Suzette's love of animals started as a young girl in East Texas, growing up surrounded by dogs and horses. Falling in love with the Dallas Zoo was a natural extension of her overall love of animals and wildlife of all kinds, especially primates and birds. Suzette loves working with young people and sharing her passion for wildlife and the environment with children of all ages. For over 20 years, Suzette Shelmire was a fixture and icon at the Dallas Zoo. Beginning in the mid-1960s, Suzette volunteered at the zoo as a docent in the baby animal nursery and taught visiting school classes about wildlife and the environment. She also served on the board of the Dallas Zoological Society. Today and for generations to come the Suzette D. Shelmire Children's Education Endowment at the Dallas Zoo will ensure that every child, regardless of economic background or ability to pay, will have the opportunity to participate in children's education programs at the Dallas Zoo