TBRC Visits St. Mary's University - North American Wood Ape Conservancy

St. Mary's University, One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, Texas. Photo: Craig Woolheater.

Thomas Woodruff, Ph.D., a professor and staff psychologist at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, nurtured an interest in the sasquatch phenomenon for many years. His interest led him to attend the Texas Bigfoot Conference, sponsored by the Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy, in 2007 and 2008. Following the 2008 October conference, he contacted the TBRC regarding the possibility of a TBRC presentation for his students.

Alton Higgins gave a presentation on the plausibility of the sasquatch as a legitimate but undocumented species. Photo: Craig Woolheater.

On Monday, 24 November 2008, Alton Higgins, a former wildlife biologist for the State of Arizona, and now a professor at Mid-America Christian University, located in Oklahoma City, accompanied by TBRC Chairman Craig Woolheater, made the trip to San Antonio and presented an overview to Dr. Woodruff’s class of the available body of information and support for the existence of an undocumented species of primate in North America.

After the lecture presentation, students were encouraged to view castings and ask questions. Photo: Craig Woolheater.

The hour-long PowerPoint presentation began with a brief survey of the various categories of references in Native American cultures that appear to pertain to large bipedal primates, sometimes perceived and represented as a tribe of huge hairy people. A short video produced by the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute of Texan Cultures, Hairy Man Among Native Americans, was also shown. A variety of apparently sasquatch-related historical references, including several newspaper accounts from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, were shared, followed by a discussion of contemporary support and evidence. The names of several prominent scientists who support research and investigation into the sasquatch phenomenon were listed, and research activities of the TBRC were described, including a long-term camera trap project. The presentation concluded with a question and answer period and informal visiting.

St. Mary's student Katie O'Donnell holds the so-called "Elkins Creek" casting, taken by a Sheriff's Deputy in Georgia. Photo: Craig Woolheater The psychology department course is designed to stimulate and develop critical thinking skills. With the presentation of various topics during the course of the semester, students are divided into groups representing various perspectives, such as skeptic, investigator, and supporter. Students alternate between groups as new topics are addressed. In the days following the TBRC lecture, Dr. Woodruff wrote that the class “thoroughly enjoyed” the presentation and that “the students were wishing that we could have gone longer.”

Part of the TBRC’s mission is to “help further factual education and understanding to the public” regarding the existence of the species widely known as the sasquatch or bigfoot. The TBRC was honored to be able to give educational presentations to Junior High and High School students in the Jefferson public schools earlier this year, and was equally appreciative to have had the opportunity to contribute to the educational process at St. Mary’s University.

If you are an educator interested in augmenting or supplementing your curriculum by means of a TBRC presentation, please use the contact form to notify the TBRC of your interest. TBRC personnel, time, and resources are obviously limited, but extensive efforts will be made to cooperate with and assist educators and community groups as time is available.

From left to right: Alton Higgins, Sarah Hundley, Thomas Woodruff, Katie O'Donnell, Kimberly Vela, and Manny Vasquez. In front wearing the St. Mary's sweatshirt is Maria Jimenez. Photo: Craig Woolheater.

St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas. Photo: Craig Woolheater.

TBRC Visits St. Mary’s University

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