The 2025 TSFI Ray Wisdom Dinner & Auction
There are evenings that linger with you long after the plates have been cleared and the last gavel has struck. The 2025 TSFI Ray Wisdom Dinner and Auction was exactly that sort of night: a gathering of Texas surveyors and supporters who came together not just to dine, not just to bid, but to invest in the very future of our profession.
Tables buzzed with laughter and conversation, while the anticipation of the live auction kept the energy high. Every paddle raised was more than just a bid but a statement of belief in the students who will one day carry surveying forward.
The Foundation of It All
The Texas Surveyors Foundation, Inc. (TSFI) is the beating heart of this tradition. Created to support education, preserve history, and nurture the next generation of surveyors, TSFI transforms generosity into opportunity. Its trustees — Trisha Lund-Wittig, Paul Carey, Marcos Madrid, Shane Neally, Miguel Escobar, Chris Freeman, Josh Leamons, Annissa Williston, and Kenneth Yazel — work year-round to turn generosity into scholarships. Many of these trustees are part of TSPS Chapter 5, which made this year’s event feel all the more personal.
The results of the night spoke volumes. Together, attendees raised:
- $16,500 in sponsorships
- $29,020 in auction proceeds
- $45,520 in total
Chapter 5 Leads with Heart
TSPS Chapter 5 was proud to serve as a Gold Sponsor, the highest level of sponsorship. Alongside several of our member firms, we contributed $5,750, which represented 35 percent of all sponsorships raised.
Sponsorship Support Included:
- TSPS Chapter 5 – $1,000
- G4 Geomatics – $1,000
- PJB Surveying – $1,000
- LTRA – $1,000
- CEC – $500
- DAS – $500
- Halff – $500
- Trustar Surveying – $500
Then came the live auction, where friendly rivalries flared and bids rose high. Once again, Chapter 5 and its members left their mark. With donated treasures and enthusiastic participation, we added $5,165 to the total, 18 percent of the auction’s success.
Auction highlights included:
- TSPS Chapter 5 canvas photos – $1,400
- John Pierce’s books – $1,215
- DAS Dallas Stars tickets – $1,000
- Mayo-Wright poker basket – $750
- S. Beckham Stars jersey and hat – $500
- ARS Yeti cooler – $300
A Night Well Spent
The Ray Wisdom Dinner and Auction was proof of what happens when a community gathers with purpose. The laughter, the bidding, the generosity, and the shared pride in seeing more than $45,000 raised — all of it combined into a night that will be remembered as one of the strongest. From TSPS Chapter 5, thank you to every sponsor, donor, and attendee who made this evening such a success. Because of you, the surveying profession in Texas has a stronger, brighter future.
