkids, church, and other cooking jobs he is one busy man.
Charles Good - Cook
Better known as “Muggins” (which is his middle name) to his longtime and close friends and family, Charles serves WSI as a cook and has since 2003. You’ll mainly find him at the S Ranch Camp, although he does various other hunts as well. He was raised in Ozona, TX and is still married to Darlene whom he married in 1963. He then became a fireman and served 33 years here in San Angelo as a driver and EMS personnel.
Cade Bonn - Guide
While attending Texas A&M, Cade interned with WSI for 4
consecutive years starting in 2004. He was raised just outside of
Fredericksburg, TX where he resides today and manages a
wildlife/cattle ranch. He guides part-time and is an avid hunter
himself.
Pat Hanlon - Guide
San Antonio native, Pat grew up in the family restaurant business. He interned with WSI in 2008 and is now working in the family business and completing his secondary education. He enjoys hunting and still guides various different species/hunts in his spare time.
Tate Helmer - Guide
Tate has spent his entire life in the valley except for a short stint when he attended TCU Ranch Management School. He began guiding for Wildlife Systems in 2004 and mainly guides on the La Rucia and H. Yturria Ranches. He is married with 2 girls and is a Store Manager of a John Deere dealership.
Eddie Curry - Guide
Captain Eddie lives in Riviera and owns/operates a guided fishing service off of the coast of Texas. When not fishing, you can find Capt. Eddie guiding on our South Texas properties. He began is part-time duties with WSI in the winter of 2009.
Rudy Bazan - Guide
Rudy works for H. Yturria Land & Cattle Company and serves as Ranch Foreman. He is a South Texas native and has worked for H. Yturria Ranches since 1995. Prior to that Rudy worked for the Texas Animal Health Commission where he served as an Animal Health Inspector. After 33 years of service he retired and went to work for the H. Yturria Ranches fulltime. He helps assist Wildlife Systems on most of the activities on all the Yturria properties including whitetail deer and nilgai antelope hunts.
Ed Elmore - Guide
Georgian, Ed, has helped Wildlife Systems guide during whitetail season since 2007. He spent his career in the education field, mostly as a high school principal and now enjoys spending his time in the field and with family.
Cody Lee - Guide
Son of Todd Lee, Cody began guiding for WSI in 2005. Unlike most youths of today, he has spent most of his spare time in the outdoors hunting and helping his grandfather and father on several ranches. He is a hard worker and has lots of hands on experience in the field.
Mike Lassig - Guide
Native to the Valley in South Texas, Mike has spent his whole life outdoors. He is married with 2 kids and was raised on a farm/ranch and continues to farm today. When not working, one can generally find him hunting. He killed his first deer when he was 9 years old and hasn’t slowed down since. He has a number of different species across much of the western US.
WSI also employs many individuals on a part-time
and seasonal basis that serve as guides, cooks, technicians, and assistants.
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