Brazos 360

SPRING 2016

Startup Stars LESSONS IN SUCCESS

SPOTLIGHT 100 photos from big events around town

WHAT’S IN YOUR OFFICE?

A peek at Gen. Joe Ramirez’s desk

360 PROFILES Jacque Flagg, Dr. Candace Light & Morgan Stewart

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EEXPERIENCE THE TRADITION 4

BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

Index

28

Features 17

COVER STORY

Meet three innovative entrepreneurs who are making their mark in Bryan-College Station.

22

AGGIE MUSTER

32

CRAZY FOR CRAWFISH

48

A look at those who work year-round to keep Texas A&M’s sacred tradition going.

38

Chad Hanks is the man behind a big chunk of the crawfish served around town.

WHAT’S IN YOUR OFFICE?

48

Take a peek inside Gen. Joe Ramirez’s office to see the Corps commandant’s mementos and treasures.

360 Profiles

Party Pics

14

38 40 42 44 46

24 28

JACQUE FLAGG

Toy store owner talks about building a business that lasts.

DR. CANDACE LIGHT

Local dentist makes visits fun for little ones.

MORGAN STEWART

Texas A&M student talks cosplay and sci-fi with Cepheid Variable.

Sassy Shoe Social Daddy Daughter Dance Girls Just Want to Have Fun 5K Hospice Happening Tree of Life Heart Ball

Departments 7 13 51

Staff

Calendar By the Numbers The Last Word

by Rob Clark

Crystal Dupré PUBLISHER

Kelly Brown EDITOR

Sean Lewis

SALES DIRECTOR

Rob Clark

SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR

Linda Brinkman

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Kim White DESIGNER

Timothy Hurst

PHOTOGRAPHER THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

5

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

GEORGE BUSH

LIBRARY’S

newest exhibit

T

he George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is proud to announce our newest exhibit, Driven to Drive: Defining Our Identity, which begins May 16, 2016 and ends January 8, 2017.

The automobile has transformed the way Americans live and how they define their identity. The growth of the automobile

industry caused an economic and social revolution. This exhibit will explore how the evolution of car designs and functions reflect the evolution of twentieth century America.

In partnership with the Houston Automobile & Transportation Museum, the exhibit will tell the story through historical objects, interactive media

and hands on displays. The exhibit will highlight cars beginning with the 1950s that were created to meet those changes.

There will also be a display of the present and future.

For more information, visit bush41.org and click on the exhibits tab.

May

16 1000 G EORGE B USH D R. W EST C OLLEGE S TATION , T EXAS 77845

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The automobile has transformed the way Americans live and how they define their identity.

The growth of the automobile industry caused an economic and social revolution. This exhibit will explore how the evolution of car designs and functions reflect the evolution of twentieth century America.

July

4

6

BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

The 56th Annual I love America

4th of July Celebration

Music • Games • Concessions • Free Museum Entry Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra • Fireworks

Local Events

Please note: Events are subject to change. Check the venue websites for full details.

CIRQUE MECHANICS

MSC OPAS presents the world of “Pedal Punk,” a steampunk-inspired circus about a wacky bike shop mechanic who interacts with whimsical cyclists and bikes.

Details: March 30 at 7 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium, 401 Joe Routt Blvd., College Station. $35. mscopas.org.

ZANE WILLIAMS AT HURRICANE HARRY’S

The Abilene singer-songwriter wrote one of the standout tracks (While I Was Away) on Pat Green’s latest album, and is touring in support of his own disc, Snapshots, which was released in January.

Details: April 1 at 9 p.m. at Hurricane Harry’s, 313 College Ave., College Station. $8. harrys.bcsclubs.com.

MITCHELL INSTITUTE STAR PARTIES

The Texas A&M University Astronomy Group hosts free star parties for anyone interested in looking at the night sky through a telescope. There is no need to RSVP. Details: April 6 and May 4 at 8 p.m. at Simpson Drill Field on Lamar Street, College

Station. instrumentation.tamu. edu/starparty.

MOVIES IN THE PARK

The city of College Station is screening Minions, the Despicable Me prequel, on a 32-foot inflatable, high-definition screen. Attendees are invited to bring blankets, chairs and coolers (which must be 48 quarts or smaller). Alcohol and glass containers are not allowed. Pets are welcome.

Details: April 8 at 8 p.m. at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater, 1015 Colgate Drive, College Station. Free. cstx.gov/movies.

DOWNTOWN STREET & ART FAIR

The annual Downtown Bryan event features regional artists selling their handmade creations. It is part of Texas A&M’s Parents’ Weekend, and the public is invited to enjoy live music, hands-on art demonstrations, street performers and kid activities.

Details: April 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Downtown Bryan.

Free.

continued on Page 9

PARENTS’ WEEKEND Quick, Aggies, clean up your rooms. Parents’ Weekend returns April 8-10, with a slew of events to help the folks appreciate life in Aggieland. Here’s a look at some of the highlights.

Note: Events are subject to change, and some events have admission charges. Go to parentsweekend.tamu. edu/events for more information.

AGGIE RING DAY Be there for Aggies getting their long-awaited ring (pictured above). April 8 starting at 9:45 a.m. at the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center.

YELL PRACTICE It’s not football season, and it won’t be held at midnight, but that doesn’t mean students and parents can’t get in on the yelling fun. April 8 at 10 p.m. at Kyle Field.

KYLE FIELD TOURS Get a look at the renovated football stadium in these free, 30-minute tours. April 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

MAROON AND WHITE GAME The A&M football team gives a sneak peek at the 2016 season with this scrimmage.

April 9 at 5 p.m. at Kyle Field.

CORPS OF CADETS REVIEW & UNIT AWARDS CEREMONY April 8 at 6 p.m. at Simpson Drill Field.

SINGING CADETS SPRING CONCERT April 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium.

BUCK WEIRUS SPIRIT AWARD CEREMONY This award recognizes students who have made significant contributions on campus. April 10 at 11 a.m. at the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center.

BASEBALL A&M takes on Georgia on Friday, Saturday and Sunday PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING at Blue Bell Park at Olsen FESTIVAL Field.

Check out exhibits, speakers and a “science circus.” April WOMEN’S TENNIS 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Aggies take on Tennesat the Mitchell Institute for see at the Mitchell Tennis Fundamental Physics and Center on April 8 at 5 p.m., Astronomy and the Mitchell and Georgia on April 10 at Physics Building. noon.

April 15 - May 1, 2016 SHOW: BRIAUD FINANCIAL • Set: Bill and Becky Reynolds • stephen R. WRight dds • Marketing: dick oRR insuRance (oRR Family) • sandy peck

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Funding for these organizations is provided by hotel taxes from the cities of College Station and Bryan as distributed through the ACBV.

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June 15 – 16 and June 20 – 24, 2016 • 9am - 12pm Performance on June 24 at 7pm.

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

EVENTS ‘BYE, BYE BIRDIE’

The Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-winning musical about a rock ‘n’ roll singer who is about to be drafted into the Army. The show’s popular songs include An English Teacher, What Did I Ever See in Him?, Put on a Happy Face, One Boy and A Lot of Livin’ to Do. Details: April 15 through May 1 at The Theatre Company, 725 E. Villa Maria Road, Bryan. $15 and $20, $5 for 12 and under. theatrecompany.com.

PREMIER MARKET

The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra presents the annual event that features upscale merchants selling specialty items, home accessories, clothing, gourmet foods, jewelry and more. All proceeds benefit the cultural and educational programs of the symphony orchestra.

Details: April 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and April 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Brazos County Expo, 5827 Leonard Road, Bryan. $5 general admission. VIP bundles $35 to $95. bvso.org/events/ premiere-market.

CHILIFEST The Chilifest crew nabbed a big headliner for the event’s 25th anniversary. Legendary Texas trio ZZ Top will play the outdoor festival. Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard have long been the blues-boogie class of the state, from the “haw-haw-haw-haw” fun of LaGrange to the great guitar riffs in Tush and Heard It on the X. The band became MTV darlings with 1983’s Eliminator, which incorporated synth elements and spawned monster hits Sharp-Dressed Man, Legs and Gimme All Your Lovin’. The long beards by Gibbons and Hill (ironically, not Beard), fuzzy guitars and out-there videos turned the band into pop stars.

But they’re still “the little ol’ band from Texas,” even if they’re so big that they’re in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

STARLIGHT MUSIC SERIES

Free concerts hosted by the City of College Station. Coolers and containers must be no larger than 48 quarts. Concessions will be available. Parking is at Post Oak Mall. Blanket-only seating areas and chair areas are available. No pets allowed.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the shows begin at 7 p.m. at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater, 1015 Colgate Drive. Free. cstx.gov. * April 16: Prophets and Outlaws with Austin Jones Band. * May 7: Satisfaction with Def Leggend. * May 28: Two Tons of Steel with Colton O’Neill and Chubby Knuckle Choir. * June 11: Memphis Train Revue with Gabrielle Ayers and Dysfunkshun Junkshun. * June 25: Shane Smith and the Saints with John Brumann and Katye Hamlin. * July 2: Band will be selected in a voter’s poll.

Guitar whiz Gibbons released a solo album, Perfectamundo, in 2015. And a documentary about the band is in the works through Banger Films.

For those interested in seeing the show, and are perhaps unfamiliar with the event, be prepared for a college crowd, lots of beer and the assorted silliness that goes along with that. It also raises a great deal of money for local charities.

AP photo

TEDxTAMU

This independently run TED conference features four guests speaking on a variety of topics.

continued on Page 10

Details: Chilifest 2016, April 15 and 16 at the Starlight Ballroom in Snook. $50-$250. chilifest.org.

The Friday night show features Roger Creager, Cody Canada & The Departed, Mike Ryan, Shane Smith and the Saints, The Statesboro Revue and Parker Heights.

ZZ Top headlines the Saturday show, along with Turnpike Troubadours, Pat Green, Whiskey Myers and William Clark Green.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

9

EVENTS Details: April 16 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Geren Auditorium, inside building B of the Architecture Complex on the A&M campus. tedxtamu.com.

AGGIE MUSTER

‘YOU ARE HERE’ EXHIBIT

The Texas A&M grad known for his We Bleed Maroon ode to Aggieland and his wisecracking alter ego Earl Dibbles Jr., returns to perform. Smith’s Backroad Song topped the Billboard country airplay chart in February.

Details: April 22 at 9 p.m. at Hurricane Harry’s, 313 College Ave., College Station. $10. harrys.bcsclubs.com.

The photographic exhibit is by artists from throughout the state, and aims to create a conversation about the social, political, environmental and cultural issues that influence interpretations of Texas.

Details: Reception on April 21 at 5:30 p.m. at Wright Gallery inside the Langford Architecture Center, Building A. The gallery ends June 18. calendar. tamu.edu.

See Page 22 for more on this annual tradition.

GRANGER SMITH AT HURRICANE HARRY’S

WINE AND ROSES FESTIVAL

The annual Messina Hof event celebrates the budding of the vines and blooming of the roses. It features local vendors, food trucks, artisans, wine pairings, a wine-label competition, grape stomping and live music with Brandon Rhyder and Parker Heights. There will also be wines from

around the state (even wine slushies).

Details: April 23 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Messina Hof Winery & Resort, 4545 Old Reliance Road, Bryan. Free until 5 p.m. $15 general admission, other packages $25 to $85. messinahof.com.

students and local residents to participate in projects that benefit a myriad of organizations.

Each organization will have a booth or station that will aim to support a cause.

Details: April 23 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Kyle Field. fish.tamu. edu/kylefieldday.

ONE ARMY GLADIATOR DASH

NON-STOP GERSHWIN

The 2.3 mile obstacle-integrated mud run is the main philanthropy event for the Texas A&M men’s organization One Army. The event also features live music and free food.

Proceeds benefit Still Creek Ranch.

Details: April 23 at 8 a.m. at Lake Bryan, 8200 Sandy Point Road, Bryan. Early registration is $20. gladiatordash.com.

BRAZOS VALLEY EARTH DAY RIOULT DANCE NY The annual event features educational booths, environmental demonstrations, a kids’ zone and live entertainment.

Details: April 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wolf Pen Creek Park, 1015 Colgate Drive, College Station. Free. brazosvalleyearthday.com.

KYLE FIELD DAY

This one-day service event provides an opportunity for A&M

AP photo

The finale of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra’s season features the works of George Gershwin, including Crazy for You, Porgy and Bess, Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris. Acclaimed pianist Alexandre Dossin will join the symphony during the performance.

Details: April 24 at 5 p.m. at Rudder Theatre, 401 Joe Routt Blvd. $13 to $39. bvso.org/ events/non-stop-gershwin.

The Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts presents the New York-based modern dance group that performs to the works of Pascal Rioult.

Details: April 29 at 7 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium, 401 Joe Routt Blvd., College Station. $12 for public, $7 for students. boxoffice.tamu.edu.

JON WOLFE AT HURRICANE HARRY’S

TONY BENNETT AT A&M Few artists can boast of six decades of success. But after all these years, the 89-year-old Bennett is going strong.

He won his first Grammy in 1963 for his signature song I Left My Heart in San Francisco, and his last in 2015 for his Cheek to Cheek duets album with Lady Gaga. His 1990s comeback — crossing over to the MTV crowd with his Steppin’ Out album — was a feel-good music moment.

Bennett is a pop-culture pillar, even earning a “great, great” impression by Alec Baldwin on Saturday Night Live. But we’ll be thrilled most of all to hear some of pop’s great standards coming from that legendary voice. Fingers crossed for The Way You Look Tonight, Body and Soul, It Had to Be You and Fly Me to the Moon.

10

Details: MSC OPAS presents Tony Bennett, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $40-$150. mscopas.org.

EVENTS

VIZ-A-GOGO 23 One of Texas A&M’s most exciting areas of study can be found at its Visualization Laboratory, which is part of the College of Architecture. The Viz Lab has become known for cranking out talented visual artists who go on to work for the top animation houses in the country, including

The country artist from Austin will perform songs from his album Natural Man, including Don’t It Feel Good, which reached No. 1 on the Texas Music Chart.

Details: April 29 at 9 p.m. at Hurricane Harry’s, 313 College Ave., College Station. $10. harrys.bcsclubs.com.

TAMU BANDS CONCERT

The Texas A&M University Concert and Symphonic Bands will perform.

Details: April 30 at 7 p.m. at Rudder Theatre, 401 Joe Routt Blvd., College Station. Free for students with a valid student ID. boxoffice.tamu.edu.

TAMU BANDS CONCERT

The Texas A&M Symphonic

Pixar, DreamWorks and Industrial Light & Magic.

The students present Viz-a-Gogo each year to show the exhibits, paintings and animated videos they’ve been working on. It’s a great way to see some of this wild, budding creativity on a big screen.

This will be the 23rd edition of the event, which took up residence in Downtown Bryan five years ago.

Details: Screening at Palace Theater, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. Go to viz.arch.tamu. edu for details on exhibition galleries.

Sponsorships range from $200 Spur of the Moment to raise to $3,000. bvso.org/events/ funds for the Beau Means derby-day-2016.

Business Foundation and to educate about cystic fibrosis.

There will also be a kids’ zone, BRAZOS VALLEY CHORALE silent auction, food and drinks.

SPRING CONCERT Details: May 14 from 2:30 to The finale of the BVC season 10 p.m. at Palace Theatre, 105 will feature music and newly S. Main St., Bryan. $15, $20 at commissioned works of visual DERBY DAY the door. Kids under 10 free. art projected during the perforWatch the Kentucky Derby visitaggieland.com. mance. broadcast live from Churchill Details: May 8 at 3 p.m.

Downs on giant screens while at Christ United Methodist listening to the Brazos Valley SIP & SHOP Church, 4201 Texas 6 Frontage Downtown Bryan hosts its third Symphony Orchestra String Road, College Station. $20 Quartet and The Party Maannual event with merchants chine, a dance band. There will for adults, $10 for students. offering a variety of wine from also be traditional mint juleps, bvchorale.org. different regions of the world.

Southern cuisine, live and siDetails: May 21 from 2 to 6 lent auctions and a hat parade. ROCK AWAY CYSTIC p.m. at Downtown Bryan.

Details: May 7 at 4 p.m.

FIBROSIS MUSIC FESTIVAL at College Station Hilton Performances by John FullBallroom, 801 University Drive bright, Maggie Koerner, Andrew E., College Station. $150.

Duhon Trio, Jordan York and

Winds & Wind Symphony will perform.

Details: May 1 at 3 p.m. at Rudder Theatre, 401 Joe Routt Blvd., College Station. Free for students with a valid student ID. boxoffice.tamu.edu.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

By the Numbers

50 That’s how many sets of twins born were in College Station in 2015. According to Jay Socol, College Station’s public communications director, that’s 20 more than in 2014.

As he blogged on cstx. gov, he asked three doctors about the increase: “Their common theories probably are what you’d expect — an increase in fertility treatments over the past decade is responsible for nudging the numbers upward.”

Another interesting nugget from Socol: The most popular baby boy name in the city in 2015 was Jackson, followed by Aiden.

Daniel and Luke tied for third. For girls, the most popular name was Chloe, followed by a tie for second between Adalynn and Madison, and a tie for third between Emma and Sofia.

5/11 5 Texas A&M football fans have enjoyed seeing Aggies go in the first round of the NFL Draft for five consecutive years.

That’s an impressive stretch, considering that Aggies hadn’t gone in the first round from 2004 to 2010.

Super Bowl MVP Von Miller got it started by being selected second in 2011, followed by Ryan Tannehill (eighth) in 2012; Luke Joeckel (second) in 2013; Jake Matthews (sixth), Mike Evans (seventh) and Johnny Manziel (22nd) in 2014; and Cedric Ogbuehi (21st) in 2015. Alas, the streak could end this year, as the highest-projected Aggie is offensive lineman Germain Ifedi.

Some draft gurus have him slotted for the second or third round.

The draft is April 2830.

This date has brought a president and a vice president to the Texas A&M campus. In 1937, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited the campus for four hours, and he reviewed the Corps of Cadets. According to A&M’s AgriLife Extension website, Roosevelt arrived by train and spoke to about 20,000 people at Kyle Field, and was given a “white-faced Hereford for his Warm Springs, Georgia, farm.” On May 11, 1974, Vice President Gerald Ford gave the spring commencement address at G. Rollie White Coliseum.

“I know you can all be counted on to stand up for America,” he told the graduates, as reported in The Eagle. “Each of you is the 12th Man in this game. All of us must be the 12th Man.”

$200,000,000 23 Golf season never truly ends, but it’s the right time of year to hit the links. And a holein-one is the ultimate golf accomplishment.

For Bryan golfers in 2015, there were approximately 23 holesin-one at Travis B. Bryan Municipal Golf Course, Miramont, Traditions and the course at the Phillips Event Center at Briarcrest.

(It’s approximate because most courses don’t keep detailed records of holes-inone.) The chances of an average golfer getting a hole-in-one, according to Golf Digest, is one in 12,000.

There’s a better chance for a bowler to score a perfect 300 (one in 11,500). But good news, golfers: a hole-in-one is much more common than dying from an alligator attack (one in 149.7 million), according to Book of Odds.

That’s the estimated cost for Independence Day: Resurgence, which hits theaters on June 24, and there’s a local connection: Garrett Wareing, 14, of College Station has a role in the blockbuster sequel. He’ll share the screen with returning stars from the 1996 original film, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Vivica A. Fox and Judd Hirsch. (No Will Smith.

Darn.) Wareing’s big movie debut was in 2014’s Boychoir, in which he starred with Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates and Eddie Izzard. His acting career began in 2012, while he was attending Oakwood Intermediate School, and he signed with local agency Nikki Pederson Talent.

His father, Robert Wareing, is a former College Station city councilman.

— By Rob Clark

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

13

360 Profile

Know an interesting nominee for a future Brazos 360 proďŹ le? Email us at brazos360@theeagle.com.

& JACQUE FLAGG

Classic toys teachers’ joys Story ROB CLARK | Photo TIMOTHY HURST

J

acque Flagg is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her store this year. What began as a small gift-basket shop in the Garden District evolved into Jacque’s Toys & Books on Texas Avenue, a go-to spot for kids, parents and teachers.

Along the way, Flagg has weathered the storm of big retailers coming to town, and in 1996 she expanded the store’s scope to include teachers. When they load up on supplies during the summer, it provides a seasonal boost.

“It’s the perfect match,” she says, “because now I have Christmas in summer and Christmas in December.

And with a small staff, I can handle that.”

The selection at Jacque’s looks a little different from some of those big retailers. It’s not loaded with an array of television- and movie-based merchandise. Flagg says her customers are looking for “the classic kind of stuff.”

“We sell a lot of the Goldenbooks,” she says. “Everybody remembers Goldenbooks. Everybody grew up with them. There are kids who grew up with them that want their kids to see them, or grandmothers who did it for their kids and now want to pass it on to the grandkids. The wooden toys, the quality stuff — rather than plastic that gets stepped on and broken.”

Flagg has been heavily involved in the community, including serving on the boards of the Children’s Museum, Voices for Children, the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History and the Aggieland Humane Society. She is married to Scott DeLucia, longtime radio personality on WTAW. For fun, Flagg enjoys reading, with her dogs nearby. She has four dachshunds — Tigger, Daisy, Maggie and Rory — and even claims to have “a dachshund personality.” (That translates into being “adventuresome” and “cuddly,” she says.)

Q&A Q: Businesses come and go.

What’s the key to the store’s longevity?

I think just keeping your eye on what we are. We’ve never changed. We might have changed product, but customer service and keeping our eye on that and the product line that we carry. The books we have in the store I have all handpicked. The product that we do I handpick. I know what my customers want, and that’s what we give them.

Q: How do you handpick the books?

I go up to Dallas and the publishers’ showroom that has lots of children’s publishers. … I look at the artwork first, to see whether it’s something that will work in

this community, because there is some artwork that just won’t.

And if I think it works, then I open it up and look to see how wordy it is. Sometimes picture books are just way too wordy, and a child isn’t going to sit down and think about it that long. Then I’ll read the whole thing, and if I like it and it’s what I want or what I think the customers want, then I bring it in.

They are literally handpicked.

Q: It must be fun to work in a store filled with colorful toys and items.

I love watching people’s reactions when they walk in the first time. The product itself lends itself to a lot of color. I love color — I’m big into primary colors as opposed to pastels. So it’s as

busy as it can possibly be. So little kids, 3-year-olds come in and are like, “Wow! This must be what heaven is like.” So I enjoy that.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?

Being with the customers. I’ve made lots of friends. And at Christmastime — sometimes people only shop once a year, and it’s Christmas. People come in and we’ll sit there and talk about, “Oh, I remember when you were in the Garden District …”

Q: What advice would you give someone looking to start a small business?

Set what it is that your business is about and stay on that course.

When Wal-Mart was coming in here, a lot of the small businesses were, “Oh, they’re gonna take all our business away!”

There’s a customer who comes here. There’s a customer who is not a Wal-Mart customer. There’s a customer who is not a Toys R Us customer. They’ll come here.

Q: What do you hope people think when they leave the store?

That it was a great experience, or a fun experience. That’s how you keep your customers, even if they don’t buy anything. If they had fun, they’re going to come back.

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BIG Ideas

HOW 3 LOCAL STARTUPS MADE IT Story KELLY BROWN | Photos TIMOTHY HURST

The popularity of ABC’s Shark Tank has made it hip for many to identify themselves as entrepreneurs, even though it’s more likely most haven’t made it out of the what-if stage.

The extraordinary stories attached to trailblazers and risk-takers like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg compound the belief by some that theirs is The Next Big Idea, if only someone would give them hundreds of thousands of dollars to give it a try. continued on Page 18

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continued from Page 17

“T

here are tons of people who think they have this great concept to make a lot of money, but they haven’t taken a single step in a million-step journey,” says Corey Cormier, whose determination is paying off big with his third startup — Legal Monkeys — based in Downtown Bryan.

The sobering and well-documented truth is that for every 10 people who try a startup business, only one succeeds. And, on average, that’s only after a few years without making a profit, consistently working unreasonably long hours, obsessing about the smallest details and, oh yeah, not just growing, but growing fast.

To discover what’s needed — besides working fast, hard and smart — for a startup to become profitable, Brazos 360 interviewed three proven entrepreneurs in the Brazos Valley — Cormier, James Benham and Jeff McDougall.

Turns out, they have a few commonalities other than just an extreme passion for creating commerce from imagination: All are Aggies and are addicted to innovating. Each taught themselves how to code at a young age. Analytical problem-solving comes naturally to them and none takes anything for granted.

Questions each has asked before embarking on a new venture include: Do people want what I’m selling? Is it viable?

Unique? What’s my plan to make it profitable?

Ideas are a dime a dozen, the trio agree, but what matters most is the execution.

McDougall, who has been a part of six startups, said he learned the hard way that he should have spent more money on marketing. Cormier suggests hiring a business coach to help navigate the system. Benham recommends seeking out like-minded colleagues to bounce ideas off of early on.

The entrepreneurial ecosystem that all three live in includes mentoring for Aggieland Startup at Texas A&M and Bryan-based Seed Sumo, which gives money to startups with potentially lucrative ideas in exchange for a small stake in the company.

It’s important to share success stories, Benham said, adding that there’s no single proven formula for mastering a business.

“We have to keep evolving,” said Benham, a College Station city councilman who has created a handful of startups.

“Marry the right person, partner with the right people and get mentored by the right mentors.”

All three advised to keep pressure on yourself, regardless of the roadblocks.

“It’s even more important to work like someone is chasing you — because they are,” McDougall said.

LOCAL RESOURCES

• seedsumo.com • startupaggieland.com • bcsstartup.com • www.sba.gov/content/entrepreneurship-you • www.brazosvalley.sbdcnetwork.net/brazosvalley/ About_the_Brazos_Valley_SBDC.asp

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“...work like someone is chasing you — because they are.”

COREY CORMIER: ‘Dream big’

C

orey Cormier describes his wildly successful startup as an accidental business.

Just over six years ago, he was chatting with his bosses at Daniel Stark law firm where he worked as an IT guru when a partner mentioned a problem: It took them 120 days to collect medical records from doctors and hospitals, delaying their cases.

“I ended up locking myself in an office the size of a closet for a week and came out with a solution,” he said.

That fix came in the form of automating the records collection process, allowing the lawyers to spend less time dealing with providers. The average wait dropped to 32 days, putting Cormier in high demand within the industry. While discussing the software at a legal conference, an attorney asked where he could sign up for Cormier’s product.

“We were thinking we could sell the software to law firms, so we poured many hours and dreams into that, but it didn’t happen that way. That approach failed miserably,” said the 39-year-old.

It didn’t take Cormier long to hire a few employees and figure out they had a delivery issue. Their customers needed them — their specialized service — from start to finish.

“It wasn’t the idea we started out with, but we fol-

T

JEFF MCDOUGALL: ‘Serial entrepreneur’

echnology executive Jeff McDougall completed 1,600 hours of consulting work for Verizon Wireless over a 10-month period before seeing a dime. Once a contract was signed and the IOU cashed in, the former Texas A&M electrical and computer engineering professor knew exactly where to spend it.

He and his first business partner, Jeff Durrant — the pair started “Jeff & Jeff Lawn Mowing” when they were 14 years old — used the funding to create and launch PivotPoint. The telecommunications software provided the tools to commercial wireless carriers so they could evaluate the accuracy of locations on devices — the FCC has requirements associated with emergency calls, so PivotPoint developed a method to do it with greater precision.

“All startups lose money, usually lots of money, and that’s why you need a network of support to get a startup to the stage where it can pro-

duce, market, distribute and support a product that people want and/or need,” McDougall said.

PivotPoint turned out to be both. The private startup soon became the leader in the industry, and within six years — in 2011 — that untouchable reputation allowed them to sell the business for an undisclosed amount to Colorado-based Intrado, which is a leading provider of 911 emergency communication services and technology.

McDougall remains in a support role and transitioned PivotPoint into an investment company. In all, he’s either owned or been partial owner for six startups, including a successful medical coding software company and an app called WinePoynt (now defunct) that gave users wine recommendations by learning preferences through a rating system.

So when he describes himself as a serial entrepreneur, he’s serious. The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station in College Station

“You have to be flexible, but still dream big.”

brought him in last summer as its Entrepreneur-in Residence to teach researchers how to commercialize cutting-edge technical advances.

But most work days, the father of five is investing his time in a venture he kicked off last year with partners Scott Morton and Glenn Knepp: Gazoo High Performance Computing.

“Disrupting the way humans use computers,” is the tagline for the startup based in Bryan. Last year, the team was granted an unprecedented $500,000 from Seed Sumo to develop a platform for delivering cloud computing to a variety of devices. The hardware they’re creating is billed as the future of virtualization.

To test assumptions, McDougall said he uses clients to review approaches once he has worked through them.

“Customers might not know what they need, but they are more than willing to tell you what they want,” he said.

lowed it to a successful strategy, got feedback and kept striving to get better. You have to be flexible, but still dream big. ” Six years and 80 employees later, Legal Monkeys — a name suggested by one of the law partners who said Cormier’s efforts were “so easy a monkey could do it” — now has the document wait-time down to 18 days.

The private company targets mid-sized to large plaintiff firms and receives almost 20,000 medical requests a month.

“Legal Monkeys is here to stay,” he said, adding that within the year his crew will move from the second floor of the law firm on Main Street and into their own building with an industrial flair a few blocks away.

The energizing vibe in the jam-packed office is obvious not just on the smiling faces throughout, but it’s on display in their motivating morning talk that aptly includes the “high-five huddle;” with an open snack pantry (Fridays are Waffle Day); compelling hand-written notes on walls; and by the ease in which employees communicate.

“In addition to having business partners who are aligned, one of the most important elements for us is culture. We want people to want to come to work. Life is too short,” said Cormier, who has two kids. “We know we have jobs to do, but we also like to have fun.

We want to champion both.”

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

19

“Who you hire matters.”

J

JAMES BENHAM: ‘Don’t do it alone’

ames Benham was far more eager to write computer software programs than he was interested in playing video games in the early 1990s.

“I started writing code almost immediately,” he said of the moment his dad placed an old computer in his hands.

Benham was 11. At once, it became his passion and hobby, then later — his calling.

Before Benham was old enough to vote in a political election, he had established two tech companies, including a computer consulting fi rm and a nonprofit that he co-managed with a friend that provided free Internet to the teachers in their district.

During his senior year in the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, he created a software development company — JBKnowledge — out of his dorm room. His fi rst assignment was to build a website and member database for the Corps’ alumni group. “[They] gave me a chance just because of the Aggie Network,” the 2001 graduate said, adding that while networking is vital, selling a good product that fits a client’s needs is as essential as fi nding the right co-workers.

“Who you hire matters,” he said. Aligning with like-minded employees and companies with similar revenue interests is an integral part of success.

He asked his father to be his business partner, along with

20

high school classmate Sebastian Costa, saying those were the most important decisions he’s made. Together, the three founded JBKnowledge, which has 165 employees and makes several cloud solution sites sold to 750 customers across the globe in the construction and insurance industries.

Last year, the father of two opened BinarySpace on the fi rst floor of his office building — the old Parker-Astin Hardware Store in Downtown Bryan — to allow individuals and startups to office, hold meetings, brainstorm, host events and use some of the technology tools Benham is known to invest in, like the Flashforge Dreamer (aka the latest 3D printer) and the DJI Phantom 4 drone with collision avoidance.

His company’s success is evidenced by its compounded annual growth rate: 40 percent a year for the last 15 years. Up next: Benham said JBKnowledge just fi nished research and development on projects relating to augmented and virtual reality, as well as devices that connect to the Internet and track data.

“It keeps me up,” Benham said when asked if he always keeps his eye out for the next great idea. “I wake up thinking about product and go to sleep thinking about product. Obsolescence is any technologist’s worst nightmare, so we’re always researching new and interesting things.”

BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

THE 5 DON’TS ON STARTUPS FROM THE GURU IN THE KNOW

B

lake Petty — co-founder and director of Startup Aggieland, a business incubator open to accepted students from all majors on the College Station campus — fi nds himself juggling a legion of assignments, much like an entrepreneur.

A look at his various job titles delivers a snapshot: • Assistant vice president for innovation and business development at Texas A&M • Director for the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship in the Mays Business School (hub for entrepreneurship across campus, offering more than 25 programs that allow students from any major or classification to explore their interests) • Executive director of the Aggie Angel Network (early-stage investments in growing startups) • Faculty member with the National Science Foundation’s Southwest I-Corps program These related but different positions tie together, allowing Petty to oversee all the applied research, innovation and economic development initiatives for the university, while coordinating similar efforts with the A&M System.

The 20 years he’s poured into these endeavors more than qualifies Petty to be Brazos 360’s expert on advising people who think their idea is the Next Big Th ing.

Petty — who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from A&M — said he knows there’s never a one-sizefits-all solution to creating a business because there are so many moving parts, so rather than give a “to-do list” for keys to success, he prefers to recommend what adventurous business pioneers should not do.

Here are his Top 5 Don’ts: • Don’t get fooled by your own genius. Most startups fail because their founders assume that others will love their idea as much as they do. Validate that you actually have customers before you launch a business.

• Don’t get distracted by all your applications. Entrepreneurs are, by nature, impulsive toward new opportunities and can fi nd themselves aiming to solve a number of problems without actually ever solving any. Focus on your business’ top job and get it done fi rst.

• Don’t believe everything you see on TV. Entrepreneurship is hotter now than it’s ever been, which will lead some to think it’s just as easy as reality shows make it seem. Starting and growing your own business usually takes 10 times the effort of working in someone else’s.

• Don’t lose your passion. Know you’re going to hear ‘No’ a lot, and be prepared to work around it. B.C. Forbes said it best: “White-hot enthusiasm melts many a cold prospect.”

• Don’t try to do everything yourself. Look outside your immediate network and fi nd cofounders, teammates, advisers and mentors anxious to help out. Good chance they know more than you do, and are more than willing to push you toward success.

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21

Making

MUSTER A LOOK AT SOME OF THE FACES BEHIND A&M’S SACRED TRADITION Story STEVE KUHLMANN

A

22

ggies gather worldwide on April 21 to honor Texas A&M students who have died in the past year at the annual Muster. But there are a select few who work yearround to make it possible.

Josiah Bezet, a senior at A&M, is among those who facilitate one of A&M’s most important traditions. Bezet, the campus Muster chair for the 2016 ceremony, said that he and the rest of the Muster committee feel a great deal of responsibility in their duties, including learning about the lives that are being honored.

“Our roll call coordinators, every couple weeks will do a roll call story just for the committee, no one else,” Bezet said. “They make a small presentation and just share about the person’s life, so that we can feel more connected to the people and the families that we’re working for.”

He described the practice as an opportunity for the student staff to more deeply appreciate what could easily become a routine list of names over the course of a year. Bezet has experience in feeling a personal connection to names called at Muster during his five years in College Station.

“I don’t know if it is just because I’m a slightly extroverted person, but I have known about five names every year since my sophomore year,” Bezet said. “... It has been very humbling.”

Th is focus on personal attention also paved the way for a split between the on-campus Muster event and the roll call for the local Brazos County A&M Club, which is among the 325 ceremonies held across the globe. Lisa Burton, president-elect of the county club, said that she was not directly involved in the decision to separate, but the growth of the on-campus Muster made it more difficult for local Aggies to properly honor those they had lost. As the group prepares to hold its fi fth Muster on its own.

It’s standing room only at the 12,500-seat Reed Arena; 650-700 attend the local ceremony.

“I was able to participate in the Muster at Reed Arena as a Muster host, and it is such a beautiful, respectful, reverent environment — even though it’s so massive,” Burton said. “That’s what we really try to replicate at our Muster. That same level of reverence, but maybe with a little more fellowship and intimacy.”

The local split also resulted in the on-campus Muster establishing a set of criteria for who would qualify to have their name called at Reed Arena, so as to better control the size of the ceremony.

“There are just a ton of Aggies in College Station, and if we did everyone on the roll call, we’d more than likely be honoring a large majority of the worldwide roll call,” Bezet said. “Logistically, you just can’t be there for 10 hours for one ceremony, nor do we have the space for that large of a gathering.”

Bezet said that the five criteria for being included in the campus Muster roll call include current students; former students who are direct family members of a current student; Aggies who were active-duty service members; professors, faculty and staff of long tenure; members of the 50th anniversary reunion class.

Th is year’s celebration will also commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 1946 Muster held on the Phillippines island of Corregidor. The Association of Former Students is largely handling the planning for that part of the event, Bezet said. As of January, 22 Aggies who were at Corregidor — 19 who were present in the famous photo and three who were there for the battle — were invited to attend the campus event.

“In some ways this is the most impressionable Muster for the biggest number of Aggies,” Bezet said. “We get to instill what is important about Aggie Muster and what is important about being an Aggie to all the current students that are here right now.”

MUSTER DETAILS REED ARENA

Muster at Reed Arena is April 21 at 7 p.m. The featured speaker is longtime Aggie football coach R.C. Slocum. The Reflections Display, honoring Aggies whose names will be called at the ceremony, will be in the MSC Flag Room from April 17 through April 21, and at the annual Camaraderie Barbecue in the Kyle Field Plaza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the day of Muster. muster.tamu.edu.

BRAZOS COUNTY A&M CLUB

The Brazos County A&M Club’s 2016 Muster will be held April 21 at the Bethancourt Ballroom of the Memorial Student Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. An optional fellowship dinner starts at 6 ($25).

The program will start at about 6:25 p.m. Bill Youngkin, former head yell leader and Aggie class of ’69 will be the featured speaker. bcamc.org.

23

360 Profile

Know an interesting nominee for a future Brazos 360 proďŹ le? Email us at brazos360@theeagle.com.

CANDACE LIGHT

Lighting up little smiles Story ROB CLARK | Photo TIMOTHY HURST

I

t’s an awkward moment for anyone — especially children.

So nerves are to be expected when a dentist peers into a child’s mouth. At Dr. Candace Light’s office, however, a check-up starts with some familiar names.

“There’s Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Dora, Elsa …”

Light mentions a princess or children’s character for each tooth that she checks with her dental explorer.

“Fiona, Grace, Hello Kitty …”

She’s not just rattling off names. It’s her code for confi rming which teeth are there, and she leaves out the names that correspond to baby teeth that are gone. Her dental assistant follows this audible trail, listening to hear if the character — and therefore the tooth — is present, and to note if any have issues (“Watch that groove on Belle”).

Th is princess code — it’s superhero-oriented for boys —

is one of Light’s ways to put kids at ease. The office is colorful and full of games and toys, and the post-appointment swag bag includes a bouncy ball and a balloon animal.

Light is the mother of two, and hails from Cameron.

She graduated from Texas A&M in 2005, followed by the UT Health Science Center School of Dentistry in San Antonio. She opened Light Pediatric Dentistry on Longmire Drive in 2012.

“I like the idea of helping a kiddo and making them feel comfortable when it can be a nervous situation,” Light says. “We can fl ip that, and make this more of a fun place to come. ‘And hey, while you’re here having fun, let’s check your teeth while we’re at it.’ We load them up with prizes after they go. I even tell the parents they can come back for a balloon if they’re driving by. You don’t have to come here just for a dental visit. I want kids to feel like this is their place.”

Q&A Q: Do the kids ever comment on the princess or superhero roll call?

Sometimes. I couldn’t come up with a princess that started with “K,” so I just call it Kimberly. It gives my girls a chance to listen for it. But there are times when kids call me out on it.

“There’s not a Princess Kimberly.” I’m like, wow, princess trivia. They know their stuff.

Q: I imagine you’d have to be a pretty happy person to work here.

I can teach the dental stuff. I can teach how I want you to pass me this instrument, how I want a sealant to look. What I can’t teach is, are you a happy person? Are you nice to people?

Are you going to smile when someone walks in that door? I can’t teach that.

If I don’t pick up on that when I’m interviewing someone, it’s probably a no-go.

But if they’re naturally fun, they know that when they come to work in this

Q: You have two dogs and two cats.

How do they get along?

They love each other. … I’ve had the cats since I was at A&M, before I got married. They get along fine with the dogs. I’ve always wanted a Great Dane, Q: Do adults ever want to get in on so after I got married I got a Great the fun and ask if they can be treated Dane. My husband already had a boxer here? at that time, but that dog has since In fact, one time a grandma brought passed away. So now we have another in her grandkids, and she came to boxer — because my Great Dane was the front and said, “Can I schedule an sad. He was by himself and he was getappointment for me next week?” She thought we took adults. The girls had to ting depressed. I had to get him a pet. turn her down. I felt so bad.

Q: And how are their teeth?

Actually, before I had kids, I actually Q: What’s the best part of your job? took the time to scale off their teeth. I I love the dynamic of playing with took instruments to them. But I probkids all day, but also hanging out with ably am slacking — I will be the first to moms. I get to see moms celebrate admit it — at brushing their teeth. with their kids when they did a good job, moms feeling a sigh of relief whenQ: Something to work on? ever their kid’s out of pain. So I get to Something to work on. Something to hang out with both all day long. I think improve on. that’s so fun. office, I’m going to teach you how to make a balloon animal. And at Halloween, we’re going to dress up. It’s just a fun, spunky office.

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25

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360 Profile

Know an interesting nominee for a future Brazos 360 proďŹ le? Email us at brazos360@theeagle.com.

MORGAN STEWART

The ‘geek’ life Story ROB CLARK | Photo TIMOTHY HURST

M

organ Stewart’s senior prom experience was a little different than most.

The junior economics major at Texas A&M is a Fort Worth native, and a cosplay enthusiast. She attended the Dallas Comic Con on her prom day, dressed as Chell from the Portal video game. And it wasn’t just an outfit — she painted her red hair black for the event.

Stewart left the Comic Con at 3 p.m. to prepare for the second big event of the day. She washed the paint out of her hair, hit the hairdresser by 5 and made it to prom that night — with no Chell remnants to be seen.

“Luckily, it all came out,” she says. “I was very worried, though.”

Stewart grew up with a heavy sci-fi influence from her father, especially Star Wars and Star Trek movies. Her cosplay experience includes attending events dressed as Black

Widow from The Avengers (pictured, left) and Poison Ivy from Batman. These interests made Stewart a natural for Cepheid Variable, the longtime A&M student group of scifi, gaming and fantasy aficionados. The students present the 47th AggieCon event at the Brazos County Expo in Bryan on April 1-3, featuring guest speakers, panels, cosplay contests and music. (Go to aggieconblog.wordpress.com for all the details.)

For anyone tempted to label the Cepheid crew as “nerds” or “geeks,” Stewart is quick to point out the group’s motto: “Aggieland’s geeks and nerds since 1969.” So those words won’t offend her.

“I mean, it’s a descriptor of me,” she says. “Lately, especially, the word ‘nerd’ and ‘geek’ have started to become cool. I was definitely a nerd before it was cool. In middle school, I would sit alone at lunch and read. It was great.”

Q&A Q: What does Cepheid Variable do?

Q: What about cosplay appealed to you?

ually off the ivy, then hot glued it to the corset … and glued some to pantyhose.

That’s a big question. We have basically small programs that do anything Halloween has always been my favorite To have the pantyhose stretched out enough so they won’t be bunched up you could think of. Last semester I ran holiday. I just love getting dressed up. once you glue them, you have to glue the “Dress Me Like One of Your French Cosplay is so fun, because when you them while it’s on your legs. So I just litCepheids” group, which is cosplay, and really know about that character, you we would talk about methods of cocan try to mimic their actions and their erally stuck hot glue to my leg and was splay and do activities. I taught people catchphrases. And it’s really cool to go like, “I’ll just deal with it. It’s good.” how to sew and do makeup and stuff. to cons because other people are do… We have BAMF, which is our Bronies ing that as well, and there are people Q: Did you dress up for the new Anonymous for Magical Friendship. that really appreciate the character Star Wars movie? that you’ve chosen to cosplay as. They I couldn’t. I was on a cruise. I saw it a week after it came out.

Q: That’s the My Little Pony thing? get excited when they see you, and they want to take your picture.

That’s Yeah. I actually used to be a Pegasismy favorite thing about cons. If you’re ter, so I can’t hate, but I don’t do that Q: I guess there aren’t a lot of redcosplaying well, people want to take a anymore. heads in Star Wars. picture of you. It’s just really fun.

There are a lot in Game of Thrones.

I’ve been thinking about doing someQ: OK, slow down. You used to be thing from that — Sansa Stark, or a what?

Q: What goes into the costumeMargaery Tyrell or Ygritte. … I have a making process?

A Pegasister. That’s a girl Brony. big Targaryen banner hanging over my Chell is the one I’ve taken to big cons bed. It’s like 4 feet long. in Dallas.

Chell is the one I’ve sunk the Q: So that’s a girl adult fan of My most money into. I’ve probably spent Little Pony? at least $450 on that one costume.

Yes. And we have Super Wednesday Q: What would you say to someone Awesome Gaming — it’s called SWAG — My Poison Ivy one, I made that one by who looks at an event like AggieCon hand. I went online and found a green where we get together and play video or the group or you and says, corset that I liked. I went to Hobby games.

“That’s weird.”

Lobby and bought a ton of fake ivy, and Yeah, it is weird. But it’s a lot of went through and cut each leaf individ- people’s favorite kind of weird.

29

Crazy for

CRAWFISH

CHAD HANKS IS THE MAN BEHIND MANY OF THE ‘MUDBUGS’ SERVED AROUND TOWN WHERE TO GET BOILED CRAWFISH

Story ROB CLARK | Photos TIMOTHY HURST

F

ive or six times a week, Chad Hanks or his employees make a three-hour drive to his hometown of Bridge City to pick up crawfish, which many might consider precious cargo this time of year.

Hanks owns The Crawfish Hole in College Station, which supplies many of the “mudbugs” offered at restaurants, grocery stores and backyard boils around town. The 37-yearold Hanks is a police officer and the K9 supervisor for the Bryan Police Department, and runs the business on the side.

Crawfish boils were plentiful in Hanks’ upbringing. His family is from Louisiana, and his stepfather owns a crawfish farm and business in Bridge City, and gets additional crawfish from farms in Central Louisiana.

So Hanks gathers crawfish from there and brings them all back on box trucks to College Station. The team keeps the crawfish refrigerated and cool, to keep them alive for the three-hour drive.

“The biggest thing is to keep it fresh,” he says. “The stuff we sell in a day, there’s a 98

percent chance it was swimming yesterday morning.”

Crawfish season peaks around March and April, Hanks says, and they try to keep it going through the Fourth of July.

Cajun food is on the rise locally, with the recent arrivals of Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe, Swamp Tails and Cajuns Bayou Grille. Add those to Shipwreck Grill, The Tap and the Crawfish to Geaux mobile truck, and there’s a crawfish boom in Aggieland. Hanks credits the growth of the area, and the cultural influence of Houston. What makes it fun, he says, is the friendly aspect that goes along with crawfish boils.

“Most people that come in are in a really good mood, and that’s why all the people that work for us enjoy it, because there’s never any negative interactions,” he says. “I think people are about to have a good time, hang out with friends and family and drink beer. I think it’s the social aspect of boiling crawfish that people really enjoy, which is why I think the demand has just skyrocketed.”

The Crawfish Hole supplies many local restaurants and grocery stores, and can provide crawfish for neighborhood boils as well.

2914 Cain Road in College Station. thecrawfishhole. net.

Note: Not all restaurants serve crawfish daily, so verify before you venture out on the town.

CAJUNS BAYOU GRILLE 14895 F.M. 2154, College Station. cajunsbayougrille. com.

CRAWFISH TO GEAUX MOBILE TRUCK crawfishtogeaux.com.

RAZZOO’S CAJUN CAFÉ 820 University Drive East, College Station. razzoos. com/collegestation.

SHIPWRECK GRILL

206 E. Villa Maria Road, Bryan. shipwreckbcs.com.

SWAMP TAILS

4353 Wellborn Road, Bryan. swamptails.com.

THE TAP

815 Harvey Road, College Station. tapbcs.com.

WOLFIE’S

1102 Harvey Road, College Station. wolfiesusa.com.

Chad Hanks (right), owner of The Crawfish Hole, and employee Allie Grate divide crawfish into sacks as they come off the conveyer belt of the wash tank at The Crawfish Hole in College Station.

OPPOSITE PAGE: A crawfish platter prepared by Shipwreck Grill in Bryan.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

31

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Bavarian Food Beer • Spirits 107 North Main St Bryan, TX 77803 (979) 775-4014 @MurphysBryan

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

Now Serving from our food truck!

Monday – Friday • 11aM - 2pM AT BB&T ON UNIVERSITY DRIVE

2416A TEXAS AVE. SOUTH College Station • 979.696.6560

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

WWW.TAZCUISINE.COM

Steaks • Salads • Southwestern Cuisine Full Bar • Happy Hour

3629 Tabor Rd • Bryan • 979.485.2970 • 4pm – 10pm Tue - Sat • 11am -3pm Sun

Steaks

Burgers

Seafood

979.822.9488 www.thefeedbarn.net 2017 Fountain Ave Bryan Open Tues-Sat • 11am-9pm

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Fashion preview

Spring Style Advertisment Feature

Spring has sprung and it’s time to put away the mittens and coats. Brazos 360 has chosen stunning looks and accessories to take you through the blooming season in true spring style.

Ivy Jane Runway Trends from BVFW

by TRES CHIC BOUTIQUE

MORGAN FITZGERALD’S: Brighton Joplin Raffia Straw Handbag

ANYTHING BLING: Judith March Shift Tassel Dress and Stone Bar Necklace by Inspired Design

EARTHART: Handcrafted Pendants from around the world

TRES CHIC BOUTIQUE: Spartina 449 Bangle Bracelets TEXAS ROSE BOUTIQUE: Volatile Cheetah Sandals

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

TRES CHIC BOUTIQUE: Spartina 449 Tennis Bracelets

WITT’S END: Lillia P perfect pieces for spring

TRES CHIC BOUTIQUE: Spartina 449 Heirloom Gem Bracelet

JIM.N.I: ZEE Alexis Shoes Woven shoes that move and respond to your every step

JIM.N.I: ZEE Alexis Shoes Woven shoes that move and respond to your every step

TEXAS ROSE BOUTIQUE: Uncle Frank Geometric Dress

TEXAS ROSE BOUTIQUE: Pink Panache Necklace and Earring Set

EARTHART: Amethyst Towers with Druzy Geodes and Quartz

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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Fashion preview WITT’S END: Color Us Happy with New Spring Escapada Arrivals

EARTHART: Amethyst Towers with Druzy Geodes

SHERILYN GILMORE FINE JEWELRY: VAHAN’s Love Knot bracelet

SHERILYN GILMORE FINE JEWELRY: 2.06 carat brilliant cut diamonds set in 18 karat white gold MORGAN FITZGERALD’S: Joseph Ribkoff Slenderizing color block gives a sleek look for spring

MORGAN FITZGERALD’S: Brighton Naria Sandal

WITT’S END: Step into Spring with New Arrivals from Ugg

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

WITT’S END: Step into Spring with New Arrivals from Toms SHERILYN GILMORE FINE JEWELRY: The Diamond Marriage Symbol necklace

ANYTHING BLING: Sophia Washable Silk V-Neck Dress and YMI Denim Jacket

ANYTHING BLING: Stud and Stitched Cord Boots by Corral

Nic + Zoe Trends from BVFW by TRES CHIC BOUTIQUE

WITT’S END: Step into Spring with New Arrivals from Toms

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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LEFT: Beyanca French and Lindsey Liebengood.

BELOW: Marne Boyle and Wes Thomas.

RIGHT: Lisa Fonville, Allyson Knoop and Jordan Leach.

Sassy Shoe Social January 23rd

Brazos County Expo

T

ABOVE: Young contestant Riley Pavlatos, who won two trophies, including People’s Choice.

he 7th annual Sassy Shoe Social partnered with Phoebe’s Home of Bryan to spread awareness and educate women on how to prevent domestic violence, while collecting shoes and other items for the organization. Women and men of all ages were invited to slip on their favorite pair of shoes and walk the runway to raise money for the 24-hour emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence. The event also included door prizes and a silent auction.

Photos STEPHANIE SWORD

ABOVE: Denise Shaw, Amy Lavender, and Lauren Falcone. LEFT: Judge Shannon Madlock (in blue) is surrounded by participants Jennifer Freeman, Lacey Junek and Jaime Slade.

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

LEFT: Wes Thomas, Scott Rolfsmeyer, Kitti Hamilton, Jarvis Parsons, Ian Soares and Jennifer Soares.

Tiffany Henley and Rayne Knight.

ABOVE: Miranda Broadus and Christine Folkers. RIGHT: Contestants Cassie Watt, Katlyn Henderson, Hayoung Lee and Clarie Watt.

LEFT: Contestant Sheri Green.

ABOVE: Sassy Shoe Social participant.

ABOVE: Blair Krebs and Natalie Pine. LEFT: Melissa “Mel” Hering.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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BELOW: A father and daughter make a floral crown together.

RIGHT: Tennyson Barton, 8, daughter of Matt Barton.

LEFT: Bob Rich and Zoe Rich, 10.

LEFT: Nasadia Davis, 8, and Isaias Aquino.

Daddy Daughter Dance

Jordan Boatman, 12, and Lawrence Boatman.

February 6th

ABOVE: Amelia Hartl, 3, holds the hand of Darren Hartl.

RIGHT: Zoe King, 10, daughter of Richard King.

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he Daddy Daughter Dance helps pay for nearly 30 percent of the annual operating costs for the Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley. The annual fundraiser includes dinner, desserts, refreshments, dancing, formal photos and activities and appearances from princesses.

ABOVE: David Vannaman and Ainsley Vannaman, 11. RIGHT: A daughter gets a lift from her dad on the dance floor.

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Hilton Hotel Ballroom

BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

ABOVE: Zach Graybill and Kylie Graybill, 10. BELOW: A daughter holds on tight to her dad.

Photos STEPHANIE SWORD

ABOVE: Maleni Villarreal, 8, Jorge Villarreal and Mia Villarreal, 10.

LEFT: Andy Knotulski, Annabelle Knotulski, 8, Hadleigh David, 8, and Jeff David.

RIGHT: Savannah Hall, 10, sticks close to her dad, Derrick Hall.

LEFT: Aubrey Lake, 9, daughter of Justin Lake. BELOW: Tom BrumďŹ eld and Evie Norwood, 8.

RIGHT: Jim Petrick and Mavley Petrick, 10.

ABOVE: Erik Keller and Aubreigh Keller, 8. RIGHT: Jay Roberts and Brayla Roberts, 10. BELOW: John Moreno and Emily Moreno, 8.

ABOVE: Ron Quiram, Kelsey Quiram, 10, and Carly Quiram, 8.

BELOW: Christianna Wilson, 13, and Christopher Wilson.

RIGHT: Kelsey Munoz (Belle), Rachel Boulet (Snow White), Kayla Rambeau (Jasmine), and Miranda Rubens (Elsa) pose with sisters Ann Marie, Caroline and Hannah Simmons. BELOW: Kelsie Griswold, 10, and Carlos Smith.

ABOVE: Savannah Hall, 10, and Derrick Hall. LEFT: Emilee Wyatt, 9, and Jason Wyatt.

ABOVE: Alianna Carlos, 9, and Mark Carlos. LEFT: Anthony Weber and Marisa Weber, 8.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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RIGHT: Racers cross under the archway.

BELOW: Bella and Jenny Bramwell.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun 5K February 13th

ABOVE: Race Director Dan McClain. BELOW: Christine and Meredith Brown.

American Momentum Plaza

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he first race of the 2016 BCS Marathon Race Series included chocolate fountains at the end of the race, Gatorade in Champagne glasses and a special Valentine’s Day treat for the ladies that crossed the finish line.

Proceeds benefit the Mercy Project. For more information, visit girls5k.com.

DeeAnna Lyle and Michelle Lovingshimer.

Alex Cofas, Greg Maggard, Andrew Koenig and Matt Lovelace.

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

Photos BRYAN SMITH

ABOVE: Michael Turzillo. LEFT: Angie Wilson, Jennifer Hester, Monika Blackwell, Polly Ketcham and Noel Nix.

LEFT: Belva, Holly, and Marshal Field.

BELOW: Hassana Mahamane, Sharon Epps and Akilah, Alexandra and Aden Francique.

ABOVE: Russell Blessing and Joey Aaskar.

RIGHT: Katie, Bethany and Maggie McCulloch.

BELOW: Sonia Roberts, Krystle Roberts, Tomi Johnson and Latayvia Johnson.

ABOVE: Travis and Levi Lacox.

LEFT: Jonie Bailey, Joanne Bartles and Laylah Sims.

ABOVE: Kathy Beifuss, Ginny Ford, Brandi Whittenton and Angelica Gates. LEFT: Every racer received a rose when they crossed the ďŹ nish line.

RIGHT: Chrystal Pratt and Chanyn Wise.

ABOVE: Sonia Elabd, Ashley Kinnard and Lisa Davila.

RIGHT: Sandy and Rhyan Ricci; Alaina and Olivia Gaskamp; Mary McInturff; Ashley, Sam and Noah Kotinek; Adrianne Brode; Allison and Oliver Maddoux; Lisa Henderson; and Mike McInturff.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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BELOW: Zach and Jayne Hattaway.

LEFT: Ray and Paula Coats, and Darryl and Kassandra Chandler.

BELOW: Tim and Susan Pavlas, and Devin Henry.

Hospice Happening February 20th

Brazos County Expo

ABOVE: Betty Williams and Rose Van Arsdel. BELOW: Justin and Annie Pogue.

T

he annual fundraising event for Hospice Brazos Valley included a night of dining, gaming, a silent auction, live music and dancing.

Carrie Campbell and Chris Borchardt.

Photos BRYAN SMITH

ABOVE: Amy Way, Tiffany Lawson and Emilie Kmiec. LEFT: Brian Dowd, Megan Nation, James Lusby-Garcia and Justin Cameron.

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

BELOW: Holli Johnson, Leslie Parnell and Martha Mosier.

LEFT: Cliff Loyd, Caitlin Provoost, Emmett Eary and Dena Loyd.

ABOVE: Irma Galvan and Felipa Torres. LEFT: Russell and Margaret Davis; Martha Turner; Ward and Dr. Denise Turner; and Jeanette and Dr. David Hackethorn. BELOW: Allison Bolin, Destiny Rodriguez, Brailey Strain and Amanda Franks.

ABOVE: Caleb Washburn and Morgan and Jon Shirley. BELOW: Wendy Boswell, Becky Simpson, Shannon Herring, Taylor Coker, Mica Vannaman and Dr. Erin Fleener.

ABOVE: John McNair, John Fleming and Amanda Fleming.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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RIGHT: Fain and Janie McDougal.

BELOW: Brent and Crystal Zwerneman.

LEFT: Miramont Country Club is lit up with red lights for the ball.

Tree of Life Heart Ball February 27th

RIGHT: Mackenzie Malechek and Brantley Gwin.

Miramont Country Club

T

he largest fundraiser of the year for the American Heart Association of the Brazos Valley and one of the largest fundraisers in the community, the black tie event featured dinner, dancing and a live auction.

Photos BRYAN SMITH

ABOVE: Julie Gelderd and Wade Barkman. LEFT: Meg Knight and Jason and Halley Meadors. RIGHT: Priscilla Mata operates the selďŹ e station.

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

Nathan and Sara Van Noord.

RIGHT: Jeff and Patti Blanton, and Thomas and Johanna Gessner.

BELOW: Danielle Kana and Chance Okonski.

LEFT: Glenn and Melissa Duhon.

ABOVE: Hugh and Deb McElroy.

BELOW: Bill and Charlene Broome.

ABOVE: Lina Lawson and Tina Gandy.

BELOW: Bert and Mary Loudon; and Paul and Beth Ogden.

Dr. Mike Saxe, ‘Ed’ Saxe and Donald Adam.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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This one right here is very special. That’s my dad. My father is a 22-year veteran of the United States Army. Former prisoner of war. He was shot five times in Korea, and was taken prisoner by the Chinese and spent 33 months as a POW. This picture was taken not long after he was repatriated. He was repatriated in 1953. He weighed 70 pounds. But went on to serve for 22 years and retired as a master sergeant.

So he’s my hero.

These mugs are all gifts from various outfits I was a member of. My very first one was as a second lieutenant, the First Battalion, 12th Field Artillery in Fort Sill, Oklahoma; the first of the 5th Field Artillery at Fort Riley, Kansas; the battalion I commanded, 1-41 Field Artillery at Fort Stewart, Georgia; the brigade I commanded at Fort Hood, Texas, the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery. I use those there as reminders of some of the outfits I was a member of throughout 31 years in the Army.

This is standard for a general officer … the U.S. flag, I have the Texas flag and I have the onestar flag ... they get the flag representing how many stars you wear. That normally goes with it.

That was my bugle banner. I was in the Aggie Band and I was on the bugle rank my senior year. All the seniors that leave the band that were on the bugle rank get to take the bugle banner with them. That’s the guidon for the outfit I commanded. I commanded B Company in the band my senior year. And when my time was up, they gave me the guidon. Both of those are very special to me, because they represented my time in the band.

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

What’s in your

OFFICE? Story ROB CLARK | Photos Timothy Hurst

A

stroll through retired Brig. Gen. Joe Ramirez’s office is like a trip through a mini museum. Just about every shelf, each wall and his desk is fi lled with items or photos that have a story or special meaning to the Corps of Cadets commandant and Texas A&M graduate, Class of 1979.

“What I have in my office is kind of an eclectic gathering of stuff that I’ve gotten over the years,” he says, “either in college or during the Army or since I became the commandant here at Texas A&M.” Here’s a look at some items of interest, with Ramirez’s comments.

This one is going to be hard to talk about. First funeral I ever presided over as a general officer. ... That funeral was in Verdon, Nebraska, and it was the oldest of three brothers. He was a West Point graduate. The middle brother was at West Point when his brother got killed in Iraq. And the youngest brother was in junior high. And I presided over the funeral. Very, very emotional experience for me. Awesome family. That’s the youngest brother right there. He was in junior high. He came to A&M. His mom found out that I was down here as the commandant and brought him, and met me at the Corps Center. And he graduated last May. He’s now a second lieutenant in the United States Army, like his brothers. She gave me that last year when he graduated.

She gave me that picture. ... It’s a story I tell over and over again in my leadership talks. It’s special to me. It was a very special story and a very special family.

My senior boots. What’s interesting is, those boots were in my dad’s attic for 30 years. It was when I came back to A&M that I happened to ask my dad, “Do you happen to know what happened to my senior boots?” He said, “Oh, yeah, I know exactly where they are.” He went up to the attic and pulled them down. I had forgotten that my dad had them in his attic for 30 years.

My wife, she makes little things like this, and it was scented and everything. So I’m coming to work, and she goes, “I’m gonna make one for you,” and I thought, well, she’d make something kind of manly. She gave me that, a little lamb. I said, “You gotta be kidding me.” She goes, “You gotta take it to your office, because it smells good.” So I did. I did. I brought it. I put it right there, where people could see it when they first walk in, so she knew that I had lived up to my promise to bring it here.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016

The Last Word

REQUIEM FOR A

CRAWFISH The price of great taste: a grim finale

P

ity the poor crawfish. Of all the creatures that humans devour, the crawfish may have the worst road to death and what comes next.

Don’t get me wrong.

I’m as carnivorous as the next guy, and will gladly line up for any crawfish boil available.

And this isn’t some ROB CLARK rob.clark weird PETA rant. All @theeagle.com animals that end up as our food have it rough in one way or another. That’s what they get for being lower on the food chain.

But we’re glad to not have to witness the start-to-finish process for other animals.

Crawfish — and to a lesser extent, crabs, shrimp and lobster — are pretty high up on the sucks-to-be-you list.

First, the dead crawfish don’t usually get cooked, because the meat gets mushy.

They’re the lucky ones. Their still-wriggling pals get to be boiled alive.

Meanwhile, the dominant species celebrates: Come on over, everyone, and watch a mini-massacre! Raise a glass to their mortality! Th row Cajun salt in their wounds!

And don’t forget the corn and potatoes!

Once they’ve sufficiently been boiled to death, there is the actual act of eating crawfish. It could easily be classified as barbaric.

1. Tear off the abdomen end. You know, just rip off half its body.

2. Break off the exoskeleton around the tail, like its version of skin and bones.

3. Yank out the sliver of tail meat.

4. Eat it.

5. Grab the detached head, the torn-off end, and give it a good suck.

It’s like a horror movie for the crawfish community. We play the villain, a combination of the Kraken, Hannibal Lecter, brain-munching zombies and the trolls from The Hobbit.

Now, some villains don’t go for step No. 5.

I asked Chad Hanks, owner of The Crawfish Hole, which distributes crawfish all over town (see Page 32), what the appeal is there. It’s seasoned fat, he says. Better than unseasoned fat, I suppose.

Keep in mind this whole act of near-annihilation is happening while the crawfish still has eyes. Sure, they’re no longer working eyes, and it’s not like crawfish have basset hound eyes to begin with, but still. EYES. So to recap: You’ve boiled it alive, dismembered it beyond recognition, chomped on its tail and treated its head like a juice box. All for what amounts to a slight nibble of food.

The payoff — for those who are willing — is the taste. The spiciness of the Cajun boil mix, the sweetness of the tail meat — it’s hard to beat. So repeat the previous steps of devastation, 20 to 40 more times.

Plenty of people have zero tolerance for all this. A recent Google search of “crawfish is” returned these five suggested words: “bugs,” “disgusting,” “fish,” “gross” and “nasty.” It’s an acquired taste.

And it’s good to know not all crawfish meet this dreadful ending. Some get a reprieve, like the absurd-but-fun presidential pardon of a Thanksgiving turkey. Hanks says when he was a kid, he’d grab a couple crawfish before a boil and let them go in a creek by his grandparents’ house. His son has carried on the tradition, he says.

Good for him. As long as his father still has plenty left to distribute around town. I’m in the mood for a little species domination.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

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BRAZOS 360 | SPRING 2016