Newly released records from the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) are shedding additional light on the termination of former Game Warden Phillip Wood, including documentation confirming his role as president of the Huntington Independent School District board of trustees. The disclosure adds a new dimension to a case that has already drawn attention following Wood’s dismissal for using racial slurs in text messages sent on a government-issued phone. Previous reporting by The Hawk’s Eye outlined the circumstances of his termination; the full investigative file now provides expanded context, including references to his position within the school district.

School Board Leadership Role Confirmed in State File

According to the TPWD investigative materials, Wood is identified as the president of the Huntington ISD board. That detail appears alongside text message exchanges in which Wood discusses school-related matters, including athletics and personnel decisions tied to the district. The connection is significant given that Huntington ISD oversees public education operations in its jurisdiction, placing Wood in a leadership position responsible for governance, policy oversight, and administrative direction within the district.

Prior Findings on Termination

TPWD records show Wood had been employed with the agency since January 1, 2004, serving as a Game Warden in Region 3, District 3. Internal Affairs investigators concluded that he violated agency policy by repeatedly sending messages containing a racial slur using a TPWD-issued cell phone.

Termination paperwork dated October 21, 2025, states:

“[Wood has] been employed with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) since January 1, 2004, and [was serving] as a Game Warden in Region 3, District 3 in the Law Enforcement Division. TPWD Internal Affairs staff conducted an investigation into alleged misconduct, and it was determined that [he] violated the following TPWD policies and procedures by texting the racial slur ‘nigger’ multiple times to a TPWD issued cell phone. Therefore, TPWD terminate[d] [his] employment effective immediately. [He is not] ineligible for rehire because [his] termination is associated with misconduct.”

Wood’s Statement Through Counsel

In an October 3, 2025 response submitted through Morian Kahla Attorneys at Law, L.L.P., Wood stated the at least one set of messages were part of what he described as a private exchange:

“As a follow-up to our conversation yesterday, I would like to elaborate as to the context and circumstance surrounding my 2024 text message with my brother-in-law. First and foremost, I do not make it my practice to use inappropriate language while in public or around anyone who might be offended even in private. I believe that the conversation that I had with my brother-in-law was from my personal cell phone, not my state issued cell phone, and it was intended to be a private discussion between family members. Secondly, the inappropriate language used in that conversation was not directed toward any employee or member of the general public and was never intended to be disseminated to any other individual Finally, throughout my almost 22 years of service to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, I have never used inappropriate language toward any citizen, superior, subordinate or fellow employee.”

Identity of Message Recipient

While Wood described a conversation as involving a family member, TPWD records identify the recipient in screenshots as “J. Eddins,” identified as Justin C. Eddins, who was indicted in October 2025 in an unrelated matter.

Text Messages Include School-Related Discussion

Among the released messages are exchanges referencing Huntington ISD athletics:

Wood:

“6-22 last year

This year 18-8 3rd in district

Your dad was right he’s the best coach in the state! And now he’s my athletic director”

J. Eddins:

“Hell yea

Y’all better not loose him!!!”

 

Wood:

“I ain’t

I pay him too good”

 

J. Eddins:

“Did Reece come?”

 

Wood:

“Don’t no I stayed by dugout

Don’t like talking to people during ballgame”

 

J. Eddins:

“He prolly did him and coach

Mixon are pretty tight!”

 

Wood:

“Yes I need him in Huntington”

 

J. Eddins:

“They sucked this past year!”

 

Messages Containing Racial Slurs

TPWD also released a series of messages in which Wood repeatedly used a racial slur:

 

Wood:

“Autumn said Landon still dating that nigger lol”

 

J. Eddins:

“She is mixed

Sweet girl tho”

 

Wood:

“My kids better not bring one home

My dad made me take one home one night said she had bigger hair get her out of his house lol

Nigger”

 

J. Eddins:

“I’m sure they will do what they want to”

 

Wood:

“Naw not at my house they won’t”

 

J. Eddins:

“Be careful what u say”

 

Wood:

“I’m very careful I mean what I say!!

I pay this bills at this house”

 

J. Eddins:

“Lol”

 

Wood:

“Hell I got a cousin screwed a nigger got pregnant by a nigger got a nigger baby

My moms side of family screee up

Screwed”

Additional Messages Released

Other messages included in the file involve unrelated personal matters, such as a vehicle sale:

 

J. Eddins:

“U sold ur truck?”

 

Wood:

“Yep”

 

J. Eddins:

“Car?”

 

Wood:

“Made 15000 dollars lol

Cadillac”

 

J. Eddins:

“How she gonna pull a horse trailer with a Cadillac”

 

Wood:

“New truck next week

Ones I ordered in transit

Had to sell”

 

J. Eddins:

“U bought a new one?”

 

Wood:

“Two

And a Cadillac”

 

J. Eddins:

“Damn”

TPWD Records Contradict Wood’s Explanation of Conversation

The full TPWD file lays out the messages that led to Phillip Wood’s termination and confirms he was also serving as president of Huntington ISD’s school board at the same time. At least one exchange was described by Wood, through his attorney, as a 2024 conversation with a brother-in-law, but that explanation does not account for the messages to a government phone identified in the file as being with J. Eddins, the game warden later indicted. The records show both the language investigators cited and conversations tied to school-related matters, placing both roles within the same timeframe. Following reporting by The Hawk’s Eye, Wood later resigned from his position as Huntington ISD board president, citing the situation as a “distraction.” 

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