Blog entries tagged people

Montgomery County Celebration for MLK Day

Greg Rivera — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:30:24 +0100

Monday January 18 residents from across Montgomery County came together in unity to celebrate The Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. His dream, “deeply rooted in the American dream” was that America would “rise up and live out of the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’”

King’s call for dignity, discipline and peace was commemorated by the 22nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at the Woodlands United Methodist Church. The event was hosted by St. Paul Church of The Woodlands and welcomed Tim Melton, ABC 13 sportscaster, as the master of ceremonies and Austin Lane, president of Lone Star College-Montgomery, as the Keynote speaker.

During his speech in 1963 King said, “I have a dream today!” And though he was assassinated in April of 1968, many people are living to make that dream a reality today. In order to celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., local high school seniors were given the opportunity to write an essay sharing how they “could make Dr. King’s dream a reality.” Yet, other students participated by designing posters themed “Living the Dream.”

Conroe High School student Tracaria White, along with Landon Morris from Oak Ridge High School and Jonelle Cathey-Harper of The Woodlands High School, received $500 scholarships for their outstanding work. Poster winners were honored with a $100 U.S. Savings Bond given to Alejandra Bremauntz for first place; a $75 Savings Bond given to Caroline Crisp for second place; and in third place Serena Li received a $50 Savings Bond.

As Melton shared, “The natural reaction is to need recognition for what you do. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message was to give back.” Many people across Conroe and surrounding areas are still working to help the people who are “exiles in their own land” by volunteering and working for justice, peace and righteousness. To honor those people in Montgomery County that have been serving the community, the Drum Major Award was presented to two outstanding couples. Jimmie and Elsa Dotson and Barbara and Don Gebert, who were recognized for the numerous ways they “give back” to the community.

The Dotsons volunteer with Big Brothers and Sisters, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Conroe ISD Task Force for Strategic Planning, the 100 Club of Montgomery County, The Montgomery County Women’s Center, the Tamina Action Community Association and Montgomery County United Way.

Barbara and Don Gebert helped organize The Woodlands Religious Community, which became Interfaith of The Woodlands; they co-founded The Villager newspaper, The Community Clinic, Montgomery County Youth Services, The Montgomery County Community Foundation and the Peace and Justice Coalition of Montgomery County.

To make such notable changes in a community it takes strength and resiliency, two things which Keynote speaker Austin Lane spoke to that he has seen in his lifetime. From his mother and grandmother who raised him, to two other figures in his life, “Growing up, we only knew of two other strong and resilient people. One we learned about at church every Sunday.” The other may not be surprising, as Lane shared, “It was not until I was 8 years old that I realized Martin Luther King, Jr. was not my father. We had pictures of him everywhere.”

While King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 – as the third African American, second American, and youngest person to receive the prize at that time – and held twenty honorary degrees, as well as being Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” in 1963, he asked that people not remember him for his awards or where he went to school. During a sermon in 1968 King used the 20th Century notion of the ‘Drum Major Instinct’ to explain how he hoped to be remembered, “If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace; I was a drum major for righteousness.”

Now 42 years later people across Conroe, Texas and the U.S. are living to make Dr. King’s dream of equality a reality and taking the third Monday of each January to celebrate the work that was started years ago that continues shaping their community today. This day was not only a Holiday to remember King and the changes that have been made, but a day to continue dreaming of a better tomorrow too.

Book Signing for Woodlands Author on September 12th

daphne — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Woodlands author Richard M. Martin recently published his second book, ‘Welford Street Miracles’. The new book recalls past experiences and lessons Martin learned over the course of his life and also includes stories of the history and miracles that happened on Welford Street in Port Arthur, TX.

“The inspiration came from stories that were told in the family from the 1930s … through the 1980s about miracles that were told around the neighborhood,” Martin said.

On September 12th, Hastings, located at 1306 W. Davis St, will host a book signing for ‘Welford Street Miracles’ from 1-4 pm.

The back of his book reads: “Join author R. Merial Martin and Richard as he works to create a financial legacy for his children before the cancer takes hold. Watch as past miracles on Welford Street influence his life's work. Walk with Richard and witness the greatest ‘Welford Street Miracle.’”

While the book is mainly non-fiction, the author adds that it is roughly 10 percent fiction. Martin, who goes by the pen name R. Merial Martin, is currently retired and has lived in The Woodlands since 2001. He is a founding member of Woodlands Church Fellowship Campus. He also is part of the Conroe 300 Bowl’s business men’s league.

You can learn more about Martin’s books at TatePublishing.com.

Source: The Courier Of Montgomery County

Conroe WWII Vet Donates Survival Map to LSHF

daphne — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:00:00 +0100

On the 64th anniversary of the end of World War II, Conroe war veteran and retired U.S. Air Force 1st Lieutenant Joseph Smith, 89, presented a framed survival map, issued to bomber flight crews on combat missions in World War II, to Lone Star Honor Flight (LSHF) as thanks for their efforts in appreciating World War II veterans.

"I'm grateful to the Honor Flight folks for what they're doing," said Smith. "This is a fine thing they are doing for veterans."

This 32-inch silk survival map showed pilots details on major ocean currents in the East China Sea. Should the pilot have to eject or abandon their plane, the maps helped them know what conditions they should expect and how to direct rescuers. "The silk maps could survive water, wind and being stuffed in a pocket," Smith said. "We hung onto them during missions. I hung onto them after the war."

As an experienced navigator, bombardier and radio operator, Smith flew 58 B-29s during World War II and the Korean War without ever being shot down or having to ditch his aircraft even once. Even with that, there were many close calls, and B-29s typically had no fighter escorts, leaving them to their own in the skies.

The flag will be framed and displayed at the LSHF offices, located at 13921 Texas 105 W., for as long as their organization is involved with transporting Conroe World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., to tour military monuments and memorials, according to Brenda Beaven, founder of the LSHF.

The LSHF also received nearly $40,000 in donations from the Eastex Marine Corp League, the Rotary Club, Women’s Auxiliary for VFW Post 4709, Knights of Columbus, Yancey's Concrete of Conroe and McClanahan. Their next LSHF 3 tour is scheduled for October 3rd, and is already 2/3rds full.

For more information on the Lone Star Honor Flight and donations and trip information please visitLoneStarHonorFlight.com.

Image courtesy of The Courier of Montgomery County

Source: The Courier of Montgomery County

Happy Birthday Dave Roedel

Cheryl Boe — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Graystone Hills wishes Happy Birthday to Graystone Hills advisory board member Dave Roedel. Dave is a team leader at the Coldwell Banker United office in Conroe. Best Wishes Dave!