Brazos 360

INSIDE 411: MEET THE LEADERS OF B-CS SCHOOLS FASHION PREVIEW: GAME DAY APPAREL AND FALL BLING HOME IN STYLE: A COLORFUL COLLEGE STATION HOME

Born in a Small Town TIM BRYAN TALKS ABOUT COMMUNITY, HIS BRIEF STINT AT UT AND GROWING UP IN A TOWN WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME

Contents

4 | FASHION PREVIEW: GAME DAY READY 6 | BRAZOS VALLEY AREA DAY TRIPS 10 | 411: THOMAS A. WALLIS 11 | 411: CLARK C. EALY 14 | 411: JOHN A. MCCAFFREY 15 | 411: JEFFREY S. MCMASTER 18 | HOME IN STYLE FEATURE: CREATING A COLORFUL HOME 22 | BRAZOS COUNTY HEART BALL 26 | SON OF TEXAS- TIM BRYAN 30 | FASHION PREVIEW: FALL BLING 32 | RESTAURANT ROW 34 | NEWMAN 10 BUSINESS AWARDS 38 | CRAWFISH COOK-OFF 42 | “I LOVE AMERICA” CELEBRATION 44 | ST JOSEPH’S NEW EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA CENTER 46 | FALL LANDSCAPE TASKS CRYSTAL DUPRÈ publisher SHAUNA LEWIS special projects editor

LINDA BRINKMAN advertising manager COURTNEY LEWELLEN section designer cover photo illustration by SAM CRAFT AND JORDAN OVERTURF

307 University Drive • College Station, TX Since 1974

Good Burgers Cold Beer Mixed Drinks

EXPERIENCE THE TRADITION 2

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

Well done.

“This is where folks need to go to get their knees fixed.”

“I’ve spent my life in the food service business. All those years on concrete floors took a real toll on my knees. When I had to get one replaced, I went to College Station Medical Center. Their care was awesome. I was up and walking the same day! I made an appointment for the other knee right away. I wouldn’t go anyplace else. I don’t hurt anymore. It’s like a whole new life!”

For more information, visit CSMedOrtho.com.

1604 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, TX 77845 • CSMedCenter.com

Robert Collins Double Knee Replacement

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

3

fashion preview

game day

ready

DAVID GARDNER’S: You can’t go wrong with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date in 18KT white gold and maroon.

WITT’S END: Team spirit

TEXAS ROSE: Texas A&M tote by Double D Ranch.

Reveille Gypsy Soule flip flops are made in the USA with Swarovski crystals.

DAVID GARDNER’S: I LOVE turquoise with maroon.

TEXAS ROSE: Jess Jeans by Gypsy Soule and Burgundy Cardigan perfect for any Fall game day.

WITT’S END: Show your true colors WITT’S END: Game day style

BRAZOS VALLEY AREA

BY SARAH LEE SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

S

ummer may be over, but that doesn’t mean the adventures have to end. Life in the Brazos Valley lends itself to many day-trip opportunities. Did you know that the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed at Washington-on-the-Brazos? Or that the oldest operating cotton gin in Texas is located in Burton? Spend a Saturday or even a whole weekend exploring the small Texas towns that make up a region rich in history and natural beauty.

BRENHAM AND BURTON Although famous for the southern staple, Blue Bell ice cream in Brenham also is home to many historical sites and cultural activities.

Visit Brenham’s historical homes, and step back in time to get a glimpse of life during the early years of Texas. The Giddings Wilkin House Museum, 805 Crockett St., is the oldest standing home in Brenham and an example of the innovation these first settlers possessed.

Just down the street is the Ross Carroll Bennett House, a treasured Texas historical landmark built in 1898. Complete your experience at the 6

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

DAY TRIPS

Giddings Stone Mansion, a beautiful home with incredible architectural detail and historical significance. To purchase tour tickets, go to www.giddingsstonemansion.com or call The Heritage Society of Washington County at 979836-1690.

After a day of experiencing the past life of Brenham, see the present-day community in action and catch a show downtown at the Unity Theatre. With its 21st season starting this fall, there’s sure to be something for everyone to enjoy. Enjoy “Always…Patsy Cline” from Sept.

24 to Oct. 11, or “See Rock City” from Nov. 5 to Nov. 15, and be sure to check out the full season lineup, purchase tickets and learn about special events at www.unitybrenham.org.

Less than 20 minutes from Brenham is Burton, home to the Texas Cotton Gin Museum. This gin is the last surviving air system gin still in operation with original equipment in the United States!

Stop by for a tour of this Texas historic landmark.

INDEPENDENCE AND WASHINGTON-ON-THE-BRAZOS Home to Sam Houston during his run as a

United States senator, Independence is a small town with a big past.

Independence has worked hard to preserve its historical landmarks and keep its heritage alive. Take a walking or driving tour, and see the remains and restorations of the very beginnings of Baylor University at Old Baylor Park, Windmill Hill and several other sites of interest.

The tour will also include historical sites such as the Lueckemeyer Cotton Gin, the Town Square and General Store. Walk through the gardens and buildings at the world-renowned Antique Rose Emporium, and maybe take home some roses of your own!

Learn about one of Texas’ most influential families, and see the site of the original Houston Homestead and the Mrs. Sam Houston house, where Mrs. Houston lived after the passing of her husband.

The Independence Historical Society of Washington County also offers lighted church tours featuring six churches in the community.

Get a different perspective on a bike tour that takes you on the scenic route from Washington-

Photos contributed by Heritage Society of Washington County. Opposite page, left: The Giddings Stone Mansion is an example of 19th century Greek Revival architecture, and has 11 rooms and two broad galleries that run the full length of the house, both upstairs and downstairs. A separate building houses the kitchen, laundry and servants’ wing. The home’s exterior is defined by massive Doric columns and wide verandas. The interior centerpiece of the house is an elegant carved cantilevered staircase, ascending from the lower hallway to the upstairs gallery. Below: The Giddings Stone Mansion’s interior features spacious rooms with intricate wainscoting and paneled woodwork. Although it was built before public water systems and indoor plumbing, the house has four original bathrooms that first used water from the home’s two cisterns.

Above: The Giddings Wilkin House Museum is the oldest standing home in Brenham, and offers a glimpse into the early lifestyle of the town’s most important resident of the 19th century and the innovations he brought to the region.

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

7

8

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

Photos contributed by Heritage Society of Washington County. Opposite page: The Ross Carroll Bennett House in Brenham is a three-story Victorian structure built of cypress wood, scored to simulate stone. It has 10 rooms, fully furnished with original family and period antiques and a third-floor attic that was once the site of festive parties and dances. Above: The Giddings Wilkin House Museum is fully furnished with period and original Giddings and Wilkin family pieces, including many photos, paintings, garments and other artifacts. Below: The Ross Carroll Bennett House features antique furniture and décor and a carved rosewood square grand piano.

on-the-Brazos State Park to Independence.

Whether you choose to walk, bike or drive, be sure to add Independence to your itinerary! Find a map of the locations and more information at www.independencetx.com.

Take a quick drive to Washington-onthe-Brazos and visit the Star of the Republic Museum, where you can experience Texas history in chronological order at the permanent and temporary exhibits. “The Enduring Spirit: African Americans in 19th Century Texas” exhibit will run through February 2016. Head

upstairs for a taste of the social and multicultural history of the republic of Texas. Kids and grandparents alike will enjoy the Showers-Brown Discovery Center, where history comes to life through interactive, hands-on, multi-sensory activities. Find more information at www. starmuseum.org.

Living History Days at the Barrington Farm and Independence Hall provide an immersive experience and a glimpse into life in mid-1800s Texas. Learn how to write with a quill pen; add your signature to a copy of the Texas Declaration

of Independence; and help out with chores on the farm. For specific dates, special events and more information, visit www.wheretexasbecametexas. org.

Sarah Lee is a marketing intern with The Arts Council. For more information on The Arts Council, visit www.acbv.org, call 979-696-2787, email info@ acbv.org, or drop by 2275 Dartmouth St., in College Station. The Arts Council is dedicated to making the arts accessible to all citizens and visitors of the Brazos Valley through funding, promotion, advocacy and partnership building.

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

9

Thomas A. Wallis Hometown: Amarillo Occupations: Bryan ISD superintendent, formerly high school principal, assistant principal, history teacher, coach for football, basketball, baseball and track.

What is an interesting fact about you that not many people know?

I was adopted by my parents at the old age of 2 days.

How do you usually spend your summers?

Watching and coaching my two boys in summer baseball.

What are your hobbies?

Golf, working out, spending time with my family.

If your house caught on fire, what would be the first things you’d save?

Family pictures.

If you turn on your playlist, what song would be playing?

Toby Keith or Tim McGraw.

What is at the top of your bucket list?

Wish to attend a Super Bowl.

PHOTO BY DAVE MCDERMAND THE EAGLE

10

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

Clark C. Ealy Hometown: Dallas Occupation: College Station ISD superintendent of schools What is an interesting fact about you that not many people know?

I started my career in education as an English teacher and basketball coach. As the head basketball coach at Dallas Bishop Lynch, I had a career record of 46-49 in three seasons. After we lost to Dallas Lincoln High School 93-29, I began to consider other career options like being a school administrator.

How do you usually spend your summers?

With three kids in high school and one in college, our summers are often filled with children’s activities. As a family we do like to take some time to briefly escape the heat and usually visit Colorado for a week or so.

What are your hobbies?

My number one hobby is supporting my children in their various activities, which include competitive dance/drill team, volleyball, football, soccer, basketball, band and track. When I’m not at an event, I enjoy fishing at my in-laws’ outside of Navasota or playing basketball.

If your house caught on fire, what would be the first things you’d save?

Assuming that my wife Connie, our kids and dogs are already safe, I would most likely grab the records first. I know that is not very interesting, but I can’t imagine starting over after my house burned. I would want to make the process easier.

If you turn on your playlist, what song would be playing?

I am pretty sure that none of the other school leaders will answer this question like me. If you opened my iPod or Pandora, almost assuredly you would hear ‘8os hip hop, most likely Run DMC, LL Cool J, Beastie Boys or someone like that.

What is at the top of your bucket list?

Three of our kids have been able to take part in the district’s dual language program, and my hope is that one or more of them will use their Spanish fluency and literacy in their employment. The top of my bucket list would be to visit my kids as they work in a Spanish-speaking country. One added benefit is that I could use my rudimentary Spanish skills, which always entertain my kids.

PHOTO BY DAVE MCDERMAND THE EAGLE THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

11

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

GEORGE BUSH LIBRARY’S upcoming PROGRAMS/EXHIBITS

T

he George Bush Presidential Library and Museum provides quality informational and family-friendly educational programs, and hosts annual events and exhibits that are fun for all ages.

One of the most famous presidential pets to reside on the White House grounds was Millie, President George H.W. Bush’s dog. To celebrate the love that President Bush had for man’s best friend, we will be showing the film “My Dog Skip,” August 21st at 7 p.m. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs as we enjoy this film under the

stars by the presidential pond. Games and free refreshments will begin at 7 p.m., and the movie will start after sundown.

On August 25, at 7 p.m., the Presidential Library welcomes internationally recognized author Mike Guardia as he discusses his newest book, “The Fires of Babylon: Eagle Troop and the Battle of 73 Easting.” Following Mr. Guardia’s talk, there will be a reception in the rotunda, where you will have an opportunity to purchase his book and have it signed.

Current exhibits include the “Americans

with Disabilities Act-25 Years” exhibit to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, on display now through January 2016. There is also the “History in the Making: Texas A&M Forest Service” exhibit, which brings to life the people, places and events that shaped the agency over the past 100 years. The exhibit runs through November 8, 2015.

For more information call (979) 691-4068, email reservations.bush@nara.gov, or register online at bush41.org.

LEARN

about the Bush Presidency

POSE

for a photo in our Oval Office

RELAX

by the fishing pond

@bush41 1000 GEORGE BUSH DRIVE WEST COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77845

979.691.4000 12

BRAZOS 360

bush41.org

FALL 2015

W I VA T H A ST LID UD TA EN MU T ID

FREE

ADMISSION

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

13

John A. McCaffrey Hometown: (Military family) – Lincoln, New Hampshire Occupations: Roman Catholic priest and head of St. Joseph Catholic School System What is an interesting fact about you that not many people know?

Upon graduation from Florida State University, I went to Vietnam and served with the American Red Cross.

How do you usually spend your summers?

Trying to finish what I did not complete the previous year and getting ready for a new school year.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy reading, being quiet, weight lifting and running.

If your house caught on fire, what would be the first things you’d save?

I would save myself, and then I would secure my chalice that I use in offering the Mass.

If you turn on your playlist, what song would be playing?

I do not enjoy music, and I hardly ever listen to music.

What is at the top of your bucket list?

To walk the Camino De Santiago in Spain or in English the Way of St. James.

PHOTO BY DAVE MCDERMAND THE EAGLE 14

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

Jeffrey S. McMaster Hometown: Linden, Michigan Occupation(s): Brazos Christian School headmaster

What is an interesting fact about you that not many people know?

Even though I’m kind of a bookworm and a nerd, I have an adventurous side. Among other things, I’ve gone bungee-jumping, cliff diving and white-water rafting, run triathlons and 5Ks, and hiked the Costa Rican jungle. But most people only see the reserved, bookish side.

How do you usually spend your summers?

I spend my summers planning and preparing for the next school year. People often assume that, because I work in a school, I have summers off, but the reality is that it requires lots of planning to get ready for the school year, if I want to help the teachers to be their best and the students to have a great experience.

What are your hobbies?

I really enjoy spending time with my wife, reading and writing, and trying new foods, especially foods that are unique to cultures that I visit or communities where I live. Since I am new to Texas, I am thoroughly enjoying the experience of Texas barbecue.

If your house caught on fire, what would be the first things you’d save?

I would want to save those things that are irreplaceable and personally meaningful, so first would be my family and my dog, followed by my study Bible and my wife’s artwork, and then my cellphone and laptop.

If you turn on your playlist, what song would be playing?

It would be a song that tells the story of and reflects my faith, so most likely something like “Hello My Name Is” by Matthew West; “This Is the Stuff” by Francesca Battistelli; “Revelation” by Third Day; or “Shine” or “God’s Not Dead’ by the Newsboys.

What is at the top of your bucket list?

Individually, I would love to try skydiving. I would really like to experience the exhilaration of unattached free falling (if my wife would let me). With my wife, I would love to take a long Mediterranean cruise. We first met in Europe on a Christian school senior trip, and I would so love to travel back there with her and see places we didn’t see then.

PHOTO BY DAVE MCDERMAND THE EAGLE THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

15

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

ST. JOSEPH TEAMS UP WITH TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

U

nder a new partnership, St. Joseph Health System will have the only Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staffed by neonatologists from Houston-based Texas Children’s Hospital. It will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with doctors from the nationally recognized facility.

Texas Children’s Hospital operates the country’s largest Level IV NICU, caring for more than 2,500 babies each year. A Level III NICU offers a high level of care for critically ill

infants born at 28 weeks and later.

“Expectant mothers want the very best for their children. Through this partnership with nationallyrecognized Texas Children’s, mothers can now have added peace of mind and confidence in the level of care provided at St. Joseph Regional Health Center’s NICU,” said Dina Perez-Graham, vice president and chief nursing officer for the St. Joseph Health System.

For more information, go to www.st-joseph.org.

beyond

Caring You want a doctor who is board-certified and kid sensitive.

That’s why St. Joseph Pediatricians specialize in treating the whole child. From birth through adolescence, we provide compassionate, credentialed pediatric care parents can trust. And that care is backed by the strength of the region’s premier healthcare system. Discover doctors who go above and beyond to keep your children well.

Call 979.774.2121 or visit st-joseph.org/appointment now.

ST. JOSEPH PHYSICIANS. WELL. BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS.

16

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

Design-Install

ACME Glass Products & Services- Since1946

Make an Investment in Your Home Whether you are remodeling your existing bathroom or building your new dream home, let the professionals at ACME Glass assist you with your mirrors and shower enclosures. We will measure and fabricate our glass products to custom Þt fit your home.

Quotes - Consultation - Design - Installation Showroom 810 S Washington Ave Bryan, Texas 77803 979.822.5871

www.acmeglass.com

Family And Cosmetic Dentistry • Digital Technology • CEREC – Same Day Crowns • Invisalign (clear braces)

• Dental Implants • ZOOM Teeth Whitening • Nitrous Oxide / Oral Sedation

4056 State Highway 6 S • College Station, Texas 77845 • (979) 693-6723 • cashiondental.com

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

17

HOME IN STYLE FEATURE STORY

PHOTOS BY DAVE MCDERMAND THE EAGLE

CREATING A COLORFUL HOME COUPLE’S SOUTH COLLEGE STATION HOUSE FEATURES VIBRANT, PLAYFUL DÉCOR

BY SHAUNA LEWIS THE EAGLE

W

hen the décor of Nikki and Mike Terry’s south College Station house was completed, the newlyweds ended up with the home they dreamed of – a living space that was colorful, playful and full of the unexpected.

Home builder Grant Caffey started construction on the home in November 2013, and the Terrys moved into their new place in July 2014. The house has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, two half bathrooms, a study and a theatre/media room. When Nikki and Mike, who married in May, were planning for construction, they wanted an open layout and plenty of room to entertain family and friends.

They also wanted a colorful, playful home, and Nikki wanted a butterfly theme throughout.

Mike added that he wanted something “different” and not just “brown and Texan.”

Although Nikki has a “docile” personality, her décor tastes are bold, said Joshua Ortiz, co-owner and lead interior decorator of Brazos Valley Decorative Center/Ambrose Furniture Works in Bryan, who executed the home’s interior 18

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

design.

“She likes pretty things. She’s very playful,” Ortiz said.

Nikki said this was her third home to build, so she already had several pieces of furniture and many decorations, including sentimental items from grandmothers and great-grandmothers that she wanted to display, as well as souvenirs from trips to Italy, her favorite vacation place.

Since 2008, the Terrys have been visiting Italy with family once a year, usually spending two weeks there.

“When I started building the house, I thought I could pick everything out,” she said.

“Then I started and said, ‘No, this is way too overwhelming.’”

The Terrys brought in Ortiz, who helped the couple select a mix of things they already owned and new items. The company re-upholstered some of Nikki’s furniture she already had, to fit in with the home’s interior décor.

Ortiz said he worked to create an interior that was soft, playful and colorful. This is apparent from the moment visitors walk in the house –

with a handwoven, bubble–gum pink rug in the entryway and a matching beaded chandelier hanging over the nearby custom staircase.

Immediately to the left of the entrance, the home office affords a bright, energetic place for the Terrys to work. The color palette was derived from a sofa and rug that Nikki already had. With features such as orange walls and a butterfly cotton print -- on the custom desk chair with a cutout in its back, on a matching footstool and on the band of the custom draperies -- the room is anything but a drab office space. Mike said he enjoys walking into the office, and looking out the large windows. The couple’s Yorkie dog, Libby, also loves to spend much of her time by the room’s large windows looking for deer and squirrels.

To the right of the entryway, the dining room has an elegant but fun atmosphere. The room has mostly light colors, including a beautiful, handknotted wool rug; a striking lacquered veneered linen table; a white chandelier; and a white hutch filled with collectibles. These elements are contrasted starkly with an eggplant color that is

Opposite page: Nikki and Mike Terry’s moved into their south College Station home last year. Above: The home’s butterfly theme continues in the backyard, with the colorful outdoor living area (left) and the pool (right), which features a tiled butterfly in the center of the floor.

Nikki and Mike Terry, with their dog, Libby, stand in the kitchen of their south College Station home. The newlyweds wanted a house with an open layout and bright, playful décor.

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

19

Left, top and bottom: The master bedroom shows off a mirrored velvet tufted bed, pewter grass cloth as an accent wall, metallic embroidered custom draperies and a soft, ethereal palette. Contrasts were created by using a variety of fabrics, such as velvets, linens, grass cloths and silks. Above right: A metallic starburst velvet tufted ottoman is the center showpiece of the master bedroom, a relaxing room decorated with soft colors.

featured with seat cushions on wooden dining chairs, in two centerpiece vases and in the print of the curtains.

Continuing into the home, one big room containing the living and kitchen areas maintains the sophisticated but bright look of the home.

In the eye-catching living area are a custom patterned sisal rug and a beautiful, cream-colored Kravet leather sofa, topped with turquoise, chevron print throw pillows made of Oscar de la Renta fabric. A large painting of a peacock, over the custom faux-painted fireplace, provides a bold centerpiece. Other playful touches include a framed piece of butterfly artwork and brightly colored chairs.

In the kitchen area, pops of splashy colors include three green barstools at the island and a charming breakfast nook in the corner containing a small table and two red chairs. The nook also boasts several windows – overlooking 20

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

the backyard -- and a window seat with brightly colored cushions, each in a different pattern.

Upstairs, visitors will notice the jazzy theater/ media room, painted in a vivid teal, and displaying more framed butterfly artwork on the walls.

“We wanted something very colorful, very bright, very stark,” Ortiz said about the room.

Contrasting the teal are a lovely white sofa and matching cabinet under the large-screen television, along with two yellow and teal throw blankets Nikki’s grandmother crocheted for the room and coordinating yellow and teal pillows and Lee Jofa fretwork linen curtains from the Lily Pulitzer collection. Though it might be scary to some to have a white sofa, Ortiz said it is covered in an-easy-to-clean fabric. Other fun touches include a table with bubble-like candy containers and a nearby Coca-Cola popcornmaking machine. The room is Ortiz’s favorite.

“I love how unorthodox it is,” Ortiz said. “I like

unexpected things.”

Unlike the rest of the home, the master bedroom and bathroom were decorated using a soft palette, resulting in calming spaces for the homeowners to unwind. Diversity is created by utilizing a variety of fabrics with different textures, such as velvets, linens, grass cloths and silks.

Finishing out the home is the backyard, with a relaxing outdoor kitchen and living area, which features a fireplace and a big-screen television.

Past that is a beautiful pool with a tiled butterfly in the floor’s center. Adding to the fun is a slide at one end of the pool and a hot tub at the other.

It’s easy to see why family members come over to swim and visitors tend to gravitate toward the backyard. A couple even recently got married by the top of the pool slide. The backyard is the ideal finale to a striking home full of playful, unexpected features.

Top left: Schumacher butterfly wallpaper and retro tile mosaic make the powder bathroom unique. Top right: The media room features Lilly Pulitzer linen fretwork draperies, alpaca accent stools and a painted linen media cabinet.

Center left: The home office is a fun place to work, with touches such as an almond leather desk and Schumacher butterfly cotton print on the custom desk chair and the band of the custom draperies. It is also a favorite room of the homeowner’s Yorkie, Libby (pictured). Second row, center: The dining room is elegant but fun, with a beautiful, handknotted wool rug, a lacquered veneered linen table, a white chandelier and a white hutch filled with collectibles. These elements are contrasted starkly with an eggplant color that is featured with seat cushions on wooden dining chairs, in two centerpiece vases and in the print of the curtains. Bottom left: When visitors enter the Terrys’ house, they will see a bubblegum pink, hand-knotted rug and a matching beaded chandelier, as well as a handsome staircase with a geometric patterned wool blend custom staircase runner. Below: The eye-catching living area was decorated with a custom patterned sisal rug; a Kravet leather sectional; Oscar de la Renta honeycomb chenille chairs, a purple/ pewter geometric exaggerated wingback chair; and custom draperies made of printed linen floral.

PHOTOS BY BRYAN SMITH SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

Allison Polka, Bryan and Jennifer Reece

BRAZOS COUNTY HEART BALL BREAKS FUNDRAISING RECORDS

BY SHAUNA LEWIS THE EAGLE

T

he American Heart Association’s annual Brazos County Heart Ball this summer broke fundraising records with $286,850.

The Brazos County Heart Ball, at the Miramont Country Club in Bryan, has been held for more than 20 years.

“Through the hard work of our committee and volunteers, as well as our community support, we raised more this year for the fight against heart disease and stroke than ever before,” said Brittany Cervantes, the American Heart Association’s local corporate market director.

The Brazos County Heart Ball was a black-tie event that included fine dining; entertainment by 22

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

local band, the Rock-a-Fellas; a live auction; and talks about heart disease. The event celebrates the American Heart Association’s work and mission, as well as donors and volunteers and the lives saved and improved because of their efforts, Cervantes said.

Heart Ball events are held nationwide. Last year the Heart Ball campaign raised almost $60 million nationwide, allowing the American Heart Association to fund its research, advocacy and education programs that are needed for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and stroke across the country, Cervantes said.

Locally, she said, the Brazos County event is one of several tools used to raise money to fund various programs that touch all walks of life.

“Not only do we have over $1.8 million in local research grants this year alone, but we have programs that focus on quality of care that help patient outcomes,” Cervantes said. “We also have several programs for children that help develop lifelong healthy habits, projects focused on congenital heart defects and advocacy projects to help build healthier lives for all Americans.”

For more information on the American Heart Association, visit www.heart.org.

Katherine Zemanek, Sally Stroech

Carol Anderson, Pat and Don Rice

Dr. Jerry Strawser, Dr. Simon Sheather, Dr. Sam Harrison

Jeremy and Stacey Ksionda

Matt Childers, Cassie Evins

Amy and Bud Brooks THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

23

Cassie Coulter, Joseph Saucier

Lina Lawson, Donna Adam, Jose Carrera, Tina Gandy

Mike, Jennifer and Sharon Reece

Michele and Blaine Buenger 24

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

Chance Okonski, Heather Rasco

Anne and Steve Christian

Fain and Janie McDougal

Noreen Johnson, Haywood Robinson Allison Brown, Chris Harrell

Bao Le, Gadiel Berrio, Jason Jennings, Barret Curnutte, Bob Yancy

Brittany Olsen, Jacob Bye

Ambrose Furniture Works Brazos Valley Decorative Center

Design Services • Custom Furniture & Upholstery • Draperies, Bedding & Hardware • Rugs & Cleaning

401 South Main Street Bryan, TX 77803 | (979) 822-4071 | www.ambrosefurnitureworks.com THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

25

HISTORIC FAMILY |

Tim Bryan and his brother, Travis B. Bryan III, are not only living descendants of the city of Bryan’s namesake, they also are related to Stephen F. Austin, dubbed Father of Texas for bringing Anglo settlers to the Mexicanoccupied territory.

Son of Texas

TIM BRYAN’S EAGERNESS TO DISCUSS BANKING IS EQUAL ONLY TO CHATTING ABOUT HIS FAMILY HISTORY STORY BY EMILY WILKINS

¿

PHOTOS BY SAM CRAFT

COVER STORY

F

or Tim Bryan, growing up in Brazos County sometimes was like an episode of “Leave it to Beaver,” he said.

He was a small-town boy who loved and respected his parents, went to church on Sunday and played Little League baseball with his older brother every summer.

He even was the high school quarterback who dated the head cheerleader.

“It was apple pie and Chevrolet — that kind of stuff,” he said of growing up in a city that bears his family’s namesake. “Every place I go in Bryan and College Station brings back memories.”

It’s in this community that Bryan has invested most of his life and it’s here where an immense passion for public service, history and banking appear to be rooted in the Bryan family’s DNA. Tim’s older brother, Travis Bryan III, took a different route for his career — he’s a former district attorney and defense lawyer who now serves as a district judge. But Tim decided early on that he would follow in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-great uncle: He’d be a banker.

He was at the helm of First National Bank in 2006 when, standing beside his father Travis Bryan Jr., he announced they were selling the oldest bank in Texas and, after 144 years, his family’s direct ties would end. A few years later, he jumped back into leading a community bank when he opened The Bank and Trust, taking about 20 former First National Bank of Bryan co-workers with him.

He also carried along with him one of his father’s mottos that was handed down from his father: “If you take care of the customer, the customer will take care of you.”

“It’s the people who live here and do business here who make a difference for us,” Bryan said. “So everything we do is tailored to trying to develop that segment of the population, and you can’t do that without developing the community as a whole.”

THE BRYAN WAY William Joel Bryan — for whom the city was named 12 years after he sold land to the Houston and Texas Central Railroad in 1860

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

27

as an enticement to get the rail built in the region — was Tim’s great-great-grandfather, and Stephen F. Austin was William Joel’s uncle. Bryan was a part of establishing the city’s first lending institution and financially supported the city in its infancy.

His son, Guy M. Bryan, along with partners Frank Clarke and J.W. Howell, merged with that 5-year-old lending institution in 1867 and opened the region’s first bank — First National Bank of Bryan. It became the 11th National Bank Charter issued in Texas.

Guy Bryan ended up selling his share of the bank, but it ultimately returned to the Bryan family when his nephew, Travis, worked his way up from secretary to CEO by purchasing stock and through an inheritance — he married the bank president’s daughter. He helped carry the town and its residents through the Great Depression. Together, they even raised enough money to buy a P-51 fighter plane to donate to the U.S. Army.

Travis Bryan passed the bank on to his son, Travis B. Bryan Jr., who led the region’s largest financial institution at the time through highly competitive periods. When his son, Tim, was named CEO in 2001, he became the fourth generation in the Bryan family to run the bank.

With the job duties and title came a self-assigned responsibility to make the city a better place. He already was on multiple nonprofit boards and involved in various organizations. He even won the Man & Youth Award of the Year from the Boys and Girls Club of the Brazos Valley.

“We’re fortunate to live in a robust community with a good deal going on, including folks helping other folks in all kinds of ways,” said Bryan, always eager to side-track the conversation away from any praise.

THE WILD SIDE? Ask friends and family about Tim Bryan in his youth, and you won’t be given a glimpse of the serious businessman he became.

28

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

“(Tim) had the connections to get in the door.

But once he got in the door, he proved he was well-deserving of the opportunity.”

TRAVIS BRYAN III, BROTHER

His older brother, Travis, described him as having a “wild side,” but declined to elaborate.

“My mother worried a lot more about him than me,” Travis Bryan III said. “He was much of a ladies man when he was young. He just liked to go out and have a great time.”

Their father hoped both his sons would go into banking, but Travis said he was more concerned with the criminal justice system.

It was the younger one who displayed an interest in running the bank. As a kid, Tim accompanied his father to work at First National Bank, playing on the typewriter downstairs while his dad worked upstairs.

In high school, he worked in a back room filing checks. He said he just always assumed banking would be his career.

“He seemed to be able to play a lot of golf,” Tim Bryan recalled of his dad, half-joking. “So if I could get that same deal, it seemed appealing to me.”

But both Tim Bryan — the person — and Bryan — the city — were young. The city’s population was roughly 25,000 and College Station had half of that number of residents when he was readying to graduate from high school.

“I just wanted to get away,” he said. “I just wanted to experience something different.”

That something turned out to be 95 miles away in a much larger city — Austin. His sophomore year in college, Tim Bryan transferred from A&M to the University of Texas.

“It was a shock for me,” he said. “I went from military marching to long-haired hippie protesters marching.”

Bryan joined a fraternity, but when the Aggies came to town to play the Longhorns, he said there was no doubt about which team he supported.

“I’m not anti-UT, but I’m very pro-A&M,” he said. “That’s never wavered.”

He returned to Texas A&M, earning a degree in finance in 1972.

After graduating from A&M, Bryan took off for another big city, this time heading to Houston. Thanks to his father, he said he had some help landing a job at Texas Commerce Bank, one of the largest in the state at the time (now known as J.P. Morgan Chase). Once he was there, he quickly rose through the ranks.

“He had the connections to get in the door,” Travis said of his brother. “But once he got in the door, he proved he was welldeserving of the opportunity.”

During his 15 years at Texas Commerce, he learned from those around him. And because he was learning from the best, Travis Bryan III said, he became one of them.

“He’s the best banker in the state of Texas,” he said.

“He honed his skills down in

Houston where there was fierce competition.”

The 1980s recession hit, prompting Tim Bryan to leave banking for five years in which he built multiple Blockbuster video stores. But his brother and his father kept asking him to return home to his roots at First National, Travis Bryan said.

Tim Bryan agreed, saying he wanted to raise his daughters, Emily and Beth, in a smaller town, and the enticement of returning to family was enough to come back to Bryan in 1990.

“First National Bank was the family investment,” he said.

ALL ABOUT PEOPLE For the next 17 years, Bryan worked at the bank, officially taking over his father’s position after just over a decade.

Bryan remains humble about his contributions to the family business. He claims to have not had an original thought about banking his entire life. Instead, he said his success is because of his training and his ability to apply what the big Houston banks were doing and then adapt it to work for First National.

“Tim is a very good thinker,” said Mike Holmgreen, who worked at First National Bank

ROOTS BRYAN FAMILY TIES TO TEXAS HISTORY Born around 1950s

Current President & CEO of TB&T TIMOTHY BRYAN

Current 272nd District Court Judge TRAVIS BRYAN III

TRAVIS BRYAN Jr. ---------- NORMA BRYAN

1922

Only child

Former presidents of First National Bank of Bryan 1892

1840s

Co-founder of city’s first private bank GUY M. BRYAN

TRAVIS BELL BRYAN ---------- RUTH BOATWRIGHT BRYAN 6 siblings ERIN ERNEST ---------- NANNIE F. WALDERMAN BRYAN

6 siblings

1815

WILLIAM JOEL ---------- LAVINIA AUSTIN BRYAN PERRY**

4 siblings

1789

JAMES BRYAN ---------- EMILY AUSTIN PERRY*

Father of Texas who led Anglo settlers STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

* Emily remarried after James Bryan’s death in 1822. **Lavinia was the niece of WJB’s step-father.

and is now vice chairman and chief deposit officer with The Bank and Trust of Bryan-College Station. “He’s a good manager. He’s a good strategist.”

In Tim Bryan’s mind, his greatest strength was attracting some of the best bankers in town to First National, then building a younger and more competitive team than other banks in the area. The key to hiring good people, he said, is to find the people he needed to hold back, rather than the people he’d have to push.

“It’s all about the people,” he said. “I worked with some of the best bankers at the best large bank in Texas in the ’70s and ’80s, but they were no better than this group of bankers I’m working with now. In this market and this place, we’ve got the absolutely the best staff of bankers I’ve ever been associated with.”

One of those people Bryan attracted was Ivan Olson, the former president of First American Bank.

“I got to know Tim from other boards and different events,” said Olson, who was hired on as president of First National Bank and a senior lending officer. “We both had a high respect and appreciation for each other’s banking knowledge.”

It was that staff, as well as shareholders of the bank and employees, that Bryan had to consider in 2006 when Houstonbased Franklin Bank made an offer to buy First National Bank.

Selling it would have benefited not only the stockholders but also the employees who had a stock in the company. Travis Bryan III said he remembers being thrilled that several secretaries received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the sale.

Still, it was a difficult and challenging time for the family.

Letting go of 144 years of history sent Travis B. Bryan Jr., into some depression, Travis Bryan III said.

“My dad’s identity was the bank,” his oldest son recalled.

“The bank was his first love. He

FAMILY HISTORY LEFT | Moses Austin Bryan, named after his grandfather, Moses Austin, who was a 19-year-old sargeant in Sam Houston’s Army at San Jacinto.

CENTER | Guy M. Bryan, speaker of the house in the Texas Legislature and instrumental in formation of Texas A&M. RIGHT | William Joel Bryan, namesake of the city and county seat of Brazos County. loved his customers. He loved the history. His own father said never sell the bank.”

For Tim Bryan, one of the hardest parts also was telling employees the news.

“I haven’t cried too many times in my adult life, but I cried then,” Bryan said. “I could hardly get it out. It was very emotional. The bank was more than just a place to work. It was a labor of love by generations of Bryans.”

The family-owned bank that started with $100,000 and grew to manage assets totaling $517 million was sold for $134 million in 2006.

A NEW CHAPTER With the sale, the Bryans had to sign a non-compete agreement, a common arrangement when banks are sold. It prevented Bryan and other leaders at First National from opening their own bank in the area for two years.

The 2008 recession hit hard and exactly a year and a half after taking over, Franklin failed.

Eventually, the bank was pur-

chased by Prosperity Bank.

“It was the most horrible 18 months of my life,” Tim Bryan said. “But that failure freed us.”

Starting a new lending institution began as an idea from Ivan Olson, Tim Bryan said.

“The community needed, I think, a good local bank to continue to support our customers,” Olson said. “With that level of support from everybody, we jumped off the cliff together.”

On Jan. 2, 2009, Bryan, Olson, Holmgreen and 18 other bankers rented a building on Briarcrest Drive and began making calls on behalf of their new bank: The Bank and Trust.

For the first year, they operated as a part of the Bank and Trust of Del Rio, whose owners were family friends of the Bryans.

“When we walked into the space with just our cell phones, we had zero deposits and zero money,” Tim Bryan said. “Now we have $395 million in deposits and $315 million in loans.”

All of that in six years.

“Our bread and butter is the local business, developers and

“When we walked into the space with just our cell phones, we had zero deposits and zero money.

Now we have $395 million in deposits and $315 million in loans.”

TIM BRYAN, PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE BANK & TRUST

homebuilders,” Bryan said. “We want to be their financial catalysts to expand and take advantage of this community, which will continue to grow.”

For Bryan, that means his bank has an opportunity to help local businesses in a city with a developing medical biocorridor and a university seeking to expand class sizes by thousands of students. He also sees fellow Aggies who moved to larger cities coming back to raise their children and retire.

Through banking, he’s helped support projects like the LaSalle Hotel, a controversial project that ultimately led the way in redeveloping Downtown Bryan. And the bank regularly donates to local community groups, carrying on the philanthropic tradition started by First National.

While Bryan’s two daughters, Emily, 33 and Beth, 31, live in The Woodlands, he said he’s hoping he won’t be the last member of his family to be a banker in the Brazos Valley.

His nephew works at a bank in Austin, and while Bryan said he has yet to mention the idea of moving to The Bank and Trust, he believes it would be a good idea eventually.

“He has something to offer to the bank,” Bryan said. “I wouldn’t say I’m the end of Bryans in banking in Bryan-College Station. I hope that’s not true.”

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

29

fashion preview

fallbling DAVID GARDNER’S: Roberto Coin yellow gold hoops

DAVID GARDNER’S: Century Tree

EARTH ART: Phantom quartz and sterling silver

EARTH ART: Hand painted Russian enamelled mother of pearl

EARTH ART: Laramar and sterling silver

30

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

QUALITY CARE

FOR BRAZOS VALLEY PATIENTS

T

he Physicians Centre Hospital (TPCH) is a physician-owned, patient-friendly health care choice for the Brazos Valley community.

The Physicians Centre Hospital, at 3131 University Drive East in Bryan, offers state-ofthe-art facilities, unique service delivery and amenities and an outstanding staff. Located east of Highway 6 on University Drive, The Physicians Centre Hospital is a medical and surgical hospital, focusing on inpatient and outpatient procedures.

The Physicians Centre Hospital exists to provide professional, efficiently delivered, high-

quality healthcare services to patients, while emphasizing choice, the sanctity of the patient/ physician relationship and the dignity of patients, guest and staff. The hospital’s motto is “Delight our patients, delight our physicians, and delight our staff.”

The hospital features 16 patient suites; six operating rooms; two endoscopy suites; diagnostic imaging, including: MRIs, MRAs, CTs, fluoroscopy, mammography and ultrasounds; pathology and laboratory capabilities; inpatient pharmacy services; and a 24-hour emergency department.

The Physicians Centre Hospital is No. 1 in the

Brazos Valley for Patient Satisfaction. Ninetythree percent of patients recently reported that they would definitely recommend the hospital to others.

Tell your doctor you want The Physicians Centre Hospital. Why would you go anywhere else? For more information on The Physicians Centre Hospital, visit http://thephysicianscentre.com or call 979-731-3100.

#1

in the Brazos Valley

for Patient Satisfaction

 5-Star Rated

by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid for Patient Satisfaction For more information, or to check the rating of another hospital go to: www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare

3131 University Drive East • Bryan, TX 77802 •979-731-3100 •www.thephysicianscentre.com THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

31

RESTAURANT ROW SODOLAK’S ORIGINAL

MONDAY – THURSDAY

COUNTRY INN Texas Size Steaks & Burgers (979)272–6002 Hwy 60 – Snook, TX

11AM – 9PM FRIDAY – SATURDAY 11AM – 9:30PM SUNDAY - CLOSED

ORDE R TO GOS

“HOME OF THE CHICKEN FRIED BACON”

Steaks • Salads • Southwestern Cuisine Full Bar • Happy Hour

3629 Tabor Rd • Bryan • 979.485.2970 • Open Tuesday – Saturday

Two Locations Serving You! 1741 University Drive East, College Station, TX 77840 (Between Home Depot & Cheddars)

979.846.3600 Sunday-Thursday: 11am to 12am | Friday-Saturday: 11am to 1am

1740 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, TX 77840

979.680.0508

Sunday-Thursday: 11am to 12am | Friday-Saturday: 11am to 1am

8101 Highway 6 | P.O. Box 999 | Navasota, TX 77868

Elegant Garden Dining

Tue-Sun | Lunch 11am-3pm | Desserts until 4pm | 936.870.3277 32

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

RESTAURANT ROW EVERYDAY LUNCH BUFFET - 11am – 3pm EVERYDAY DINNER - 5pm – 10pm

2416A TEXAS AVE. SOUTH College Station • 979.696.6560

WWW.TAZCUISINE.COM

JUICES, SMOOTHIES & WRAPS

ORGANIC/NATURAL MADE TO ORDER

Northgate Juice Joint 215 University Dr. - College Station - (979)704-6010

EXPERIENCE THE TRADITION Good Burgers • Cold Beer 3600 S. College Bryan, TX • 979-846-3306

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

33

PHOTOS BY BRYAN SMITH SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

NEWMAN 10 BUSINESS AWARDS RECOGNIZE FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES

BY SHAUNA LEWIS THE EAGLE

T

he 10 fastest-growing businesses in the Brazos Valley were recognized during the Newman 10 Business Awards ceremony earlier this summer in College Station, with Exosent Engineering, LLC at the top of the list.

The Bryan Rotary Club, in cooperation with the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce, holds the award ceremony to honor successful small businesses in the Brazos Valley for their achievements and the significant impact they have on the local economy, according to the rotary club. To be eligible for the awards, a company must be an independent, privately-held corporation, proprietorship or partnership that has been in business at least five years. Businesses must have had sales of more than $50,000 but less than $25 million in fiscal year 2009, and show a five-year sales history with an increase from fiscal 34

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

year 2013-2014. Nominated companies fill out applications, and then an economist at Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School ranks the top 10 companies based on the percentage increase of gross sales.

At the top of the list, Exosent Engineering, LLC, manufactures cargo tank pressure vessels.

The company’s ExoLG, a liquid propane trailer that is the first of its kind in North America, came out in April.

Other award winners were: 2 - Schaefer Custom Homes 3 - Cortiers Real Estate 4 - CEO Etc. 5 - Texas Concrete Design 6 - TechBundle, LP 7 - Cedar Lane 8 - Aerofit Health & Fitness Centers

9 - Hotel Solutions, Inc. 10 - United Solutions Also receiving special recognition was Larry Hodges who founded Copy Corner. He received the Anco Award for Lifetime Business Achievement. The award honors a company that has a sustained history of success and respect in its industry, and has significantly contributed to the quality of life in the community through the years.

Essentium Materials received the RVP Commercialization Rising Star Award, which recognizes a company for demonstrating outstanding business innovation and involvement in technology commercialization.

For more information, visit www.bryan-rotary.org.

Dr. Elisa Guzman Teipel, Blake Teipel, Mark Humphrey

Congressman Bill Flores, Marylin Martell, Mike Wright

Burl Haigwood, Carrie Archer, Jin Pillans, Lucia Cropper, Jeanne Delaney, John Delaney, Rich White, Royce Hickman

Claire Crawford, Sandy Crawford, Marshall Crawford

Dick Haddox, Larry Hodges, Kathy Gregory

Tommy Light, Tim Light, Ailene Ueckert, Kris Poston, Walter Hinkle, Rich White THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

35

Debbie Lewis, Chuck Herman, Gary Blair, Roby Somerford, Deborah Cowman, Don Clarke

Tommy Light, Tim Light, Andrew Duggleby, UV Doron, Walter Hinkle, Rich White

Tommy Light, Tim Light, Fran Murr, Walter Hinkle, Rich White 36

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

Tommy Light, Tim Light, Bobby Grabowski, Cedar Lane, Walter Hinkle, Rich White

Vicki Reim, Mike Southerland

Tommy Light, Tim Light, James Murr, Walter Hinkle, Rich White

Congressman Bill Flores

Tommy Light, Tim Light, Steven Sutton, John White, Walter Hinkle, Rich White

Tommy Light, Tim Light, Michael Schaefer, Walter Hinkle, Rich White

Tommy Light, Tim Light, Reagan Jackson, John Stanfield,Walter Hinkle, Rich White

Chris and Heather Crawford, Dale Straud

Tommy Light, Tim Light, Kathy Langlotz, Larry Isham,Walter Hinkle, Rich White THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

37

Craig Hollinger, Ashley Ralph, Betty Ann Conlee, Greg Zweiacker

Kerry Daigre, Debbie and Larry Hoffmann

PHOTOS BY DAVE MCDERMAND THE EAGLE

Larry Jordy, Daniel Goodenow, Randall Hall

CRAWFISH COOK-OFF RAISES FUNDS FOR 100 CLUB

BY SHAUNA LEWIS THE EAGLE

M

usic and mud bugs were part of the festivities at Shipwreck Grill’s Crawfish Cook-Off in Bryan.

The second annual Crawfish Cook-Off was held in the parking lot of Shipwreck Grill, at 206 E. Villa Maria Road. The event -- hosted

by Shipwreck Grill, The Crawfish Hole and Bryan Police Officers Association – included a performance by the band, Cowboy Mouth, and raised funds for the 100 Club.

Shipwreck owner Wade Beckman said, despite

38

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

heavy rains, a crowd of about 500 attended the event. Five people judged in the cook-off, and prizes were awarded for first ($400), second ($200) and third ($100) places. Beckman said more than $4,000 was raised for the 100 Club.

The 100 Club financially assists the dependents of firefighters and law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty by paying their debts and providing an education for their children.

Major sponsors were C.C. Creations, Commerce National Bank and House of Tires.

In 2013, a crawfish event was held to raise funds after two local firefighters were killed and two were injured. That event raised $56,000 in one night, Beckman said, so he wanted to continue holding a similar fundraising event.

For more information on Shipwreck Grill and future events, visit www.shipwreckbcs.com.

For more information about the 100 Club, visit www.the100club.org.

Randy Dowling, Seth Dillard, Leslie Riley

Court Johnson, Kenneth Grant, Heath Clopton, Carl Ramsey

Mike and Melanie Phillips, Presley and Robert Brown

Rachel Slovak, Hugo Ibarra, Memorie Malish, Tyler Shannon

Terrence Nunn, Deyanira and Bart Ely

Patrick Montoya, Jason Ware, Laura Buttgenbach, Stacy and Scott Hines THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

39

Haley Isbell, Amy Richardson, Sherry Schwartz

Rick Jones, Gilbert Garcia

Jennifer Worcester, Ronnie Tubbs, Leah Sipe 40

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

Chris Brown, Shane Harrington, Lisa Brown

Jordan Wall, Kyle Merideth, Baylie Planka

Barry and Ann Satterwhite, Wiley Whatley, Sheri Perdue

April Garrett, Gina Neuendorff, Forest Gardner, Brian and Madison Garrett, Hailey Lanehart, Richard Neuendorff www.edwardjones.com

You put your family first.

Don’t you deserve a financial advisor who puts you first?

At Edward Jones, your goals are our priority. That’s why your financial advisor will meet with you face to face to talk about what’s most important to you and your family. From there, you’ll work together to create an investment strategy to help you work toward your goals.

Join the nearly 7 million investors already working with an Edward Jones financial advisor.

BrianLLCobb, Cobb, AAMS® Brian AAMS® Financial Advisor Advisor Financial .

.

3002Texas Texas Avenue Avenue South 3002 South Suite105 105 Suite CollegeStation, Station, TX College TX77845 77845 979-693-0709 979-693-0709

MKD-7898-A-AD

Member SIPC

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

41

Katy Dempsey, Stewart Coleman, Casey Atnip

Front row: Sha’Miyah and Jessica Hoskins, Javorian Jones Back row: Tanisha Smith, Valencia, Shayla Hoskins

Jessica, Laney, Kaylee, Austyn and Haley Dozie

Racheal and Patrick Cole

“I LOVE AMERICA” 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION:

FIREWORKS AND FUN

PHOTOS BY SAM CRAFT THE EAGLE

BY SHAUNA LEWIS THE EAGLE

T

he College Station Noon Lions Club’s “I Love America” Fourth of July Celebration at George Bush Presidential Library and Museum included a fireworks display, children’s activities and live entertainment.

The museum, on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, offered free admission all day July 4. The College Station Noon Lions Club has been holding the event for more than 50 years, and moved it to George Bush 42

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

Presidential Library and Museum in 2000, said Tracy Paine, the museum’s programs and events director. This year’s event resulted in the largest day of visitors since 1997; 7,043 toured the museum, and another estimated 20,000 people were on the grounds enjoying festivities.

Festivities included concession stands selling food and drinks and a Kids’ Zone with bounce houses, face painting and games.

Live entertainment consisted of a flag-raising

ceremony by the Knights Templar, the presentation of colors by Boy Scout Troop 743, the singing of the national anthem, an F-16 flyover, a hot air balloon glow and performances

by Katye Hamlin, Bret Graham and the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. Senator John Cornyn also made a special appearance at the event.

For more information on George Bush Library and future events, visit bush41.org or call 979-691-4000.

Kelli, Rooni, Dena, Kadie, Steve and Blake Autrey

Front row: Amina, Riena and Kiyana Mishima Back row: Kim Sanders, Sharon Barnes.

Xavier Girela, Jestina Vasquez, Anyssa Girela, Tsaac Vasquez

Hailey, Sean, Mikayla and Tim Pierce Sr.

Amy, Sam, Cormac and Gunner Hascek

Anna Bella Pollard, Cameron and Addison Hicks

Patrick, Tonya, LaTonya and Patrice Johnson THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

43

Mike Costa, Mack Blanton, Brandon Lewis

Andrea Arita, Melinda Mullins, Tina Clay

Royce Hickman, Lynda Gustavus, Mary Mike Hatcher

Steven Crichton, Chuck Ellison, Ricardo Diaz, Thomas Pool

PHOTOS BY DAVE MCDERMAND THE EAGLE

ST. JOSEPH CELEBRATES

NEW EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA CENTER

BY SHAUNA LEWIS THE EAGLE

S

t. Joseph Regional Health Center on hosted a ceremony celebrating a new $23 million emergency and trauma center, expected to be completed in the spring of 2016.

The ceremony near the main entrance to the hospital included the chance for staff and board members from the St. Joseph Health System and Bryan City Council members to sign a support beam that will be one of the pieces in the 44

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

building’s framework.

The new emergency and trauma center will be 24,500 square feet and house 32 rooms, compared with the current, approximately 10,000-square-foot, 28-room facility, said Melissa Shay, St. Joseph’s vice president of marketing and communications.

The new center will include private, spacious rooms; address the needs of special

populations, including seniors and patients with unique behavioral health needs; provide more convenient access to select areas within the hospital; include a second and third helipad; and provide more space to support the hospital’s EMS partners, according to St. Joseph.

For more information, visit www.st-joseph.org/ trauma-and-emergency-care.

MATTRESS SLEEPCENTERS

NEXT TO THE ENTRANCE TO POST OAK MALL 1402 Harvey road • 979-696-3900 10-7 Weekdays • 10-6 saturdays • 1-5 sundays WWW.MATTRESSSLEEPCENTERS.NET

INTRODUCING

LIGHTING

by Craftmade

dealers lighting

an employee owned company Corner of S. College @ Koenig Bryan, TX 77803 (979) 775-1697

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

45

FALL LANDSCAPE TASKS

PLAYS FOR A GAME-WINNING YARD

BY CHARLA ANTHONY SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

T

he essence of fall in Texas is football. For landscapes, fall is the second half of the game, with the clock steadily ticking down. A homeowner quarterback can score big with these fall landscape plays.

LANDSCAPE OFFENSE Planting in the fall in central Texas is like scoring a touchdown. It is our best time to plant because the milder fall temperatures combined with rain allows all the woody ornamentals trees, shrubs and perennials - to continue to grow, establishing new roots into spring. This gives plants an advantage to better withstand the next summer’s heat and drought.

Trees are the running backs and receivers of landscapes because they score points for your home and landscape by adding value - social, communal, environmental and economic. If you are looking to replace or add a new tree in your yard, we suggest a 15-gallon-sized tree because it is easy to handle and plant.

Like the spread offense, smaller planted trees gain momentum quickly. They have minimal transplant shock and rapidly resume growth, unlike a large, 45-gallon tree. Within a few short 46

BRAZOS 360

FALL 2015

years, the smaller tree catches up and can surpass the larger planted tree.

Cool season annuals planted in October and through the winter are yard yell leaders. They perk up landscapes by flowering all the way through spring. Choose old favorites such as alyssum, pansies, petunias, stock and snapdragons. You can also direct-seed many cool season bedding plants in the fall, including Johnny-jump-ups, bluebonnets, sweet peas, larkspur, toadflax and poppies.

Order or purchase spring blooming bulbs to have on hand for planting in December. Divide spring blooming perennials, such as daylily and iris. Plant cool season vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, carrots, spinach and lettuce.

LAWN OFFENSE Until frost continue to mow regularly, even though growth has slowed. Like football practice, mowing is essential to keep turfgrass performing at its best in the growing season. Remove no more than one-third of the length of leaf blades when you mow.

Fall lawn fertilization is similar to football conditioning, in overall turf performance and

endurance. It prolongs color and promotes early spring recovery of turf. Fertilize lawns by Nov. 1 in central Texas.

While fertilization is best done based on soil testing results, apply no more than 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Products formulated specifically for fall applications are available in garden centers. For more information on turfgrass, visit aggieturf.tamu.edu.

Perennial and annual ryegrass can be sown to cover bare spots to prevent erosion.

Pruning of woody ornamentals is not in the fall playbook, as it may stimulate new growth, which would probably be damaged by winter’s freezing temperatures. If possible, wait until winter to prune most trees and shrubs when they are dormant.

Score extra points by replenishing the mulch in your landscaped beds. A covering of 2 to 4 inches deep of shredded hardwood is all that is needed.

Mulch is like the center protecting the quarterback; it minimizes soil temperature fluctuations, controls weed seed germination, adds organic matter to the soil and plays a

major role in moisture conservation. Mulch also insulates the lower stem and root system of a plant from cold temperatures.

Shred, don’t rake leaves. Call an audible with a mulching mower. It can quickly shred leaves and is the simplest way to manage leaf accumulation.

Shredded leaves decompose, adding organic matter to the soil, which improves drainage in heavy clay.

Use shredded leaves as mulch for ornamentals, add them to your compost pile or just leave a thin layer on the lawn so it will settle onto the soil and decompose.

Halftime advantage – take a breather instead of raking leaves.

LANDSCAPE DEFENSE If you had a lawn weed problem last spring before the grass started growing, tackle it with this defensive line strategy. In mid-September for central Texas, apply a pre-emergence herbicide to prevent some annual weeds, such as dandelion, chickweed, henbit and burweed. Carefully read and follow label directions of these products.

Don’t throw an interception - you can’t over seed a lawn with ryegrass if you use a pre-

emergence herbicide to control grassy weeds.

BROWN PATCH Cooler, wetter weather can trigger brown patch, a fungal disease common in St. Augustine lawns.

The best prevention is good lawn management.

Don’t fumble by over-applying nitrogen as this makes the problem worse, but do water turf in the early morning hours.

Call a timeout, if the fungus develops (look for generally circular, brown patches with yellowing at the outer edges) and apply a labeled fungicide at appropriate rate and intervals.

FIRE ANTS Once temperatures are cooler, pesky fire ant mounds show up in September. Apply fire ant bait to your lawn -- ants are still foraging and weather patterns are more predictable so you can apply bait when no rain is expected for several days after treatment. Read and follow product label directions.

SOIL TESTING Fall is a good time for a soil test that will reveal the status of nutrients in your soil. Fertilizing without a soil test is like not watching your

opponent’s game films. Ensure optimum fertilizer use by following recommendations made specifically for your lawn, ornamental plants and vegetable gardens, based on soil analysis performed every few years.

For information on soil testing, visit soiltesting.tamu.edu.

TAKE A TIMEOUT If landscape problems or plant questions are messing up your game plan, then contact me at the Brazos County office of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Extension serves the citizens of Texas, providing research-based horticultural information and solutions to ensure a winning yard.

I am versed in horticulture, but not so much in football, so thanks to my coach Philip Anthony.

For lawn and gardening information specific to Brazos County, visit our website: brazosmg.com.

Charla Anthony is the horticulturist for Brazos County at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, 2619 Texas 21 W., Bryan, Texas, 77803. Her e-mail address is cmanthony@ag.tamu.edu.

THE EAGLE

WWW.THEEAGLE.COM

47

Gig ‘Em! David Gardner ‘78 Proud Sponsor of Aggie Athletics #AggieGameDayRocks