Brownwood Bulletin's 40 under 40 — 2019 by Brownwood Bulletin

Brownwood Bulletin A 60-page section featuring 40 locals under 40 who are making a difference in the community

A NEW HORIZON

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40 UNDER 40

TABLE OF CONTENTS Mickel Perkins

Keisha Holland

Blu and Darbi Tidwell

Tanya Collazo

Ryan Welch

Si Ratliff

Billie Harvey

Caylub Crowder

Stehl Ratliff

Sean Lewis

Marc and Chelsea Followwell

Sam Solis

Jessica Willey

Courtney Parrott

Ray Garza

Allen Strickland

Elisha Bird

Dr. Amanda Shugrue

Jamison Russell

April Conway

Amanda Adkins

Stephen Lynn

Seth Kear

Wes and James McMillian

Joshua Snow

Frankie Brown and Jeff McBride

Kandace Harris

Parker Taylor

Bart Johnson Jr.

Domonique Stephens

Brandon Fagan

Cliff Karnes

Lark Terry

Zane Martin

Miranda Soto

Stephen Sharp

Charity Adams

Amanda Scott

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Mickel Perkins By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

Above Bruner Toyota General Manager Mickel Perkins’ desk sits a samurai sword, an HPU football helmet and a variety of other accouterments making any visitor feel right at home, and that is the point. Understanding the gravity of customers locking themselves into multi-year payment plans or employees looking for that last sale to get them over a monthly goal, Perkins understands the automotive sales industry is a stressful one and seeks to alleviate that long before any contracts are signed. “It’s unique. We have a great, diverse group of people who sell the cars, work on the cars and do the

billing,” Perkins said. “We like to keep a nice mixture here. You’re going to hear different music playing over the speakers. Sometimes you’ll see people in the waiting room watching movies, news, football or other sports in the waiting room … We try to keep it where it’s friendly for people of all ages.” Perkins’ words may carry a bit more clout while speaking with his employees because when it comes to most jobs at Bruner Toyota, he may have done it before. He worked his way up to general manager beginning in 2010 as a salesman at the GM building. Three years later he moved up to internet manager, then pre-owned manager, then store manager all before the age of 40.

“I think a suit and tie would be a little too much here. We’re a little more relaxed,” Perkins said. “A suit and tie might make them uncomfortable and we want them to be comfortable. This is an important decision and we want to be part of that decision. We want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. If we look like we’re out of ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, then they’re going to feel that way … We’re here to make the transition to a new car easier.” During his eight years as GM of Bruner Toyota, Perkins’ store has been a multiple time recipient of the Toyota President’s Award – and hopes to receive the distinction for the seventh year in a row. “The qualifications are

PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

Mickel Perkins is the general manager of Bruner Toyota in Early.

more and more stringent each year and we’ve been able to rise to the occasion,” Perkins said. “… Right now, we have seven in a row. All of our final sales numbers

are in and we probably have about six to eight weeks before we find out if we won the 2018 president’s award. From our estimations, it’s looking good.”

CONGRATULATIONS MICKEL FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT

BIG COUNTRY FORD

CONGRATULATIONS, MICKEL! Visit Mickel and his team at Bruner Toyota, across from Heartland Mall in Early. BrunerToyota.com • (325) 646-9511

Buy Better.

Buy Bruner.

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Tanya Collazo By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

EARLY — One year ago Tanya and Lou Collazo decided whether to purchase Gators Fun Factory or let another developer purchase it, potentially spelling an end to her kids’ favorite stomping ground. After a year, and a lot of elbow grease, the Collazos have another decision to make – whether to stay where they are or begin another new adventure and expand and relocate. “At the beginning, it was just full of flat-screen TVs so kids could play Xbox and, of course, the skating rink,” Collazo said. “We added a full redemption counter to go with all of our arcade games so it’s 3,600 square feet of games. We slowly, slowly added and bought these games. Some are pretty pricey so we had to find

PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

Tanya Collazo is co-owner of Gators Fun Factory, currenly located inside Heartland Mall.

used ones.” Collazo, a graduate of Brownwood High School, will re-familiarize herself with Gordon Wood Stadium after announcing plans to relocate

to a building near the famous football venue as well as the Camp Bowie Family Aquatic Center and the Bert V. Massey II Sports complex as part of the proposed move. Along

Congratulations BR-00105370

Tanya andThank you for everything you do!

Mall and board member of the Early Chamber of Commerce, Collazo feels the Early economy is far from reaching the apex of its current economic upturn. Xtreme Jump planned to use space for its newest location. Hobby Lobby recently spent thousands renovating the former location of J.C. Penney for its July 2018 opening, which saw damage following the 2016 flood. The former Scott’s building across from Heartland Mall will be the newest Mattressville location. “Everybody is pumped and everyone works well together,” Collazo said. “Early does everything they can do to help out any business that’s in town. They want Early to grow and they want all of the businesses to be successful. Just having the right people in the right positions has been phenomenal.”

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with moving the mainstay for Brown County children and teens, Collazo also plans to expand Gators Fun Factory’s amenities. “It’s going to take a lot of work. We have the building and we’re shooting for the end of summer. It’s a lot bigger. I think it’s 27,000 square foot,” Collazo said. “It’s the Diamond P building, which is just a big warehouse right now. We’re going to go in, add flooring, air conditioning and all of that fun stuff. Then we will be putting in the arcade, the skating rink and we’re adding laser tag. We have a guy that wants to put batting cages out there and, eventually, I want to put in go carts.” Although relocating from Early, Collazo said it is far from an indication of the overall strength of the city economy. As a business owner operating out of Heartland

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Billie Harvey By Steve Nash steve.nash@brownwoodbulletin.com

Much of Billie Harvey’s future was set when her parents took her, as a fourth-grader, to watch her cousin perform in a production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” “I remember thinking that I wanted to be part of this,” Harvey recalled at Bangs High School, where Harvey is in her fifth year as theatre director. “I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but I was completely enthralled with the entire production.” Harvey, a Breckenridge native, became involve in UIL one-act play competition as a middle school student, and took theatre all through high school. “It’s always something that’s been in my lifeblood,” Harvey said. Harvey earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Hardin-Simmons University,

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Billie Harvey teaches theatre at Bangs High School.

where she gained experience directing plays. Harvey also directed plays with the Abilene Actors Guild. “I think directing adults is a lot of times more challenging than directing students,” Harvey said. “Directing adults — they’re kind of set in their

ways, and when you try to bring something new, they’re harder to adapt, where kids are like ‘give me everything you know, I will take all of it.’ “I love directing adults, don’t get me wrong. A lot of times it’s a breath of fresh air. But I find that openness that students have with the show, and the style, and the technique you’re teaching them that goes with it — it’s really fun to watch their journey.” Before becoming the Bangs High School theatre director, Harvey taught theatre at Breckenridge High School, Abilene Christian High School and Ranger College. “I love the family that gets created with each show,” Harvey said. “Sometimes the same family members are in another show, but then you have new people and they become your family. “So it’s like you have this

massive network of people that you spend a lot of time with and you create a lot of intimacy with. You just create bonds that are kind of indescribable.” Harvey’s theatre students are preparing their production of a play called “Blood Wedding” for UIL one-act play competition. Their first stop will be zone competition on March 2. The students will try to advance from zone to district, bi-district, area, regional and state competition. Harvey had plenty to say about the value of theatre in the education process. “We actually do teach those ‘three R’s,’” Harvey said. “We do a lot of reading comprehension. We do a lot of writing. We learn about history, teaching them that every play comes from a reason — why was it written, why was the language this way, when was it written, who’s it about, and how what’s

going on in the world has influenced that piece of work. “And then in the design process, whether it’s set, props, hair, makeup and costumes — all of those have a historical base. And then when we’re dealing with technical theatre, we’re teaching a lot of math. When you build something, you’ve got to learn how to measure it, cut it correctly, how to fill the space with the right ratios of size. The thing about theatre is, we kind of encompass a whole lot of the real world while we’re creating our fantasy world as well.” Harvey and her husband, Jonathan, have an 11-year-old son, Sam, who has performed in several plays including Lyric Theatre productions. Speaking further of her theatre students, Harvey said, “It’s been such an honor to

H A E I R L V L EY I B BR-00105248

on all she does for our school and community.

SEE HARVEY, 47

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Sean Lewis By Steve Nash steve.nash@brownwoodbulletin.com

Sean Lewis, 32, is a Brookesmith High School graduate, Army veteran and former football coach who now works as the Veteran Services Coordinator, providing a number of services for veterans. Lewis, who is also junior vice commander of the VFW post in Brownwood, has had the job for two years. The difference between the Lewis’ office and the office of Brown County Veterans Service officer James Masters: Masters’ office is county level Lewis’ office is state level, Lewis said. Masters focuses on claims and benefits, while the main role of Lewis’ office focuses on mental health, Lewis said. Lewis’s is employed by the Center for Life Resources, and his office is funded by the Texas Veterans Com-

Sean Lewis works as the Veterans Services Coordinator and junior vice commander of the VFW post in Brownwood. PHOTO BY STEVE NASH

SEE LEWIS, 45

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Jessica Willey By Steve Nash steve.nash@brownwoodbulletin.com

PHOTO BY STEVE NASH

Jessica Willey is chief financial officer for the Center for Life Resources and is involved with numerous organizations throughout the community.

ever since. It’s continued to bring in more dollars.” After graduating from Brownwood High School, Willey attended Tarleton State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s degree in management and leadership. She started her work life in 2000 at Schlotzsky’s Deli and held jobs at businesses including Landmark Life, Citizens National Bank, TexasBank, Andy’s Pest Troopers, Wall Moulding, Family Services Center, Brown County Home Solutions and Center for Life Recourses. Willey started her current job in October 2018. Previously she worked as interim director of Brown County Home Solutions, a job she started earlier in 2018. There was a need, a gap, following the resignation of former director Angelia Bostick, Willey said. “My focus was just on the (Legacy Village) houses and taking care of stuff,” Willey said. “I loved it. Then I got a call from Dion and he said ‘the CFO position is open at Center for Life and I wold like for you to apply for it.’”

Willey was referring to Dion White, executive director of the Center for Life Resources.

SEE WILLEY, 49

1025 W Commerce St, Brownwood, TX 76801 BR-00105016

As chief financial officer for the Center for Life Resources, Jessica Willey, 35, works with numbers. But Willey’s life is about more than numbers — it’s about helping when she sees a need or sees something that can be improved, as shown by her involvement in organizations including the Kiwanis and Brown County Home Solutions. “There’s a part of me that wants to help — that part of me that’s the big sister, the mom,” Willey said. That’s a result of coming from a big family, where Willey ended up co-parenting some of her younger siblings. “There was a need and I helped fill it,” Willey said. “As part of a family, you have to contribute. You’re focused on the family and the functioning of the family. “Ultimately that’s how I process in any kind of dynamic I’m in. There’s something to be done, and if I can help either do it for help make things streamlined, then I’m going to do that.” Willey said she likes knowing she’s “contributing to something bigger than myself. That’s why I love Kiwanis. They’ve been like my family. I love what they’re doing.” Willey’s husband, Walker — a lieutenant with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department Office of Inspector General — complimented his wife on her involvement with the Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Supper in 2016. “A few years ago when she ran the pancake supper, she totally transformed it because that’s the number one fundraiser for the year,” Walker Willey said. “She saw that numbers could greatly improve based on sponsorship and she basically made an entire binder on how to rework the coliseum and make it more people friendly, help the flow, the wait time, bring in more people. “They’ve used that same model

Willey recalled a Center for Life Resources Christmas party she attended with her husband a few years ago at the Brownwood Country Club. The party left her with an overwhelmingly positive impression of Center for Life. “Walker does transport for Center for Life — crisis transport,” Willey recalled. “They had a Christmas party and he was invited, so we got to go. “The Country Club was full, just every kind of personality there. Everybody was talking and seemed genuinely to care about people they were talking with, and it was just a very warm environment. And that was really impressive to me. “We sat down at the table and everybody at the table worked in different departments. They didn’t really know each other. The con-

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Allen Strickland By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

Allen Strickland has worked at a variety of local banks, but has nestled into a home as Banking Center Manager for Prosperity Bank’s Brownwood location. Born and raised in Tyler, Strickland moved with his parents to Brownwood in 1996 so his mother could be closer to her parents. Strickland graduated from BHS in 1998 and briefly attended both Howard Payne and TSTC before becoming a fixture in the local banking scene, where he’s remained since. “First American Bank was my first full-time position as a personal banker,” Strickland said. “I started in 2000 and worked my way up through that bank and went as far as I could, then it became Citibank and they eventually got bought out, but I left before that and went to American State Bank as a personal banker. I did that for a couple of years then, through a friend, I went to Mid-Tex

Federal Credit Union and took over the lending department and ran that for five years. I really enjoyed it and that’s where I got my first feel of lending and loved it. I did that until this position became available and I had another friend refer me to come apply for the banking center manager position. In June of 2017 I was hired on here as the Banking Center Manager.” Strickland described his duties as the banking center manager as, “My main role is a lender but I kind of oversee everything. My main focus is lending – commercial lender, consumer lender. We are on a day to day basis, my lending assistant, my commercial lender that I have in the office and I, we’re meeting perspective clients or clients that we already have in order to grow our business. We’re looking at big deals on a daily basis, whether it’s a re-finance on a large corporation or financing a start-up business or financing rental properties for investors, primary mortgages

PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Allen Strickland is the Banking Center Manager for the Prosperity Bank location in Brownwood.

Congratulations

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Allen!

for consumers, whatever it is. We’re out in the public meeting and greeting and establishing those relationships.” As for what Strickland enjoys most about the job, he said, “The most rewarding thing is probably knowing that we are truly helping that client, whether it’s a consumer client, a commercial client, it’s somebody that’s trying to buy their first home or it’s a large corporation trying to relocate to a new building. It’s just being able to help that client, being able to be their bank, being their go-to name and face. Knowing that if they need something they can pick up the phone and call me. That means a lot to me.” Away from the office, Strickland is an ambassador with the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce. “I go to as many events as I can, ribbon cuttings, chamber luncheons, that’s another way I can get out and mingle and meet different people,” he said. He and his wife Amie, who is employed by Brownwood ISD after a career as a registered nurse, have four children — a 17-year-old daughter, Ashlyn; a 15-year-old son, Atley; a

14-year-old daughter, Addison; and a 5-year-old daughter, Khloe. “They’re all in Brownwood ISD and my wife teaches at Brownwood ISD,” Strickland said. “We think highly of Brownwood and Brownwood ISD and that’s the reason I’m still here.” Strickland also has a great passion for sports and the Brownwood youth programs. “My son is 15 this year and I’ve coached him from T-ball up,” Strickland said. “My daughter plays soccer and I don’t know much about it, but I’m learning. Being involved with my kids and the sports they’re doing, I’m a huge sports fan, so that’s what I’m all about.” With his youngest daughter in PreK, Strickland doesn’t envision he and his family leaving Brownwood any time in the near future. “People always say Brownwood feels like home, and I wasn’t born and raised here but I’ve been here since ‘96 and it does feel like home,” Strickland said. “I really don’t see us going anywhere, especially with the kids all involved in school, it’s been good. We like the community.”

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Jamison Russell By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Jamison Russell has been running Legacy IT in Early for the past five years.

Jamison Russell’s Legacy IT will soon move into a new retail location behind Chicken Express in Early. After years as a startup inside the Early Small Business Incubator, Legacy IT moved to downtown Brownwood next to the court house and continued to grow. “It’s the logical next step for the business,” Russell said. “We’ve been growing. This is credited to our great clients and the highly skilled team at Legacy IT.” Russell was born in Brownwood and graduated from Early High School in 2003. After attending Tarleton State University, where he studied marketing, he pursued a career in real estate in moving to Fort Worth. Russell then studied network engineering at DeVry University. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business,” Russell said. “ I’ve had a couple here and there, learning from each one. Five years ago, Brad (Varner) and I started Legacy IT with $5,000. Our standards and ambitions have been set high since day one. It excites me to bring technology that only big businesses were able to use and implement them into the businesses of this community Legacy IT and myself are here to help anyway that we can.” While speaking during an Early Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn in 2018, Russell taught businesses owners how to avoid hackers gaining access to their files. Former Early Chamber of Commerce Director Shannan Burch credited Legacy IT with saving the computers and patient records following a hack of Lifeguard EMS in 2018 and that is far from the only business preserved thanks to Legacy IT’s efforts. When it comes to his line of business, a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule does not apply. “It’s very rewarding when we can get them back up and running in a timely fashion,” Russell said. “We deal with a lot of problems and we have to come up with solutions. We have to have a problem solving mindset. Everyone is going to have a problem with IT, these systems must be secured and maintained much like your vehicle, but there is always a logical reason as to why the technology isn’t working.” Russell also serves his community as a Early Volunteer firefighter, current board member of the Brownwood Education Foundation, and former Early Chamber of Commerce President.

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Stephen Lynn

PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Stephen Lynn has been the head baseball coach at Howard Payne for 14 seasons, guiding the Yellow Jackets to the postseason four times. By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

Stephen Lynn, 37, is in his 14th season as head coach of the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets baseball program. The longest-tenured coach at HPU, Lynn came to Brownwood on a visit in 2002 and later transferred from Ranger College to continue his baseball career and has been a fixture at the university ever since. “I had a good experience on my recruiting visit and fell in love with it,” Lynn said. “I ended up signing here and playing two years. Once my playing days were over I was going to teach and coach at the high school level. The summer after I finished my eligibility, the assistant coach left. Coach (Mike) Kennemer at the time was by himself and I approached him and told him I didn’t mind helping with whatever you need. I came out and helped with fall ball and in November he offered me the full-time assistant’s position and I was super blessed to get that. That was something that was very unexpected at the time.” Lynn was then thrust into the position of interim head coach a few months later in April of

2005 and in June of the same year was named full-time head coach. “It’s been kind of a fairy tale story how it’s all transpired,” he said. Lynn admitted to experiencing growing pains early on as a head coach, but eventually got the Yellow Jackets into the American Southwest Conference tournament in 2014 — their first appearance since 2002. Howard Payne has made a total of four ASC tournaments under Lynn’s leadership. “When I started there was a steep learning curve,” Lynn said. “Coming from being a player and now you’re coaching guys you played with, my first couple of years I failed at a lot of things. I learned the hard way on a lot of different things and because of that it’s helped me become a better coach. You learn what not to do. Sometimes that’s the best teaching tool.” As for the key to turning around the program, Lynn said, “It goes back to recruiting the right kind of kid. Being that we’re a Christian school that’s a tremendous emphasis on our campus life and our program. When you’re able to find a kid that fits in the Christian culture on campus,

and a kid that’s high on academics, and a kid that can play baseball at a high level, that certainly helps. It’s been a rewarding journey to see guys come through the program and see their growth on and off the field. Recruiting is the lifeblood of college athletics and if you’re good at recruiting you’re going to have some success on the field and we’ve been able to do that.” The lure of remaining at Howard Payne after 17 years, according to Lynn, is “all about people and relationships. It’s the people I’ve met along the way, just the feeling in the community that it feels like home. I felt that from the very first time I stepped on campus as a 20-year-old. I felt that connectivity within our campus and then the community as a whole. People are a huge part of it, just getting to know people and feeling that sense of belonging. “Then, of course, the relationships you build over a 14-, 15-year coaching career is something that I cherish, too. It’s something that’s made me understand that this is a great place

SEE LYNN, 48

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Joshua Snow

PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Joshua Snow is the Director of Student Activities at Howard Payne University, where he graduated from 2013.

By Derrick Stuckly

dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

Joshua Snow, 30, transferred to Howard Payne University as student in 2010 and has remained after graduating, holding multiple jobs before settling in to his current role as Director of Student Activities. Snow grew up in Waxahachie and initially attended Dallas Baptist University before moving to Brownwood. After graduating from HPU in 2013, Snow, “started working in the admissions office and worked there a week under two years,” he said. “Then I transitioned to be a resident director at Taylor Hall. I was over Taylor Hall and on campus apartments and duplexes. I did that for a year and a half then I transitioned to director of student activities, which I’m into my fourth semester, so the end of this semester will be two full years. I’ve been working at Howard Payne for five years.”

In his role as Director of Student Activities, Snow said, “I am over all the student organizations, honor societies, those type of things report to me as well as Greek life, fraternities and sororities, departmental organizations. I’m in charge of their meetings and making sure they’ve turned in what they need to, rosters and those sorts of things. I make sure the Greek life pledging procedures are followed correctly and done well. With the student activities portion, any activity that’s outside of the classroom – cookouts to video game tournaments, whatever I can go to and get the students plugged in here on campus the best I can so they enjoy their time on campus and hopefully continue to stay.” Snow considers the most rewarding part of his job, “getting to walk alongside the students. I don’t necessarily love sitting behind a desk on a computer, and I’m able with walk

with the students and get out of my office, whether it be watching sporting events that the students are in, because that helps me build relationships with them, and would then help them better appreciate Howard Payne and make them feel like they belong here and that they’re like family. The rewarding part is getting to see them grow from their first year until they graduate. It feels like I have a lot of little brothers and sisters here. It’s also nice to work at a Christian institution that supports me in what I do and that we can talk about God in anything and everything we do.” Outside of work, Snow and his wife Taylor are foster parents to two boys and the couple is expecting their first child in April. “The last six months now my wife and I have been foster parents, so we have two foster

SEE SNOW, 48

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CONGRATULATIONS

PARKER ON YOUR

40 40 UNDER

NOMINATION. We are so proud of you! Love, Mikka, Rylee and Rowdee.

22200 County Road 487 May, Texas 76857 â&#x20AC;¢ (325) 642-5071 https://www.facebook.com/gtfarms.harvesting/ BR-SPAD0221103835

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Parker Taylor By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

Parker Taylor, a 2009 graduate of Brownwood High School, has found his career niche in agriculture as part of GT Farms and Custom Harvesting. Taylor’s original plan to play college football at Arkansas-Pine Bluff ended with a knee injury and he’s been living in May for the past decade, cultivating a unique business. “Once I got hurt I came back and I’ve just been farming and ranching and custom harvesting ever since. We farm anything from peanuts to corn, a little bit of cotton and we do custom harvesting all over Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas,” Taylor said. “The custom harvesting end, we basically go cut wheat for dairies and feed yards all over Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. We run quite a few head of cattle, too.” In agriculture, custom harvesting is the business of harvesting crops for others. Custom harvesters own their own equipment and often work for the same farms every harvest season. “I fell into it with my girlfriend Mikka (Gregory), and started doing that and found out custom harvesting was my niche and I was pretty good at it,” Taylor said. “It’s a pretty competitive job. It’s a first come, first serve deal and you have to be better than everyone else to maintain it and that fell in good with my competitive nature. I grew a passion for it and to do more acres than anyone else around.” With farming, ranching and custom harvesting, free time is rare for Taylor. “I stay busy all the time, but in the winter we get a little bit of a break and worry more about the cows then,” Taylor said. “For nine to 10 months out of the year it’s non-stop, 100 mph wide open until it rains.” When Taylor isn’t working, he spends his time involved with youth sports and the Brownwood High School athletic programs. “I enjoy anything that has to do with the school,” Taylor said. “Brad Jetton asked me to help out with 7-on-7 when Rylee (Gregory) came through school and with Rowdee (Gregory) coming up. I’ve coached a lot over the years from TYFL to baseball and basketball. “We’ve also tried to do some improvements throughout the school. Myself, Stehl and Si Ratliff and Darrin St. Ama re-did the tunnel before last football season. I’ve also been asked to be part of the Brownwood ABC Club, which tries to keep a lot new stuff on board for all the sports programs.” Taylor considers time he’s spent mentoring the youth of Brownwood a worthy investment. “I really enjoy it,” Taylor said. “Every bit of time you invest with kids is going to help the future without a doubt. It’s what I got taught all the years I went to Brownwood. It helps me drive on through the day and drive on through our business, keep your head to the grindstone and don’t ever give up. If you can transfer that over to the kids it’s just going to be one hardworking community trying to better itself. I don’t see where you can go wrong investing your time in the kids.”

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Parker Taylor and Mikki Gregory run GT Farming and Custom Harvesting. Taylor is also involved with various youth sports programs.

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Brandon Fagan By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

Bangs native Brandon Fagan, 37, has been involved in youth ministry for the majority of his adult life. Almost one full year ago, Fagan opted for a new job that allows him an opportunity to make an impact on more lives than ever before. The former youth minister at High Mesa Cowboy Church, who graduated from Bangs High School in 2000 and later graduated from Texas State University with a degree in elementary education, has been employed by the Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment since April. “It’s a really neat opportunity for me here,” Fagan said. “But when I took this job I resigned from the youth pastor job just because they both require a lot of time. If I was going to do this I didn’t think I could do a good job doing the other job as well.” As the youth minister at High Mesa, Fagan was very familiar with the Baptist Encampment and the opportunities it presented. “When I was youth pastor we came to this youth camp every summer for

the last 13 years,” Fagan said. “One thing that always stuck out is the camp changes, every year there’s something new they’ve added or they’ve improved on. That was always something neat. At a lot of jobs I worked throughout the years you don’t get to see a lot of changes. So that was something that stuck out.” Fagan essentially has two different jobs at the camp, depending on the season. “In the summertime I’m over the staff, the people who do all the cleaning, cooking, concession stand, lifeguarding,” Fagan said. “From June until August I’m summer staff coordinator and that’s a really cool opportunity. It’s a lot like doing youth ministry except you’re with them 24/7. “In the offseason of our summer camps I’m the retreat director. That’s a pretty fun job, too. Youth pastors call us and want to have a retreat out here and I get to help them customize the weekend, whether that’s doing the ropes course or kayaks or paintball. That’s been a really fun thing, too. It’s cool because you get to work with people

New Zip Tower under construction now at camp! Give Brandon Fagan a call to schedule your group today Office (325)784-5821

www.HeartofTexasCamp.com https://www.facebook.com/hotbc/ BR-00105286

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Brandon Fagan, who works at the Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment, is pictured with his wife Joanie and children Aaron, Andrew and Ashlyn.

in every aspect of ministry – pastors, youth pastors, interns, volunteers. It’s been a really fun experience.” As for the greatest joy Fagan receives from his job, he said, “You get to help other people. I really have a passion for Christ and passion for helping youth, especially in Brown County. I get to help at a different level than I did as a youth pastor. Now I don’t necessarily work with them one-on-one in the offseason, but I get to help them do things that maybe they thought they’d never do, like the challenge course, things like that. Being able to serve people is the

most rewarding thing for me.” Fagan and his wife Joanie have been married for 16 ½ years and have three children — sons Aaron, who is about to turn 11, and Andrew, who is 8, and daughter Ashlyn who will soon turn 3. “My older two boys have enjoyed living out here and there’s certainly opportunities for them with the help, playing and exploring. It’s been really great for them,” Fagan said. “My daughter loves all the deer that come up in our backyard and the aspects of nature. It’s been a really great experience for our whole family.”

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BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

Zane Martin By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

Zane Martin, a 24-year-old Howard Payne graduate who grew up all over the state, is laying down roots in Brownwood as he balances his family life with a pair of jobs. Martin works as a realtor for Lone Star Home and Loan and also serves as the youth minister at Midtown Baptist Church. He and his wife, Kelsey, have a 13-month-old son, Liam. “I kind of grew up all over,” Martin said. “My father was a pastor when I was growing up. I spent 12 years in the Weatherford area. From middle school through high school I grew up in northeast Houston. Then I came to Howard Payne to get a degree in youth ministry.” Martin has attended Midtown since he arrived in Brownwood, and his devotion to the church resulted in becoming the youth minister. “I’ve been going to Midtown since I was a freshman in college,” Martin said. “When I was a sophomore the youth minster left and they had seen how I’d been faithful coming and looking for opportunities to serve so they asked me to step up to be the youth minister and I gladly accepted. That’s what I sought out to do since high school.” His position as youth minister at Midtown is what kept Martin and his family in Brownwood. “Whenever I graduated I had several churches that wanted me to interview, some from the Metroplex, some from Austin, but after thinking about it and praying about it my wife and I decided that Brownwood really was our home and we didn’t want to leave our church family at Midtown,” Martin said. Among the most satisfying aspects of a being a youth minister, Martin said, “One of the things I like best about it is I have a lot of students who come from broken homes or places where they just don’t see a lot of hope and I like to show students their full potential and how they can reach it.” Regarding his role at Lone Star Home and Loan, Martin said, “I assist people in buying and selling houses and making sure they get exactly what

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Zane Martin is a realtor for Lone Star Home and Loan and the youth minister at Midtown Baptist Church in Brownwood.

they want.” Martin added the greatest reward of that job is, “when I work with firsttime buyers and I help them realize a dream they’ve had since being a kid — owning a house.” When it comes to balancing his two jobs, Martin considers the real estate business and ministry an ideal mix. “Real estate partners really well because I can make my own schedule and meet people as they’re coming into the community,” Martin said. Looking down the road 10 years, Martin expects to remain in both vocations — and in Brownwood. “I definitely see myself staying in Brownwood, expanding real estate for sure and growing the clientele in business, and I also see myself always being involved in ministry,” Martin said. “That’s what I got my degree in and my first passion. I see myself being on staff at a church somewhere in the Brownwood area for sure.”

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Tim Bumpass: Realtor 325-217-0210

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Tammi Tongate: Realtor 325-642-0238

Paul Infinger: Broker/Owner 325-647-5947

1100 COGGIN AVE • BROWNWOOD • 325-646-5979 WWW.LONESTARHOMEANDLOAN.COM

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

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Charity Adams By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

Charity Adams works with Aldersgate, the Brown County Jaycees and other local organizations.

Outside of area first responders, Charity Adams may be the closest thing to a super hero Brown County has, working as a janitor by day and a philanthropic juggernaut by night. Among Adams’ many civic services in 2018 was the return to the Miss Juneteenth Pageant, which she spearheaded along with active memberships in the Brown County Jaycees, Aldersgate and others. “It’s a lot. I did not think a year ago that I would be where I’m at,” Adams said. “A year ago I brought back the Miss Juneteenth Pageant. It’s a lot, but it makes me feel good to be able to walk into public and see the different things I had a hand in, helped start up or bring back.” Juneteenth is a nationally recognized holiday where families and civic groups come together to celebrate the end of slavery in America. The name comes from Texas slaves not receiving the news slavery ended until June 19, 1865, months after the Confederacy’s surrender. In resurrecting the Ms. Juneteenth Pageant, Adams sought to give every participant the opportunity to ‘be gorgeous for a day’. As part of Ms. Juneteenth, judges grade contestants across three age groups ranging from kindergarten to senior in talent,

question and answer and formal wear. “To see dreams become a realization, is the biggest thing that can be possible,” Adams said. “… I wanted to get the youth more involved in the community because they are America’s future leaders.” In late January state Jaycees officials swore in Adams as community development vice president, which she believes is a mark of distinction considering her oneyear anniversary with the Jaycees is still days away. Although pleased with her accomplishments, she will next turn her attention to a far less celebrated position as a youth softball coach. Last spring, she had an opportunity to coach her daughter Chloe, who competed against able-bodied girls despite a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Adams said she pushes her daughter the same way her community leader uncles Draco, Lajon and Jodie Miller pushed her as a child. “My daughters, when they’re my age, will be able to say ‘my mom did that. My mom was the inspiration for that,’” Adams said. “We lost my grandmother back in August and that was a very, very big blow. I took her passing as a way of spreading her legacy. She groomed us and told us, ‘regardless of what you face in the world, make sure you shine.’ I told everybody 2019 is my year. I was joking when I said that, but I really think it’s coming true.”

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BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

Keisha Holland By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

A Brown County native all her life, 27-year-old Keisha Holland is in charge of her own business — one extremely rare in the state of Texas. Holland runs Snap To It Fitness, located at 101 East Industrial Drive in Early, which opened in 2018 and incorporates bungee cords into its training. “One of the things with this type of gym is there’s only a handful in the state of Texas and Early is one now,” Holland said. “Everyone really is amazed that we actually brought it to this area.” A 2010 graduate of Early High School, Holland attended TSTC and obtained an associates degree in networking. In 2015 she became a certified personal trainer and last year — after attending a two-day training seminar in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — she became certi-

PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY SEE HOLLAND, 47

Keisha Holland teaches bungee workout classes at Snap-To-It Fitness in Early.

We are so proud of all the accomplishments you have achieved.

BR-00105319

Keisha!

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

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Ryan Welch

PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

Ryan Welch works as a realtor for Bilbrey Home and Ranch Group Keller Williams Realty. By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

Bilbrey Home and Ranch Group Keller Williams Realtor Ryan Welch has grand plans for Brown County whether it comes from the real estate market or the tech market. Although stationed out of Blanket, Welch said the market takes him all across Brown County and beyond crediting most of his business to prospective homeowners moving to Brown County, which he believes is a sign of a strong economy. “We’re seeing a good increase of out-of-town buyers for this area,” Welch said. “I’m representing several that come from out of state – Las Vegas, New Mexico, California. It’s really interesting, especially in our neck of the woods … Whether they are a seller or a buyer, my main goal is to find out what their need is.” Welch originally hails from Austin, but remained in Brownwood after graduating from Howard Payne

University in 2007. Although entrenched in the local real estate market, Welch said his passion has always been in the tech industry. Before coming to Bilbrey Home and Ranch Group Keller Williams, Welch previously worked for Dell Computers and Microsoft. He recently launched a business finding technology solutions for individuals and businesses using the relationships he established at Dell and Microsoft. “I work for another company called GHA Technologies, which is one of the largest employee-own resellers in America,” Welch said. “Essentially, my short-term goal is to get the word out on the technology end. We can literally offer any technology solution for enterprise commercial clients. Whether it’s a server and infrastructure, wireless setup, storage – whatever it is we can offer that.” Welch said GHA currently represents more than 3,000 technology companies. Where GHA makes its profits is using its network and relationships to purchase electronic

equipment at a reduced cost and pass the savings to their clients. Welch added there is no other similar company to his knowledge in Brownwood. “I have access to all of their engineers and specialist. I can get solutions in place for all of our businesses,” Welch said. “That’s what I’m most passionate about. With real estate alongside it’s the best of both worlds. Bringing that to Brownwood is huge in my opinion. My two passions are real estate and technology.” At the early age of 35, Welch said he moved to Brownwood as a way to establish himself while also finding a safe place to raise his family. He hopes to remain in Brownwood for the foreseeable future, finding homes for families and technology solutions for area businesses until what he hopes is an early retirement. “We’re parking it here. We’re trying to get more exposure on the technology end and trying to help as many people as I can on the real estate end,” Welch said.

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BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

BIG EARL 325-203-2972

THERISA MERRITT

325-642-0759

RYAN WELCH

830-832-8092

HERMAN MERRITT

469-834-9990

Bilbrey Home and Ranch Group Keller Williams Realty congratulates Ryan Welch on his nomination to the Brown County 40 Under 40.

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3 Beds 3 Bath 3,239 sqft Acres 72.52

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3 Beds 2 Baths 2,175 sqft

2 Beds 1 Bath 1,236 sqft

2 Bedroom 2 Bath 896 sqft

10.1 acres

3 Beds 2 Baths 1,496 sqft

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

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Caylub Crowder By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

The pressure of leading a multi-million dollar construction company can be daunting for anyone, especially a 27 year old man, but Caylub Crowder was up for the task. Although some would be hesitant to hand over the key to the company to a 27-year-old man, Crowder had more than 10 years in the construction industry including 10 primarily with a company in Austin he had been partners with since his teens. “It’s one of those things where you either sink or swim. I was a partner with another company in Austin for 10 years,” Crowder said. “I wanted to come back home and fix this up. The growth is impressive. Everything is growing. Everything is changing.” Tunnel Construction seems to be one of the benefactors of the recent economic boon in Early with numerous commercial real estate projects underway including renovation of the old Scott’s building across from the Heartland Mall. Crowder said the economic boon is not just involving commercial property.

“We do flip homes too. We take old, fallen down homes in Brownwood fix them up and turn them into a new home for someone to buy and start a family,” Crowder said. “We’ve been doing flip homes and working on the new Mattressville deal. Brownwood is growing quickly and expanding fast, so is Early, Bangs – all of the surrounding towns are. No one can figure it out. Everyone wants to move here I guess.” Crowder graduated from Bangs High School as part of the class of 2003. He moved to Austin to learn the trade, then took his decade of experience and parlayed it into a CEO position with Tunnel Construction. Along with Mattressville, Crowder also had a hand in the recent renovations to the Superior Cable building, Potters Glass near Lake Brownwood and a variety of projects for many of Brown County’s leading industries. “Right now, we’re doing Excel Health next to Dr. Stuart’s office. We’ve done a lot. There is so many I can hardly keep up. We stay busy non-stop,” Crowder said. Crowder said one of his favorite parts about working in Brownwood is work-

Congratulations!

PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

BR-00105014

Caylub Crowder oversees the work of Tunnell Construction.

716 Main St., Blanket, Tx 76432 • 833-TUNNELL

ing around its historic buildings. Every once in a while he stumbles onto a new archeological find or just a strange piece of nostalgia from the past. “Brownwood is more of a historical town so you get a lot of challenges from the older buildings,” Crowder said. “That is what we like. We like the chal-

lenges and find very interesting things. We had one house with newspapers from the 1950s glued to the walls. You find a lot of historical things in these homes that we do and we frame a lot of historical stuff that we like. We like redoing things and getting them back to what they used to be.”

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BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

Marc and Chelsea Followwell By Steve Nash steve.nash@brownwoodbulletin.com

Seated in the Followwell Property Group real estate office in Brownwood, team leader Marc Followwell, 32, said he doesn’t call himself his wife’s boss. “I would never say that. Not with her present, anyway,” Marc joked as his wife, Chelsea, sat a few feat away. Chelsea, 30, a former KTABTV reporter, joined her husband in selling real estate in 2017 and works out of the same office. The Followwell Property Group is under the umbrella of Keller Williams Realty. “They have a team structure where you can basically brand, within the confines of the Texas Real Estate Commission, your own team name as long as you adhere to their advertising policies,” Marc said. “Technically we work for Keller Williams. That’s our brokerage. But we are able to have our own subsequent team underneath that.” Both are Brownwood natives and graduates of Brownwood High School — Marc in 2004 and Chelsea in 2007. Other than Marc’s absence for a year at Tarleton State University, they have spent their entire lives here. “When I was 18 I told my parents I was moving from Brownwood and I was never coming back,” Marc said. “And then as I got a little older and wiser, I realized, we love it. We love it here. We can be involved in everything our kids do. We don’t fight traffic.” The Followwells have a daughter who is 11 and a son who is 8. Marc became licensed to sell real estate in 2011 while working for Bishop Distributing and Sunbeater in Early. He sold real estate as a sideline to earn extra money, never intending it as a full-time career. Marc later worked for Lortchser Animal Nutrition and became interim plant manager — and his real estate business became increasingly demanding. “We were extremely busy and I

PHOTO BY STEVE NASH

Marc and Chelsea Followwell both sell real estate as members of the Followwell Property Group.

kind of had a line-in-the-sand type deal, where it was either fully commit to the job where I was at and let real estate slide, or fully commit to real estate.” Marc chose real estate and began selling full-time in 2014. “It was a scary situation to go into a commission-only structure when you’ve got a wife and two kids. It was scary for the first six months or so but it turned out to be a big blessing, for sure.” Chelsea earlier worked for her father at Scott’s Western Wear, handling online sales, and also owned boutique called the Southern Junkie. In 2016, Chelsea learned that KTAB wanted to hire a television reporter for Brownwood. Chelsea contacted the station, explaining she had no

journalism experience but had “a lot of connections in Brownwood, being a business owner.” KTAB hired her “they taught me everything,” Chelsea said. “They thought it would be good to have somebody with the connections and they could teach me everything from there. It wasn’t hard. It was a learning curve. It was something I had never done before.” Chelsea liked her new job but then resigned after less than a year because of the tough schedule. “The constant back and forth was hard,” Chelsea said. “When you’ve got to just drop everything and fun to a house fire, that made it hard.” Marc and Chelsea played with the idea of Chelsea going into real estate. “Once I saw how busy he was, it was

just non-stop,” Chelsea said. “I just decided to take a leap of faith as well, and go to school and get my license.” Chelsea got her training online with Allied Real Estate School, then took a test to become a Realtor. “Just about every single year I’ve been in real estate, it’s progressed,” Marc said. “Values have progressed. It’s very good. We’ve won numerous awards within Keller Williams. We had a part in bringing Xtreme Jump LLC here — that new trampoline park. That was probably one of the neatest transactions that we were part of. To be able to bring them here was pretty cool.” One unique aspect of their office: the office owns a moving truck which is available at no charge to clients who are selling or buying.

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

Courtney Parrott

PHOTO BY STEVE NASH

Courtney Parrott works for the Texas AgriLife Extension Office in Brown County. By Steve Nash steve.nash@brownwoodbulletin.com

Courtney Parrott, 36, has traded in her high school math classroom for another kind of teaching venue. The Lamesa native is the extension agent for family and community health in the Brown County office of the Texas AgriLife Extension Office, where she’s worked for 27 months. Parrott previously had the same job in Dawson County for 2 1/2 years. As a high school teacher, Parrott taught in Lamesa, Sweetwater, San Angelo and College Station. “I was a high school math teacher for 10 years and I had no idea what the extension office was until we got a new ag agent, and his wife and I became real good friends,” Parrott said. “We went to church together. He started approaching me, saying he needed help in Dawson County, and there was an open position. “The way he described it to me, it’s like a home economics teacher.” Parrott was immediately interested and applied for the job. “I was getting frustrated with STARR testing and teaching to the test,” Parrott said. As an extension agent, Parrott teaches a wide range of ages from children to adults. Her topics have included proper hand washing, financial literacy, Medicare fraud, identity theft and the top scams that target seniors. When Parrott learned of an opening in Brown County, she was already familiar with the area as her great-grandmother lives in Bangs. “I liked the area and there was an opening, so I applied. I was ready to leave west

Texas,” Parrott said. “Health and wellness has become a major priority in the state,” Parrott said. “I’ve also focused on financial wellness so last year I did a lot of awareness on budgeting, saving, spending, identity theft. “We have the 4H projects where I focus on the food and nutrition aspects. I teach the food handlers and food managers courses so I teach for the restaurants and their employees.” As a Brown County agent, Parrott has ramped up participation in the Health County program, in which employees volunteer to take part in fitness goals, mostly involving walking. “It was mentioned to me that the last agent had done it and the commissioners liked it, because it helps with out health care,” Parrott said. “If we can control some of our chronic diseases, it can control the cost of health care.” “I love it,” Parrott said of her job. “Every day’s different. I’m in different settings, different locations, different groups of people. It’s challenging. There’s never a boring moment. “I do have classes where we have people come in here and learn. I’ve gone to Christian Women’s Job Corps. With 4H we do the hands on learning. I’ve gone out into different organizations within the community, housing developments, whenever churches have their senior luncheons, so I get to go to a group to teach.” Parrott and her husband, Greg, who is a sheriff’s deputy, are the parents of a son and daughter who attend the Bangs school district.

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Diamond R Catering

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BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

Elisha Bird By Steve Nash steve.nash@brownwoodbulletin.com

Elisha Bird, 38, has been a felony prosecutor in District Attorney Micheal Murray’s office since January 2013. Bird, a Fort Worth native who has a law degree from Baylor University, first came to Brown County in 2008 and worked as the assistant county attorney, prosecuting misdemeanor cases. Seated in her office on the third floor of the Brown County Courthouse, Bird explained her background and her views on being a prosecutor. “I love it,” Bird, who recently became board certified in criminal law, said of her job. “Don’t want to do anything else — ever.” Bird is married to sheriff’s Lt. Scott Bird, and the two are the parents of a 4-year-old daughter. Bird was born in Fort Worth while her father, who was a preacher, was attending seminary. The family moved to Florida, where Bird grew up. She attended college in Virginia, where she majored in communications, and knew she was headed for graduate school of some kind. “Whatever I did with my graduate degree, it was going to be service oriented,” somehow,” Bird said. Bird chose law, believing it was the best way to help people. “It seemed like the right route to go,” Bird said. “If you really want to accomplish something in life for other people, you need to have access to the power of the legal profession. So that’s why I went to law school, and I learned really quick in law school that criminal law was the right area for me.” Bird knew she wanted to be a prosecutor, and a mentor advised her after law school to consider starting out in a small community. “I told him I wanted to be a prosecutor and he gave me some really good advice,” Bird said. “You can go to a big city and be a prosecutor straight out of law school. “But there are things about being

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Elisha Bird is a felony prosecutor in district attorney Micheal Murray’s office.

a prosecutor that, long-term, might not be as beneficial to you as starting out in a smaller area. And then if you still want to go to a big city after you’ve started out in a smaller area, then go to a big city.” One of Bird’s friends told the Bulletin that Bird “has an impeccable trial record, serves her community and church, and advocates for victims. She is an excellent example of a strong woman and a great role model. While Bird has prosecuted many types of crimes, she is particularly

empathetic with victims of crimes against persons including family violence and sexual assault. “I’ve always felt like the prosecutor’s side is the right side for me,” Bird said. “I think it’s honorable to do defense work too. My goal is to help people who can’t help themselves. I feel like victims of family violence and sexual assault have nobody else but people like me and people in law enforcement to help them. They don’t always have ways out of that situation unless volunteers at the ARK, or law enforce-

ment or somebody like me comes along and says ‘I’m here, and I can do the hard part for you. All you have to do is commit to getting out of this situation.” Preparing for trial, Bird said, she tells victims “as best I can guess and predict” what questions they might be getting from the defense attorney on cross examination. “One of the most important aspects of meeting with (victims) is helping them prepare emotionally for what’s coming,” Bird said. It’s not so much a matter of preparing them to talk about what happened because “they’ve lived through it, and they know what happened,” Bird said. “Sometimes they may not know how to express it but they know what happened. The biggest thing is getting them ready — especially on family violence and sexual assault cases — for the emotions that are going to come, and warning them ‘you’re going to be in the same room as the person who physically beat you, who sexually assaulted you … I’ll be there with you. “‘You don’t have to look at them. You can look at me the whole time.’” Most of the cases don’t involve strangers but involve “family relationships or something like that,” Bird said. “And I have to warn all of them, ‘normally a defendant’s going to know you better than I will ever know you, and they’re going to tell every deep, dark, dirty secrets they’ve had about you to their attorney, and you’ve got to be ready for a lot of really horrible things that may be said.’ “I tell them ‘I will try to keep you from being embarrassed as much as we can, but some things we just have to deal with.’” Bird said she can predict to a point what’s coming from a defense attorney on cross-examination but “we can’t know all of it.” She said her closing argument at SEE BIRD, 47

April Conway

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

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By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

April Conway, 33, has a passion for seeing children have their best chance at life, which is what led her to a career at Pathways Youth and Family Services. Conway is Program Coordinator at Pathways, and, “I supervise the case managers that oversee the foster homes. I manage them and I coordinate placement for children into the foster homes,” she said. Conway moved to Brown County with her family just as she began grade school. She attended school at Early, then went on to Lubbock Christian University before moving back to Brown County. It was during an internship in college that influenced her decision on how to spend the rest of her life. “My degree is in family studies and I had an internship at the Texas Boys Ranch,” Conway said. “I’ve always been interested in and had a passion for underprivileged kids, but working at the Texas Boys Ranch is where I really discovered my calling for working with foster children. In October of this year I will have worked in this field for 12 years.” Along with her work at Pathways, Conway is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Care Portal in Brown County, an organization she has been involved with for eight years. In 2016, Conway and her husband of 10 years, Nolan, were named Angels in Adoption honorees. Each year the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) selects individuals, families or organizations across the nation who demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of children in need of permanent, loving homes. All three of the Conways’ children — Adalyn, 7; Arlee, 3; and Manning, 3 — are foster children the couple have raised and since adopted. “Manning just turned 3 and Arlee is about to turn 4, they’re nine months apart,” Conway said. While bringing more children into their family is not currently in the plans for the Conways, plans do change, she added. “Currently our home is not large enough to take on any more foster children,” she said. “We say we’re done but we’ll see what God has planned.” Conway has also been on numerous mission trips, with her most recent being an excursion to Haiti. What Conway enjoys most about her work

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEATHER NIX PHOTOGRAPHY

April Conway is Program Coordinator at Pathways Youth and Family Services.

with foster children is, “seeing them be able to heal and the times where the biological parents get to heal and get better and get their kids back and those success stories. Even if they can’t go back to their biological parents, they’re able to be adopted and there’s amazing stories of families that expand by adoption. Witnessing how God works so intricately to put those families together is amazing.” Outside of work, Conway is also involved

with PTC at school and assists with The ARK when time allows. Looking toward the future, Conway does not envision herself in any line of work that does not include the betterment of lives of local youth. “I would love to still be working with underprivileged kids in some capacity, whether it’s doing what I’m currently doing or in some other venue,” she said.

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BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

Seth Kear By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Seth Kear, pictured with his fiance Jessica Gomez, is the finance manager at Stanley Dodge.

The military brought Seth Kear, 34, to Texas from Las Vegas. And while Brownwood may be a far cry from the bright lights and hustle and bustle of the Nevada desert, Kear couldn’t be happier with the way life is going. “I get to work in 10 minutes everyday,” Kear joked. “There’s no traffic and that’s my favorite thing.” Kear is the finance manager at Stanley Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT in Brownwood, engaged to Jessica Gomez, and recently discovered he would be a father to a little girl in June. “I’m originally from Las Vegas, Nevada but I ended up loving Texas so much I ended up staying,” Kear said. “I lived in Gatesville for a little while and started at Stanley at the CDJ (Chrysler Dodge Jeep) store. I transferred out here so I could go into finance and get promoted.” In his role as finance manager, Kear said his job is “to protect the dealership and protect the customer. I’m going to make sure the dealership is not doing anything that is illegal in any way,

shape or form, and then at the same time I protect the customer and make sure they’re protected so there’s nothing that will come back and hurt them or go against them down the line.” His initial desire to enter the world of car sales came from a longing to make a change in the business. “The reason why I got into the car business about six years ago, I think a lot of people are very reserved and they hate buying cars because the whole process can be taxing,” Kear said. “It should be a very exciting time, you’re buying something awesome, but everybody gets beat down. When I jumped in and started selling cars my big thing wasn’t about making money, my biggest thing is I wanted to have fun. “So I went on to using social media to really show this whole business revolves around one thing and that’s the customer. I started doing video after video showcasing the customer, people who came in and we got them in and out in 45 minutes which is unheard of in the car business. That’s what we’re known for.”

Kear also lends a helping hand to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, while the Stanley dealership aids the community whenever it can. “I help as much as I can with St. Mary’s,” Kear said. “They do a lot with the community and I like helping with them. “I’ve always pushed very hard with 96.9 (The Breeze) when they do the Girl Scout Cookies for the troops, we send hundred boxes of cookies. When we had Hurricane Harvey we teamed up with Roughnecks and Rednecks and were able to send thousands of dollars in water, food and supplies. There were thousands of vehicles that were totaled so anybody that wanted to buy one we would send it down for free and they could do everything online and we sent it down at no cost. There’s a lot of companies around the surrounding area that we work with.” As for his fiance Jessica, Kear said, “Working this job you work six days a week, 10 to 12 hours a day. It can be really taxing, but she 100 percent has my back. She’s awesome and I’m very appreciative to have that support.”

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BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

Frankie Brown and Jeff McBride

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Frankie Brown and Jeff McBride are the owners of Heart of Texas Granite and Marble. By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

EARLY— Nearly four years after opening the doors of Heart of Texas Granite, owners Frankie Brown and Jeff McBride feel the market is just right for a Stephenville expansion. Early on Brown knew he wanted to start his own granite business, feeling a customer service first mentality easily captured the local market and four years later he and McBride are reaping the benefits. “I was working for another granite place, then my wife told me why don’t I do my own,” Brown said. “That’s where the idea came from, then I talked to [McBride]. After working for someone else, busting my back for them and not being appreciated, that’s when I talked to him about it.” While Brown struggled to find satisfaction with his previous employer, McBride found the same struggle working in the oil field. He

felt well compensated, but he wanted something that was his. As part of their initial plan, Brown would be the face of Heart of Texas Granite and handle sales while McBride remained in the background as financier as well as cutting and preparing the granite for various new home and remodel projects. As luck would have it, the opening of Heart of Texas Granite coincided with McBride being laid off from his oilfield job. While some upstarts comment on slow times at the beginning, Brown said he found the opposite was true at Heart of Texas Granite. Brown and McBride set out to provide a hands-on customer service experience, regardless of the scope of the project, and area contractors and developers soon took notice. “I’m not going to say it was a struggle starting out. God did it all. It was the customer service,” Brown said. “We treat everyone the same. I don’t care if they pull in here with a

Pinto or a brand new Lexus. We’re appreciative.” Although proudly self-employed, Brown and McBride said one way they keep moral up at Heart of Texas is having the mentality no one is above the other. McBride said he will soon focus on more of the sales end for currently existing clients while Brown will seek to branch out and expand the customer base. With McBride shifting into a more whitecollar position, that will not mean he is above cutting or any other menial labor and when it comes to advising an employee his orders have a different meaning. “We’re appreciative,” McBride said. “Even though we’re business owners, we’re not above anybody. We’re just normal, average people. We just want to work, build something and provide for the people in this community.”

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Bart Johnson Jr. By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Bart Johnson Jr. works as an attorney for the Law Office of Jason M. Johnson.

Bart Johnson Jr. has scored a touchdown in the Rose Bowl for the TCU Horned Frogs and been a member of the roster for the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. Now at age 30, Johnson and his family are back in Brownwood where he is enjoying his life working as an attorney at the Law Offices of Jason M. Johnson. Since departing the Bengals in 2011, Johnson worked for Enduro Resource Partners — a private exploration and production oil and gas company based out of Fort Worth — for about a year. “I was a land man,” Johnson said. “My dream was to be in the oil and gas business.” Having already been admitted to the SMU Dedman School of Law, Johnson put those plans on hold to pursue his NFL dreams. In 2015, Johnson graduated with a Juris Doctor degree and then went to work for the Harris, Finley and Bougle law firm in Fort Worth as the oil and gas transaction attorney. Johnson always intended to return to Brownwood, but those plans came to fruition sooner than he anticipated.

“I always knew as a kid I loved Brownwood, loved the town and what it’s done for me,” Johnson said. “I knew it was a great place to raise my kids. “I married a Brownwood girl and we were just living the city life, and I was blessed to have an opportunity to come work for Jason Johnson here in Brownwood. He called me and was looking for an attorney to come work for him. We thought about it, prayed about it and felt that we’d love to come back. We thought it would be later in our lives, but God works in strange ways so we decided to move back to Brownwood.” Johnson now works as a personal injury attorney and finds great satisfaction in being able to help those in need. “The most rewarding part of my job is helping others who have been wronged or injured,” Johnson said. “For me it’s not about the money, it’s about making a difference in people’s lives. The oil and gas side I felt like I really didn’t do that, but on the litigation side I meet with people in my office every day

SEE JOHNSON, 44

The Law Office of Jason M. Johnson, PLLC

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Cliff Karnes By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

Although primarily known as the man responsible for protecting Brown County from an extremely contagious disease outbreak, Cliff Karnes is quickly gaining notoriety for founding the Brown County Conservatives. While some area groups often focus on candidates during an election year, Karnes set out to create a group entirely focused on policy issues and not the cults of personality obscuring those policies. “I thought this would be a good time. The legislature is convening and that gives us a good chance to interact with our rep and senator on state-level policy initiatives so why not start now?” Karnes said shortly after the group’s first meeting. Although entrenched in the 2019 legislative session, Rep. Mike Lang dropped by the first meeting of the Brown County Conservatives in January and recently enshrined Brown County Judge Paul Lilly updated the group on county initiatives during their meeting last Thursday. Having deeply followed state policy issues throughout much of his life, Karnes sought to draw in elected officials and allow them to advocate or defend policy positions. “I’m only 33, but back when I was 24 I ran for county treasurer. Obviously, I lost but I always had an interest in politics,” Karnes said. “My undergraduate degree is in social studies education. I always follow politics and my wife (Shauna Karnes) always said ‘some wives dread football season. I dread when the legislature convenes.’ I’m just a junky.” In previous years Karnes assisted with federal, state and local campaigns and twice served as a state delegate at the Republican State Convention. Although far from Washington D.C., Karnes said local politics often share similarities whether pairing off in cliques or reverting to brutal campaign strategies. With area conservative group not meeting often enough or having membership requirements, Karnes saw a place for his group in Brown County. “There is nowhere where you can say Thursday at 6 p.m. we’re going to have the state rep. or whoever is speaking come hear him and let’s work together,” Karnes said. “I’ve never seen that, aside from the Republican womens’ groups. My goal was to create a place where anybody can come and we can talk about policy issues. It’s not about this person is a bad person and you’re never going to agree 100 percent. You find where you can agree and work to accomplish that.”

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Cliff Karnes poses for a photo on the Texas state house floor.

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Miranda Soto By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

School didn’t come easy for Miranda Soto, 28, who graduated in a class of nine from Richland Springs in 2009. Learning in third grade she had dyslexia, Soto was held back a year and experienced teasing from classmates. Though she admitted nothing came easy, particularly standardized tests, Soto attained her diploma. Looking back on her school days, Soto said, “I went through school having a different background. People would tease me a lot for not fitting in and not being smart enough. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I really wanted to know that I could do everything that everybody else was doing, but it might take me a little longer to do other things. I went through a program, took a few tests and they felt I was OK so I started staying in the main classroom with all the other kids. “There was one particular math teacher, Mr. Isabell, that just pushed me and pushed me. I said ‘I cannot do this’ and he would just keep PHOTO CONTRIBUTED telling me ‘yes you can.’ He knew I had it in Miranda Soto has worked for Brownwood Head Start going on three me. It took me a few tries but he never gave up years. on me. He was the only teacher always push-

ing. He said don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do anything because you can. Sure enough, it took me a few tries but I ended up getting my diploma and then I started trying to figure out where I wanted to go in life.” Now, a decade after graduating, Soto has found her calling as she works at Brownwood Head Start, guiding children through the earliest years of their life. The epiphany regarding her career occurred when she moved back home after a brief stint in San Angelo. “Before I even left San Angelo my brother had a baby when he was 16,” Soto said. “At the time I wasn’t working so I took care of her a lot and that’s when I started realizing, from seeing her when she was really young and being there at every little milestone from infancy up until she’s 9 now, it was amazing. People say your children grow up so fast and I didn’t know, I didn’t have childre. It wasn’t until I saw her and realized it’s amazing how much a child learns from the time they’re born. That’s when I really got interested in wanting to learn early childhood education.” SEE SOTO, 46

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BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

Blu and Darbi Tidwell

By Steve Nash

steve.nash@brownwoodbulletin.com

LAKE BROWNWOOD — By most counts, the oft-quoted colloquialism about blooming where you are planted is pretty sound advice. Blu Tidwell, 37, his wife, Darbi and their three children have been planted in a variety of locations including the mission field in Zambia, where Blu and Darbi founded an orphanage, and now the Bangs community, where they’ve settled after returning from Zambia last year. And they’ve bloomed. Blu is running the Tidwell family’s construction business — Unit Sets Unlimited, owned by Blu’s parents, Lyndyl and Terri Tidwell — which builds theatre sets for schools in Texas. Their three children, ages 13, 12 and 10, have embraced the academics and activities of the Bangs school district. The family lives on bucolic property at Mountain View, close to the 4H Conference Center. They’re active in the First Baptist Church in Bangs, although not in an “official” capacity or as staff members. Seated on their porch, Blu and Darbi explained the journey that began with Blu in his native Seagraves, and with Darbi in her hometown of Bartlett. The two were married in 2001. Darbi graduated from the University of Mary Hardin BaySEE TIDWELLS, 46

PHOTO BY STEVE NASH

Blu and Darbi Tidwell have made mission trips around the world, including Zambia where they founded an orphanage.

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Si Ratliff By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

A storied Brown County family business that was resurrected is once again thriving as Si Ratliff, 28, and Ratliff Steel have big plans for the future. After a brief hiatus, Ratliff Steel returned in 2017, thanks to Si’s vision. “I worked here the beginning of 2012 until 2014, but it ended up shutting down so I went and worked for some big tech manufactures in Midland. I was over operations there and I was watching how

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

our purchasing group was buying and it clicked and I thought we could go back and do that in Brownwood. I found the right investment group and we hit the floor running.” Ratliff couldn’t be more pleased with how business has been since the reboot. “Since we opened it’s been absolutely wonderful,” Ratliff said. “Customers have been awesome. We hit the floor running, people have given us opportunities to serve them and we’re so thankful for it. It’s been great, more than we ever expected.”

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As for the services Ratliff Steel provides customers, he said, “We are a structural and plates steel provider. Services we provide are materials from a small one-foot piece for your regular everyday person to a truck load, we can do it. On top of that we have drafting and design, we do plasma custom cut parts, cut to length items. We have a press break where we can form materials, drill custom fabrication. We’re also into oil field productions.” Ratliff Steel began in the 1960s when Si’s grandfather, Jesse Ratliff, began the company. “It’s a legacy for us,” Ratliff said. “One of my favorite things about being here is getting with older customers and hearing them tell me about how much they loved my granddad, who he was and his integrity. I want to be like that and carry that on.” Ratliff and his wife Beau have two children, a 3-year-old daughter and 3-month-old son. “My wife and I are members are Coggin Avenue Baptist Church and we do as much as we can there,” Ratliff said. “I also love to fish and hunt and go to sporting events.”

Ratliff was born in Brownwood and lived here until seventh grade, when he moved to Midland and graduated from Midland Christian High School in 2010. Back in Brownwood, Ratliff is assisting with the high school athletic program as much as possible. “As a Ratliff, we love football and where we can contribute that’s what we’re going to, not just football but everything,” he said. “We try and do as much as we can for Brownwood High School. We helped with the door on the Dallas Huston Walk of Champions at Gordon Wood Stadium last year, and we’re working on some other stuff. We try to give back to the community where we can.” As for the future of the Ratliff Steel, Si believes it is as bright as ever. “I see myself doing the same thing, hopefully with a bigger footprint,” Ratliff said of his 10-year goals. “We have things going on in oil field production, we have two shops in Mansfield and Fort Worth running up there. I would love to expand our business, keep growing and have some smaller places going. But I’ll definitely be in Brownwood unless the Lord says something different.”

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Ratliff Steel Company, LLC 2910 Stephen F. Austin Drive Brownwood, TX 76801

(325) 600-4264 PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Si Ratlff (left), owner of Ratliff Steel, is pictured with his cousin Stehl Ratliff, who also works for the family business.

BR-00105308

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Stehl Ratliff By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Stehl Ratliff, pictured with his wife Sydney, owns Ratliff Homes and also works for Ratliff Steel.

At the age of just 25, Stehl Ratliff is already making a significant impact on the Brown County community through a pair of businesses. In 2017, Stehl returned to Brownwood and began working for his cousin Si at Ratliff Steel, which rose from the ashes after a brief shutdown. And less than a year ago, he branched out with his own business — Ratliff Homes. Regarding the origins of his new business venture, Ratliff said, “Through college I worked at a company called Homes by Design, which is a home building company, and I did that from my freshman year all the way until I graduated. Then I worked for Homes by Design for a year and a half after graduation in Abilene. “About seven months ago I

got back into the construction business and instead of working for Homes by Design I actually started my own company, which is called Ratliff Homes. We specialize in new construction spec and custom homes in Brownwood and Brown County. We have done, in seven months, six homes and 2019 looks to be really good for us as far as having a few more customs on the books, and we’re in the process of starting a few more spec homes.” Ratliff stated the success he is enjoying on the business front wouldn’t be possible without plenty of help and support. “I’ve had a lot of people that have helped me get here,” Ratliff said. “My big shout outs would be to Jim Loudermilk, that’s the gentleman that got me started, Jim and John Loudermilk in Abilene, and then I owe a lot of praise and favor to

Jay Clark, who works part-time for me at Ratliff Homes. He’s a full-time rancher and works part-time with me and for me at Ratliff Homes.” Despite starting up Ratliff Homes, Stehl is just as committed to working for Ratliff Steel as he’s always been. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity, not only to be in back providing Brown County with structural metal and fabrication on the steel industry side, I always want to be a part of that, that’s something that runs deep in Ratliff blood,” Ratliff said. “We’ve been here since the ’60s serving Brown County with metals. Growing up in the manufacturing era and the metal industry, tying that in with being able to provide new homes for Brown County is No. 1 a huge blessing, and No. 2 I

SEE RATLIIFF, 46

Texas Custom Interiors would like to congratulate Stehl on his hard work and success.

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3510 HWY. 377 S., BROWNWOOD, TX 76801

Look for our new home at 711 Belle Plain (old Smith Roofing building)

325-203-2443

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Sam Solis

By Derrick Stuckly

dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

Sam Solis, 33, works for his father’s roofing company, Solis Roofing, and has been making frequent trips to Mexico for more than a decade to assist in home building. “We’ve been traveling 12 years, about once every month, one weekend a month usually,” Solis said. “We’ve easily made over 100 trips, probably pushing 150 now. We’ve been to about seven different states.” The inspiration to help those in need in Mexico came simply from a visit. “We were just traveling and visiting locals there and noticed there was a need for a little something more,” Solis said. “We started setting up meetings with people there, pastors and individuals who wanted to build something more. It kept growing and now down in Mexico there’s a crew of about 50 people that help us out.” Solis moved to Brownwood at the age of 13 after living in the Dallas suburbs of Oak Cliff and Cedar Hill, where he experienced some trying times as a youth. Many of the neighborhoods Solis visits in Mexico remind him of his days in the Metroplex, and motivates him to help those less fortunate make a better life for themselves. “I’ve seen a lot people go through that same circumstance,” Solis said. “To see people in that position, hanging by their last string, it helps me to help them because I can see the difference it makes in their lives when they accept the Lord, or any word of hope.” Solis has worked for his father at Solis Roofing full time for 16 years. “Ever since I was 14 I worked summers and then when I wasn’t in school I started doing that full time,” Solis said. “I was about 17 when I started full time.” Among the tasks Solis Roofing undertakes are, “masonry and roofing work, a lot of rock work, brick work, concrete,” Solis said. “Roofing is our forte, though. It’s what we started off with when we moved here. My dad, that’s what he’s been doing for a while.” As for the satisfaction Solis finds within the construction business, he said, “I like to walk away from a house after we’ve bricked it or rocked it and look back on it and look at the work we’ve done. It’s usually always pretty rewarding.” Solis has three daughters – Casey, 12; Ruth,

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Sam Solis, who works for Solis Roofing, has been taking trips to build homes in Mexico for more than a decade.

5; and Samantha, 4. The oldest two attend Bangs ISD. “They play soccer and basketball and my oldest plays some volleyball, too,” Solis said. “She’s very athletic and has been sought after by a lot of coaches because they’ve seen her

abilities. Basketball is her favorite sport. “I’d like to be able to coach them and I’ve been asked, but my schedule is so hectic with work and travel. I wouldn’t be reliable because of that and I wouldn’t want to do that to the kiddos or myself.”

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BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

Ray Garza By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

Born and raised in Brown County, TexasBank Senior Vice President of Mortgage Services Ray Garza is doing his part to make an impact in the lives of local adults and youth. A 1998 Bangs graduate and 2002 Howard Payne graduate, Garza, 38, has worked for TexasBank a total of 15 years. In his current role as Senior Vice President of Mortgage Services, Garza said, “I take applications to try and fit people into homes through a variety of products. I can help people with the biggest purchase they’re going to make. A lot of people are nervous when they come in and I want to make the biggest purchase they make as easy as possible. There’s not much more rewarding than putting people in their dream home.” TexasBank was voted Best Mortgage Lender and Garza was selected Best Loan Officer in the 2018 Best of Brown County voting. Outside of work, Garza was formerly involved with the Brownwood Chamber of Commerce as both an ambassador and a board member. Currently, Garza is the treasurer for Project Graduation. He’s also Cen-Tex PHOTO CONTRIBUTED SEE GARZA, 47

Ray Garza is the Vice President of Mortgage Services at TexasBank.

Mortgage

Apply Online Today: www.texasbank.com

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

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Dr. Amber Shugrue By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

Dr. Amber Shugrue is the ICU Director at Brownwood Regional Medical Center.

Don’t let Dr. Amber Shugrue’s youthful appearance mislead, as Brownwood Regional Medical Center ICU director, as well as a few other top-level positions, she likely has more experience than those decades older. Shugrue was recently named Chief of Internal Medicine - a distinction only achieved by a vote of her peers – and she hopes to keep making progress at BRMC for decades to come. “I’m 38 years old. Some of those things are just inherent when you’re on a medical staff at a hospital,” Shugrue said. “You have to take leadership roles. It’s something spread to most of the staff and you get indoctrinated into early in your career. We’re trying to raise leaders up and a lot of people who go to medical school are natural leaders anyway.” Brownwood Regional Medical Center was one of Shugrue’s first jobs after finishing her medical residency in Fort. Worth. Growing up in Midland, she sought a place similar to her West Texas home. She found it in Brownwood and

after completing her initial three-year contract she decided to remain on with the hospital and has been an integral part of its staff ever since. “I’m the chief of medicine this year. I think I’m a good physician and people recognize that,” Shugrue said. “I’m an advocate and spokesperson not just for the medical staff, but also for the hospital. I’m very hospital friendly. I think it’s a wonderful place and love to tell people about it.” Shugrue said one of the benefits of working at BRMC is an employee’s trajectory is often linked to their effort and enthusiasm. Early on she let superiors and co-workers know of her plans to take advantage of every opportunity afforded to her so far seems to kept her word. “They’ve been so supportive of me since I got here so I went for it,” Shugrue said. “It did happen at a younger age and I’m glad it did. One of my biggest goals here at the hospital is making sure we’re always staying up to date with the current standards of care … That’s my biggest goal and it’s a long-term and ongoing goal.

Amanda Adkins By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

Amanda Adkins’ name may not appear on any Brownwood Regional Medical Center brochures, but she may be one of the most vital parts of the medical treatment field – the fact-checker. As a clinical documentation improvement practitioner, Adkins double checks the work of BRMC doctors and nurses to insure the treatment they receive matches their diagnosis, which in turn can save lives. “This is kind of one of those behind the scenes jobs a lot of people don’t know exists,” Adkins said. “A lot of people in health care do not know it exists … What I do is audit all of our in-patient medical records to make sure all of the documents are accurate and reflect the patients’ diagnosis and care.” As part of her daily duties Adkins reviews the medical charts of all BRMC patients – from their initial intake in the emergency room to their final discharge. This requires reviewing all of their lab results, medications and nursing notes. The data is then outsourced for coding, which is used by insurance companies for billing. Although overseeing professionals who study their field for nearly a decade before going into practice,

Adkins said there is not a contentious relationship between her and the medical physicians whose work she reviews. In fact, the opposite is true. “I’m very fortunate I have a good rapport with them. In this position, it makes it very difficult to do your job because everything I do, what I audit goes directly between them and myself,” Adkins said. “Fortunately, most the doctors have been here the same length of time that I have. I got to work with them first as a nurse, then at Heart of Texas for a while. I’ve gotten to work with them in different aspects in the quality department for nearly two years. I get along well with them and that makes it a lot easier.” Adkins said much of the filing and coding systems she uses at work she also uses at home. As the mother of nine children in a blended home, she tends to use the same organizing systems to insure, just like at BRMC, that none of her children are left out due to an oversight. “I honestly apply the work thing at home as far as planning and scheduling,” Adkins said. “Work, for me, is so scheduled. I have my appointments and my daily routine here and it’s the same thing at home. You kind of do it just to keep on track.”

Amanda Adkins is a clincical documentation improvement practitioner at Brownwood Regional Medical Center. PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

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Wes and James McMillian

PHOTO BY STEVE NASH

James McMillian owns McMillian Rustic Furniture and brother Wes McMillian is a plumber. By Steve Nash steve.nash@brownwoodbulletin.com

Brothers Wes, 38, and James McMillian, 36, are two of Ed and Margie McMillian’s four sons. Wes is a plumber and works with his father’s business, Ed McMillian Plumbing. James owns a business — McMillian Rustic Furniture. The McMillian family is a longtime staple of Brownwood, and Ed McMillian is a Brownwood City Council member. Wes graduated from Brownwood High School in 1999, and later attended Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater. Wes was trained in air conditioning and refrigeration and went to work for Rich Cone Air Conditioning and Heating in Brownwood. Wes went on to work for Roberts and Petty and Superior Essex. After getting laid off from Superior Essex, Wes returned to Roberts and Petty — and rethought his decision to learn air conditioning and refrigeration.

“The hot attics and insulation just wasn’t really calling me,” Wes said. He switched to the plumbing side of the business and obtained a plumbing license, and worked there for seven years. Wes said he caught on to plumbing “really quick.” After his father’s business had a full-time opening, Wes joined Ed McMillian Plumbing 12 years ago, where he is one of two employees in addition to owner Ed. ”I love taking faucets apart and seeing what they’re made of and putting them back together, and they’re not leaking,” Wes said. “I love the inner workings of them.” Wes and his wife, Courtney, have an 18-yearold son and two daughters ages 16 and 5. James, who graduated from Brownwood High School in 2002, was fascinated with wood as he grew up. His father bought him tools when James was 15 or 16.

After high school, James worked for Kohler and then for the Brown County Water District. While working for the water district, James began building furniture in his garage as a hobby. The hobby turned into a side business, and “continued to get bigger and bigger,” James said. He decided to work at the business full-time about three years ago and has seven people working for him as subcontractors or employees. In addition to furniture, the business makes cabinets, exterior and interior doors and does some remodeling. The business does crown, trim and staircase work and works closely with Tunnell Construction. “Pretty much anything to do with wood, we do,” James said. “It’s just a variety what we do.” James and his wife, Amber, have a son, 13, a daughter, 15 and a baby on the way.

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Kandice Harris By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

Class of 2000 Brownwood High School graduate Kandice Harris hopes to make an impact on the community she came from as Early Chamber of Commerce Director of Membership. Harris made her return to Brown County official during a ceremony at Howard Payne University in January and has since greeted numerous city officials and business owners throughout the area as chamber director. “It’s been a big learning experience and trying to get to know the aspects of the job, as well as remembering everybody’s names,” Harris said. “That has been my biggest challenge, putting names with faces, but it’s going well.” Harris returned to Brownwood after attending Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, studying theater. She then attending Angelo State University, where she received a masters in education and soon moved to Houston. While in Houston, wanting to prove she could survive in a major metropolitan area, Harris built her own business as a contractor – hosting painting parties throughout bars and restaurants in Houston. “I hosted more than 500 parties there. I enjoyed the work. It was fun and a lot of work,” Harris said. “… I’m just bringing fresh eyes. Often when you live in a city like Brownwood or Early, you tend to see the same thing over and over again. I’ve had a lot of experience and seen a lot of different things I would like to bring to this community and help us grow in certain areas.” During her first Early Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn, Harris introduced herself to business owners by giving lessons on goal setting and self-actualization. Foreseeing a bright future for Early business, forecasted based on record high sales tax collections, Harris believes the next step is teaching small business owners how to reach their personal goals and, through the chamber of commerce, she can show them the way. “I see us growing and giving visitors more reasons to come to the city,” Harris said. “We’re all interconnected … It’s not just Brownwood and Early. We have smaller cities’ communities that come and take advantage of what we have here as well. You’re going to see a lot things that bring people to town.”

PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

Kandice Harris recently returned to Brown County to become Early Chamber of Commerce Director of Memberships.

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Domonique Stephens By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

Domonique Stephens is the Early Chamber of Commerce Member Relations Assistant.

When it comes to stepping up when her community needed her the most, Early Chamber of Commerce Member Relations Assistant Domonique Stephens did not disappoint. Kandice Harris, current director of membership at the Early Chamber of Commerce, said were it not for Stephens her transition could not have been possible and considers her a great resource for businesses in Brown County and beyond. “I could not have done it without her,” Harris said. “I call her the MVP because she knows everything and understands differently relationships I may not understand. She is also a great resource. She keeps it lively in the office and makes it exciting to come to the office.” Domonique Stephens, who twice served as interim director following the departure of former director Shelly Taft, who resigned a year ago to take a teaching position with Bangs ISD. Stephens returned as interim director following the resignation of Shannan Burch last summer, taking on duties of organizing vendor’s row at the rebranded Early Texas Showcase in September. Within a year, she went from office manager to working alongside some of the most powerful businessmen and women in the region. “The title continued to grow and the responsibilities continued to grow,” Stephens said. “I had no indication the year would progress the way it did. I do not regret any of it. It’s definitely been a journey.” Stephens graduated from Brownwood High School in 2003 and attended San Angelo State, double majoring in psychology and arts and minoring in theater. She lived in Austin, then eventually found her way to Early. With Early experiencing an economic boon with record high sales tax collections, she has no plans of going anywhere anytime soon. “I’m blessed to be a part of that. We’re just a small part of this huge working community trying to better everything from business to government relationships,” Stephens said. “[Being interim director] has been very beneficial. The transition, for the most part, has been pretty smooth. I take my experience and make it easy for her … I’m blessed to have my own personal growth through all of this. The future is bright and we’re excited to be along for the ride.”

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Lark Terry By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

With a cadre of loyal clientele and a storefront filled with hand-crafted goods, Arrows and Oaks co-owner Lark Terry laughs about her store’s humble beginnings. A few years ago a restaurant owner friend asked Lark and her husband Aaron Terry to baby sit his pet goat and not long after the couple decided to purchase their own, which then spiraled into a small business. “We had bought a little bit of property out in Early and my husband always wanted to invest in livestock and start building up a herd,” Lark Terry said. “We did some meat goats to start with, but then were able to get a milk goat and started milking her. We used it for cheese and to drink and different stuff like that. We then decided to experiment with soaps and once we did we were hooked.” Soaps turned to hand creams and with every mad scientist experiment came a new product. Soon their friends joined in the handcrafting fun. Before long, her clientele grew and reconnecting with men and women Terry’s in-laws met while on a Christian mission trip she turned from having a humble small business to one where a customer’s purchase could literally impact the life of a African mother. “That is the vibe of what we do. Most of it is handmade by either us or someone in our family. We do have a few other little things – different friends who supply us with different handmade goods,” Terry said. “We primarily are a bath and body store with handmade goat milk soaps and lotions … We obviously know where the goat milk comes from. We also have the privilege of using Shea butter directly processed in Ghana Africa, which helps supply jobs to women over there. The nice thing is we know where a lot of our ingredients are coming from.” Arrows and Oaks has become a family affair for the Terrys with Lark’s mother and father Sue and Danny Jaynes regularly helping out along with their five children. Sensing the homely, allnatural feel of the store, Terry said a first time customer usually becomes a regular client once they feel the benefits of her products. “We have many return customers that love it because goat milk is incredibly good for your skin,” Terry said. “It can heal a lot of different skin issues like eczema and dry skin issues in general. A lot of people say this is the only soap they can use that doesn’t cause their skin to breakout or healed their dry, itchy skin.”

PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

Lark Terry is the owner of Arrow and Oaks, which features a variety of nature-infused products.

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Stephen Sharp By Steve Nash steve.nash@brownwoodbulletin.com

Stephen Sharp has worked in the lifesaving business for more than half of his 34 years of life. Sharp, who began working as an ambulance dispatcher at age 16, is now a paramedic lieutenant with LifeGuard Ambulance, where his job title is assistant operations supervisor. “I can’t see myself doing anything else,” Sharp said. “I love holding a little old lady or little old man’s hand and reassuring them, providing comfort to them. “We have so many people in nursing homes or even those that still live at home, that don’t have family, or their family lives far off, and that one little gesture that you make to them could make their day.” Sharp’s career was jeopardized by an injury he sustained when an ambulance he was riding in collided with another vehicle at a four-way stop sign in February 2018. Sharp was riding in the front passenger seat after the ambulance crew had taken a patient to Brownwood Regional Center. The driver of the other vehicle ran the four-way stop and T-boned the ambulance, leaving Sharp with a complex fracture of his right arm. Sharp immediately knew he had an injury that would require months of rehab — and it did. After three surgeries and the lengthy rehab, Sharp expects to finally return to work on Feb. 11. “Since my injury, that’s been one of my biggest fears, that I wasn’t going to be able to go back,” Sharp said. “There was talk, at first, that I might not ever be able to go back. It was very humbling and put things in perspective as far as life and where I want to go.” Sharp graduated from Brownwood High School at age 16 and started out in the machining program at Texas State Technical

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Stephen Sharp works as an EMT for LifeGuard Ambulance.

College. “And then 9-11 happened, and a lot of friends were joining the military, and I thought I would serve at home,” Sharp said. “I went through the EMS program. Shortly after starting EMS, I started as a dispatcher.” Sharp dispatched for Medevac,

the ambulance company serving Brown County at that time, as he went through EMS training at TSTC. “At first it was a challenge, but it was something I had a deep desire for and became accustomed to pretty quick,” Sharp said of working as a 16-year-old

dispatcher. “I adjusted to it pretty quick. A lot of people said it came naturally to me. I just had a compassion for people. Always have.” Sharp became an emergency medical technician at age 18 and became part of ambulance crews. He completed paramedic training in 2009 — part of the last EMS class at TSTC before the program was temporarily discontinued. The EMS program returned to the college in 2016. “I can’t emphasize enough what Stephanie is doing with that program,” Sharp said, referring to instructor Stephanie Young. Sharp’s career included working for a year as the director of EMS in Coleman County. He also worked at Heart of Texas EMS in Early. In 2005, Sharp served on the Hurricane Katrina disaster response. “The magnitude of that was just overwhelming — to see where we’ve come from since then as far as disaster response, because that pretty well wrote the book,” Sharp said. Sharp also served on the responses to the Cross Plains and Bastrop fires. “We see a lot of death and we see people in their worst situation they can imagine,” Sharp said. “Then it’s their time to make it, it’s nice to be along for that ride. “I care about my community. Brownwood is home. It doesn’t just feel like home. It is home.” Sharp and his wife, Crystal, are the parents of five. Sharp’s sister, Amanda, said her brother has “served his entire life in our community. … he has worked holidays, nights, weekends, for years, all because he wants to help people. I just don’t think there can be enough said about our EMTs and paramedics. They are incredible. I know I owe my life to a couple of them and am honored to call one my brother.”

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Amanda Scott

PHOTO BY JIMMY POTTS

Amanda Scott, pictured with her daughter Blakely, is the owner of That Crane Store in Brownwood. By Jimmy Potts jpotts@brownwoodbulletin.com

That Crane Store owner Amanda Scott does not regret moving her store from West Texas to Brownwood, recently celebrating the second anniversary of the big move. Nestled in the heart of downtown Brownwood, That Crane Store sells some of the latest fashions in women’s clothing as well as accessories and graphic T-shirts and since moving to Brownwood has seen a significant increase in sales. “It’s cool that’s for sure - exciting and fun. We originally opened in Crane, out in West Texas, but we were doing way more business in Brownwood,” Scott said. “Then we decided to move it to Brownwood … It has been really overwhelming. I did not

expect to grow this fast or this big. It’s been good. It blew up once we move to Brownwood. It got crazy.” Scott credited the stores modern, inviting atmosphere to designs by her friends, who she said helped with the move. As a small business owner, she said her job is rarely finished after business hours – spending some nights online researching the latest fashions she can bring to her store. She believes the store’s down home nature and relationship building is what keeps customers coming back. “We’re just real. My kid is just sitting up on the counter and people will come in and talk to her and play with her,” said Scott gesturing to her daughter Blakely as she watched an animated movie on a tablet computer. “I think that’s a lot of what it is. We’re just like everybody else. I love it. It’s overwhelming

at times. It’s a full-time job. Even when I’m at home I’m working. I love it and all of the people I’ve met doing it and the friendships I’ve made.” Although primarily ordering the clothes on the racks, Scott said That Crane Store does allow her some level of creativity. Some of the graphic Tshirts on sale are her design and even after two years she still feels excitement when she sees a customer wearing something she envisioned. “I usually order the majority of them. Every now and then, I will feel creative and make one,” Scott said. “… It’s exciting. Every now and then I will make one, put it on Facebook and people will go crazy. I just think – oh, I made that. When I’m out in town and see people wearing them it’s pretty exciting.”

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JOHNSON

Congratulations everyone on all the work you do!

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that have real world problems and I get to try and solve their problems and make things better for them.” Outside of work, Johnson is involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Brownwood Lions football, among other activities. “I’m on the board of FCA and I love FCA and giving back to the kids and helping with their faith,” Johnson said. “I’m involved with my church, First United Methodist, and involved with the Brownwood football program and Sammy Burnett and giving back to them any way that I can through what I’ve learned through football in life. I’m also on the Gordon Wood Hall of Champions board and I love to further the tradition of Gordon Wood in Brownwood.” Johnson and his wife, Kelcey, have twin sons. “We’ve been back here about two years and love every minute of it,” Johnson said. “I love hanging out with my family and being out in the country hunting and fishing, playing a little golf, going to Brownwood Lions football games. Everything than a small town gives you, we love it.” Back in Brownwood, Johnson anticipates remaining in his hometown for the foreseeable future. “I see myself continuing to work toward being a great trial attorney, helping others not just in Brown County but around the state of Texas, and raising my family here in Brownwood, teaching good values and hopefully watching them play football on Friday nights for the Brownwood Lions just like their dad did,” Johnson said in regard to his longterm life goals.

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mission. “Every local mental health authority in Texas has to have one of me,” Lewis said. Services provided by a Veterans Service Coordinator include helping with: • Veteran peer support groups • Volunteer to help fellow veterans • Train to understand veteran issues • One-on-one peer support • Earned benefits • Veteran treatment courts • Free mental health counseling • Suicide prevention and postvention Those are the official duties of the office, Lewis said. “But really, anything we can do to help out veterans and their family members, we’ll find a way to help them,” he said. “Here in Brownwood we do a lot of helping with benefits and jobs.” Lewis entered the Army shortly after high school and served from 2006 to 2011 as a military police officer. After leaving the Army, Lewis coached at Loop, Longview and Victory Life Academy. Lewis said he left coaching after getting “burned out” by the long hours. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Ashford University in Iowa, and and wanted to come home and finish working on his master’s degree. “This job popped up,” Lewis said. “It’s kind of a godsend, really. I love it. You get to work with veterans all day.”

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lor with a teaching degree and a major in math and English; Blu graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in speech communication. The two met when Darbi visited West Texas to visit her best friend, who was dating Blu’s brother, Cloud. “My grandmother actually grew up in Brownwood and my dad was born here,” Darbi said. Blu’s parents moved, the day after he graduated high school, to Brownwood. So at that point Brownwood became our meeting place and kind of the place he would go, because his parents settled here.” Blu said his grandparents owned property on Thunderbird Bay. “We would come here all the time,” Blu said. “It was centrally located, a great meeting place for family to come from all over the state for family reunions, Christmases …” After graduating from college, Blu and Darbi wanted to spend three or six months on a mission trip. Representatives of the International Mission Board interviewed the young missionaries-in-waiting. “They opened up books and (said) ‘why don’t you see where God’s leading you?’” Blu recalled. “There are so many needs in places all around the world, and we were drawn to Zambia.” What they’d anticipated as a three-to-six-month mission trip

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ended up as two years, and the two returned to the U.S. with their first child, who was born in South Africa. Blu attended seminary in Fort Worth. “We were praying about the best way to follow the Lord, and God opened up the door for us to start and orphanage in Zambia,” Blu said. “We already had contacts there, already spoke the language, and it helped us kind of get things established there.” Blu elaborated on details of starting the orphanage. “My brother Cloud was part owner of some businesses down in Mexico, and they were selling it,” Blu said. “He called us up and said ‘I’ve got this money that I need to tithe on, and I really want to start an orphanage in Africa, but I want you and Darbi to pray about going over there to run it.’” Darbi said their decision to return to Zambia — this time with three children in January 2010 — was met with some incredulousness. “People in the beginning thought we were crazy,” Darbi said. “When we left with a 4-year-old, 3-yearold and 1-year-old, people would just say ‘who’s going to take care of your kids while you’re gone?’ “They just couldn’t fathom us upending our whole family to move to a foreign country. It was a little scary, but we just had such faith that God would take care of it.” Zambia has a high population of orphans under 18, Blu said. “It’s just incredible, the amount of kids who are in need,” he said. “You

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Soto began her career in early childhood education at Little Dude Ranch. “I got a job at Little Dude Ranch and started with the young class, and I love all the different ages, but I felt like I wanted to up my career,” Soto said. “I felt that Head Start was the next step up. I got the job and this September will be three years for me.” Soto spoke fondly of her initial class, which is now preparing to embark on the pre-kindergarten portion of Head Start. “My first class was a group of eight kids,” Soto said. “The youngest one was six months old and now all our kids are turning 3. We’ve gotten to experience every milestone they’ve ever experienced. It’s an amazing feeling to know you’re a part of that. We’re just individuals they’re going to leave and never really know who we were, but we’ll always remember them.

look at God’s command to take care of widows and orphans, and you’re going to do something. You want to do something that God’s going to bless.” The goal in the orphanage, Blu said, was to teach the children who lived there about Christ. “And then as they grow up, they can go to their own people and be church planters and evangelists, whatever job they’re in,” Blu said. “The job is not really important but wherever you’re at, you’re where God wants you to be and then you are him known there.” The family decided to return to the U.S. in August, and that decision as well was met with some surprise. “People were surprised that you would leave this successful role as missionaries, and now now you’re coming back to do carpentry,” Darbi said. “Jesus was a carpenter. “And that’s kind of how we see it here in the States, that God has called us back to minister as we go, as we live the normal American life — always seeking to share him with others, spreading his love to others around us and teaching that to our kids as well.” Blu said he hopes to find ways to encourage the local church and serve in capacities in areas such as camps, retreats and Fields of Faithtype activities. “If God opens the door for those, I’d love to do those things,” Blu said. “If not, I’m perfectly happy just serving him and being involved in the local church.”

To know you had a part in it, whether it’s crawling or walking, from having their bottles to whole food, to hearing them talk for the very first time, that’s something that stays with you. A lot people don’t get to see that, including the parents who have other things going on. We’re there eight hours everyday to be nothing but with them. We’re not allowed to be on our phone, we’re just allowed to be with our children and our time is precious with them. Sometimes when they go home they don’t have that time with their parents, they don’t have those family meals.” Having experienced her own struggles in school, Soto is especially motivated to help those children with special needs. “A lot of kids that have special needs, people sometimes push them aside but you cannot do that,” Soto said. “They need to know they can do things. Say for instance a child doesn’t want to learn how to talk, you have to just push them, you have to make the effort. If you want to sit there and say that child can’t do it, and you want to have that mentality, then the child will al-

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feel like I owe it to Brownwood. “Brownwood’s done so much for me as a person and as a husband and future dad, the moldings, the character in Brownwood have gone above and beyond for me as far as my walk from leaving town, going to college, maturing, coming back and now having an opportunity to give back in any way I can to this town. It’s extremely rewarding and I feel blessed and honored to be where I’m at and doing what I’m doing.” Ratliff and his wife Sydney, who works for the Early ISD, are expecting their first child — a daughter — in June. As for his plans 10 years down the road, Ratliff said, “I see me living in Brownwood with a family, building homes and selling metal. Some people have dreams to be astronauts or doctors, an NFL football player, but when I was a little kid, and you can ask any grade school teacher, I said that I wanted to be in Brownwood working at Ratliff Steel for my family. In 10 years I see me still doing that and also supplying homes for Brownwood and Brown County.”

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Pictured is a recently constructed house by Ratliff Homes.

ways think they can’t do it. You have be there for them and encourage them.” Though Soto respects the job of traditional teachers, she feels the life skills learned by the youngest of children at Head Start is equally as important if not more so. “It’s very different what we do as opposed to a teacher who gets children ready for math and science,” Soto said. “We’re getting them ready for their emotions, regulating their emotions and being able to associate with everyone around them. One-on-one time, having more time with the children, just being present, that can make a difference for someone who may not have that at home. “It’s all about just being there with your child and making sure they know that they’re loved and that they’re there for a reason. I tell my kids I love them I don’t know how many times a day. It’s a reward to see that smile on their face and for them to give you a hug and to tell you ‘I love you’ back. It’s that simple.”

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Soccer Association board and coaches the youngest of his two daughters in the league. Garza has been married to his wife Amy for just over 10 years. Madison, the oldest daughter, is 17 and a fouryear letterman on the Brownwood Lady Lions high school soccer team. Bella, 9, won a state championship with her team, which was coached by her father, a year ago. “We’re big into soccer,” Garza said with a laugh. Having lived in Brown County all his life, Garza has been tempted to move to a bigger city, but the benefits of the

area are too great for the career and life he wants to lead. “The honesty of it is living here all my life I have nothing else to compare it to,” Garza said. “There’s always the allure of bigger money and other attractions of the big cities, and I know I’m not the only person to say this, but it’s a good feeling knowing I can go straight from work and be a coach for my daughter’s soccer team in 30 minutes. It’s good knowing any time I need to leave early to go watch a game for my older one, wherever that might be, the family atmosphere that is here in Brownwood is good. It’s a good community to raise a family and not have to be just work or just the other, it allows me to do a combination of both.”

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the end of a trip is “a mixture of things that I know I have to say, just based on what the offense is, and then a response to things (the defense) has said. In a jury trial I have kind of an outline of what I think I need to talk about. But then I have several different colored pens with me and I’ll make notes, and the different colors mean different things to me. So ultimately, when it comes out, it will be a mix of what I’d originally intended to say and then how I’m engaging and responding to their arguments.” Waiting for a jury to return a verdict is “horrible,” Bird said. “I do anything I can to distract myself from

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fied in the bungee workout training and safety. “The process of opening the gym has been one of the biggest adventures our family has taken on,” said Holland, who is the front person with her family supporting her in the process. “Once we decided to do it we jumped right in.” As the bungee workout catches on,

Ten years down the road, Garza doesn’t see life being that much different from the way it is now. “I’ll probably still be doing a variation of the same thing, hopefully still being able to be involved with people in the customer aspect,” Garza said. “I hope to have a large footprint not only in Brownwood but in surrounding areas acting in some capacity of the mortgage business. At that point my younger daughter will be graduating so I’m looking at putting one in college now and looking at putting the other in college at that time. It’s a big gap but I get to learn from trial and error with my older one for my younger one. I plan to still be here and still try to make a difference in the community.”

thinking about the fact that we’re waiting on a verdict.” When the jury comes back into the courtroom and she waits to hear the verdict, Bird said, “I usually calm down a little bit then because there’s nothing else you can do. It’s done. If it is a crime with a victim, I’m usually worried about, are they ready for what’s coming, what all do we need to do to make it through the next few minutes? “That’s when the calm, rational side of my brain engages back in and we deal with what we’ve got to do. There’s nothing rational about the time I’m up here pacing the floor, going ‘whoa, they’ve been gone too long!’” Bird acknowledged that a defense attorney would have a different perspective — and she doesn’t think

Holland plans to expand the gym with a rock climbing wall. “Eventually if we can get the bungees going to where they are paying for the building, we eventually want to add a rock climbing wall,” Holland said. “Eventually we want to add more stuff. We just want it to be a fun environment.” For now, however, the bungee workout is the top priority. “We’re just now getting started,” Holland said. “We’re trying to figure out the

HARVEY

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watch my kids become adults and have families of their own, which totally make me old. I got a baby shower invitation for a (former) student, and he’s 27. “I’ve got kids who are in their mid-30s now. Every once in awhile they message me and say ‘thank you.’ I’m like, ‘I didn’t do anything, I just kind of let you do what you needed to do. I love my kids. They will always be kids, even though they’re going to be moms and dads. I just love what I do, period.”

the differing perspective is wrong. “There can be truth on both sides of the story,” Bird said. “There can be truth for defendants that they make terrible decisions because they are exposed to a terrible home life and they don’t know anything different. “They make terrible decisions because they were caught up in a bad place in life, and something sent them on a downward spiral. And I don’t think prosecutors should have free rein to do anything that they want. There is a very needed place for us, but in our adversarial system there is a very needed place for defense attorneys too. It’s the interplay between those two sides that creates as close to justice as we can get. “My job is not to win cases. My job is to present the truth. And I think the truth, when it comes out in a courtroom, is the most important aspect of a trial.”

best hours for the customers. So far the 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. class is the best. There are two women who have been here since day one and come almost every day. I’d like to see more in the classes.” Bungee fitness workouts are growing in popularity, but Holland says, “it’s hard to explain it as to what we do. But you’d be amazed at the exercise you can do on the bungee. Even if you have bad knees, bad shoulders, it does not hurt you. Classes are an hour long and you can’t stay up there for an hour when you

first start, so we won’t leave you hanging on the bungee for an hour.” As for the Snap To It Fitness building itself, it’s also available for other events. “We started having birthday parties and that seems to be catching on fairly quickly,” Holland said. “We’re trying to get bridal showers, different things we can offer that the community doesn’t have. We’re willing to do whatever the community needs to this point, up to a point, but the main thing is the bungee workouts.”

Donnie Stegemoller, Broker www.wehavethekey.com

702 Early Blvd. Early, TX 76802

Bruce & Debble Burleson Office - 325-643-8116

3605 Highway 377 S.

325-998-3857 2700 Hwy 377 S, Brownwood, TX 76801

www.mccoys.com

325-643-2638

BR-00104939

BR-00105524

BR-00105029

Tonya Holland Real Estate Sales Tonyaholland731@gmail.com

Let me help you find your new home.

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

LYNN

CONTINUED FROM 10

to raise a family, great place to call home, great to place to put down some roots. It certainly helps that Howard Payne’s wanted me to stay and provided that opportunity.” More than wins and losses, Lynn considers the greatest reward from coaching is the impact he can make on his players’ lives away from the field. “It’s the growth and development of our players in the classroom and spiritually,” Lynn said. “That for me is something that has a longer lasting effect in their lives and on our society. To see those guys excel at a high level in the classroom, and then during their time here become plugged in with church and become Christians themselves, that’s a win for us. My record as a coach, I don’t want to be simply defined by wins and losses, there’s so much more that goes into it.” Away from the job, Lynn and his wife Katrina have a 7-year-old daughter, Brooklyn. “I love my family dearly and the time I’m not in the office or on the field is spent with my wife and daughter,” Lynn said. “It’s important to get that escape. When I go home my wife and daughter don’t care if we won or lost, they’re just glad I’m there and present with them. “I like working with my hands, I renovated our

house, and that’s a nice thing to be able to see , the fruits of your labor and our home is a labor of love. I enjoy getting plugged into our church at Coggin, then being there for my daughter whether that’s WATCHDOGS stuff at school, basketball or softball, or taking her to camps. The things off the field are more family-focused and it gives a good balance to what I’m all about here.”

40 UNDER 40

SNOW

CONTINUED FROM 11

sons,” Snow said. “A lot my activities have shifted to being a dad to the boys, which I’ve enjoyed a lot. It’s definitely a change of pace. “I come from a big family, my in-laws own Flour Power, so it’s nice having them here. Family is the biggest thing to Taylor, my wife, and I. I had four brothers and I was the middle child and I’ve always loved it. My passion is to spend time with my family in a good positive way.” Snow and his family are members of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church and also began a life group for young adults. “The life group is not through the church, it’s a group of people after college who didn’t have kids yet, but we’re the first ones to have kids now,” Snow said. “We typically meet every Thursday night. We would do personality tests, sometimes a Bible study, or just a cookout or hang out. We are looking to find people who weren’t plugging in somewhere yet. It’s that awkward stage where they graduated college but didn’t have kids, so where do they go?”

GO AWAY TO COLLEGE IN YOUR OWN HOMETOWN Something interesting happens when you choose to attend a university close to home. You reap all the benefits of going away to college – active campus life, new friends, strong academic programs and more – all without having to leave town. Howard Payne University offers a wide range of majors, minors and pre-professional programs, numerous student organizations and several men’s and women’s sports through NCAA Division III athletics, all in the context of a Christ-centered, traditional residential community. There are also opportunities for students of all majors to study abroad and participate in the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, HPU’s distinctive, nationally recognized honors program.

HPU is demonstrating its commitment to local and area students through the Heart of Texas Scholarship program, which offers $60,000 over four years to students from Brown County and surrounding counties. Visit www.hputx.edu/heartoftexas to learn more about going away to college in your own hometown!

1000 Fisk Street, Brownwood, Texas 76801 325-649-8020 • 800-880-4HPU • www.hputx.edu • enroll@hputx.edu

40 UNDER 40

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

WILLEY

CONTINUED FROM 7

Behavioral Health Services 325-646-9574 | cflr.us

24-Hour Toll Free Crisis Line

1-800-458-7788

JESSICA WILLEY

we are proud of you on your

UNDER 40 RECOGNITION BR-00105058

versation was really comfortable even though I didn’t know any of them. Walker only knew one or two of them. I thought well that’s pretty cool.” Willey continued, “And then Dion got to talking and it kind of just knocked me off my feet a little bit, the way that he was just so warm and nurturing and uplifting of his people. And the fact that he knew and he cared and it was genuine — that was huge. And then he prayed. It was so heartfelt. I felt welcomed even though I didn’t really know anyone, and then to see that sort of leadership … it was very touching.” Willey thought to herself that she’d love to be part of that type of organization — but she couldn’t imagine how. “Every position I’ve had — each of those puzzles, it was like something ended naturally, and then there was something else that started naturally,” Willey said. Willey concluded, “I’m blessed with a wonderful position. I’m blessed to work at a center where I am assisting others provide services in seven counties. Some of those services, if they went away, they wouldn’t be available anywhere around like substance abuse. “So, blessing. Huge blessing. The girls, obviously a huge blessing. But the biggest blessing I can count on is my husband. Because no matter what my work schedule has been, or my work dynamic, or whatever burden I’m carrying, he is rock solid. He keeps things running and moving ahead here. He’s my superman.” “He just does what needs to be done and keeps everything going.”

For Over 90 years

BR-00104916

has endeavored to provide the Brown County community the utmost quality and service. The trust and confidence earned from those we have served since 1924 has proven invaluable and is never taken for granted. Caring-Compassinate Competitve and Always There! www.prepaidfunerals.texas.gov

Davis-Morris • Funeral Home

800 Center Ave. • Brownwood • 325-646-5555 www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

TICKETS/INFO www.BrownwoodLyicTheatre.com www.BrownwoodLyricTheatre.com TICKETS/INFO

40 UNDER 40

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

PARADE OF PROGRESS 2019 144 YEARS UNION

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Union Presbyterian Church 1967 Austin Avenue Presbyterian Church 1875 & First Presbyterian Church 1876 Rev. Doug House 700 Fisk Ave. • 646-8569

131 YEARS

AUSTIN AVENUE CHURCH OF CHRIST 1020 Austin 646-0855

Tom Washburn, Pulpit Minister Sean Fitzgerald, Youth Minister Roland Bowen, Minister of Education & Missions Julie Moore, Director of Children’s Ministry

128 YEARS

LYDICK-HOOKS ROOFING CO., INC. 2001 S. Fisk

646-9581

Danny Burchett General Manager

112 YEARS 201 W. Adams 646-4578 Jeff Smith & Bart Johnson LUTCF Carter M. Sharpe

97 YEARS

cenTRal uniTed MeThodiST chuRch 1501 2nd 646-9621

143 YEARS

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BROWNWOOD 208 Austin Ave 646-8505 Sunday School (All Ages): 9:30am Morning Worship: 10:50am Evening Worship: 6:00pm

130 YEARS 325-646-2502 1000 Fisk Street 126 Years of Christian Higher Education Established 1889

123 YEARS

Catholic Community of St. Mary Queen of Peace Church

Rev. Francis Njoku 1103 Main Avenue; Office/Mailing: 1101 Booker St. Brownwood • 325-646-7455 office; www.sm1familybwd.org

112 YEARS 505 Fisk 646-9595

93 YEARS

DAVIS-MORRIS FUNERAL HOME Since 1926 800 Center Ave.

646-5555

133 YEARS

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2500 11th • 325.643.1555 Brownwood

WWW.FUMCBROWNWOOD.COM

130 YEARS

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH 700 Main at Depot Street 646-7482 The Rev. Michael S. Mobley Th.M., RecToR

Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Services 8:00 am & 11:00 am Wednesday Services 6:30 pm

118 YEARS

132 YEARS

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ)

2411 Coggin Ave. 646-8901 Sterling Lentz, Pastor Sunday School 9:45 am Worship Service 10:50 am Wed. Bible Study & Youth 6:00 pm

YEARS 130SALT CREEK

BAPTIST CHURCH 7775 North FM 3100 Early, TX 4 miles North Eastlawn Cemetery 646-3897 Pastor Jimmie Mize Bible Study: 10:00am Sunday Services: 11:00am & 6:00pm Wednesday Youth 6:30pm

114 YEARS B

rownwood Glass & aliGnment

The place with the little red car with wobbly wheels • Tires • Suspensions • Brakes • Struts • Axles • Alignments • Diagnostics

700 Carnegie • 646-2541

102 YEARS

LEACH BROS. MANUFACTURING U-Haul Rental 210 North Main 646-9301 Richard Scott Leach, Owner-Manager

92 YEARS

DR PEPPER BOTTLERS BROWNWOOD, INC.

3321 Milam Dr. • 646-9583

106 N. Main (Hwy 377) • Brownwood 325-643-2690 Regina & Don White - Owners

100 YEARS

PECAN VALLEY ELECTRIC 302 2nd St. • (325) 646-3566 Airport Lighting Industrial & Commercial Julie Gribble - Owners

85 YEARS 1 Carnegie

643-3545

Your Home Owned Bank Member FDIC

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

40 UNDER 40

PARADE OF PROGRESS 2019 78 YEARS

KBWD 1380AM KOXE 101.3FM 300 Carnegie

646-3505

72 YEARS

NELSON WHOLESALE SERVICE

Since 1947 2400 Hwy 377 So. 643-3636

66 YEARS

KXYL AM 1240 KXYL FM 102.3 KQBZ FM 96.9 BREEZE WENDLEE BROADCASTING 600 Fisk Ave • 646-3535

55 YEARS

ROBERTS & PETTY, INC. Building 113 Sthephen F. Austin Blvd.

646-6452

#TACLA000685C

52 YEARS

PF&E OIL CO. FOOD PLAZA Brady Hwy.

646-1584

Calvin & Steve Fryer

78 YEARS

BROWNWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY

1500 Terrace Drive (Sunset Terrace)

646-0790 Since 1941

70 YEARS

404 W. Commerce 325-646-1776

2515 Ave D

(Corner of Ave D & 14th)

Phone: 643-3500

email: bec@web-access.net Ken Colegrove, Pastor

firestonecompleteautocare.com

ROBERSON

54 YEARS

3M COMPANY BROWNWOOD Brownwood Industrial Park 646-3551

Traffic Control Materials Division

52 YEARS ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑ 1101 Austin Ave. 646-0637

405-411 Center Ave. Downtown Brownwood 325-643-2633 Mon-Sat 9:30am-6:00pm

INGRAM CONCRETE 4301 Danhil Rd. 646-6518

3808 Highway 377 South Brownwood, Texas 76801 325-646-4571 www.mtfcu.org

Serving Brown County Since 1963

54 YEARS

LONGHORN CAMPERS, INC.

Blanket, Texas

We bring the city to you!

56 YEARS

58 YEARS

RENT ALL 3102 Morris Sheppard Drive 646-7732 Van & Cindy Marshall

509 D. W. Commerce 643-4217

68 YEARS

71 YEARS

509 W. Commerce 646-6513

63 YEARS

72 YEARS

73 YEARS

748-5741

Donna Isham - Owner

49 YEARS

KELCY & SON PAVING CONTRACTORS, INC.

518 Lucas Dr. • Early, Tx 646-4026 Wyman Kelcy-Owner From Driveways to Highways House Pads & Demolition Work

53 YEARS SOUTHWEST

APPLIANCE FURNITURE & SERVICE

100 C.C. Woodson • 646-8773 Ellis Perkins - Owner

49 YEARS

THRIFT MART

108 1st, Bangs, Texas 752-6113 www.bangsthriftmart.com

Thank You For all Your SupporT!

40 UNDER 40

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

PARADE OF PROGRESS 2019 48 YEARS

47 YEARS

BROTHERS AUTOMOTIVE

APARTMENTS Home Sweet Home

2001 Slayden

643-4591

44 YEARS RED WAGON RESTAURANT 401 N. Main • 646-1599 Daily Lunch Specials

201 W. Adams • 646-2959 Bart Johnson LUTCF Insurance & Investments

39 YEARS

CARROUSEL CHILD CARE CENTER 1303 Phillips

646-2461

Where Love Goes Around Monday - Friday 6:00 am - 7:30 pm

31 YEARS

Go Improve Something

3605 HWY 377 SOUTH • 325-643-2638

43 YEARS

TOOTIE KELLY REAL ESTATE Hwy 279 • 784-5270 (1 Mile South of Lake Bridge) Call for all your real estate needs.

41 YEARS

AUTO PARTS

1101 Riverside Dr. • 643-3926

We Supply Domestic, Foreign, Truck, Farm, Industrial & Marine Parts

45 YEARS HEARD

3707 austin ave 325-6432648

38 YEARS

Good Shepherd Apartments 325-643-5182

1700 Good Shepherd Brownwood

31 YEARS

TEXAS AMERICA SAFETY COMPANY 4400 Danhil Dr. • BWD 800-646-5346

403 Early Blvd. • 643-1725 Phyllis, Russell & Gaylon Owners

43 YEARS

LITTLE DUDE RANCH

Child Development Center 1601 Stewart • 646-8877 Open 5:45am to 10:00pm; M-S

Serving Families Who Want Quality Child Care

Infant Stimulation Program • Pre-School Classes Pre-Kindergarten Classes • After School Program Evening Childcare

41 YEARS 7 Days A Week • 24 Hours A Day

Serving All of the Central Texas Area We’ll Get You Out! Discount Rates Glynn Franklin, Owner-Bondsman 643-1072 Earl Kimbrell, Bondsman 643-3809 1038 W. Commerce • Brownwood (Next To Jail)

325-643-1827

34 YEARS

Trans-Texas Tire

109 S. Broadway (325)643-1541

31 YEARS CMS HEALTH CARE, INC.

1102 Early Blvd.. (325) 643-4900 Skilled Nursing • Home Health • Physical Therapy & Medical Supplies Medical Social Worker

45 YEARS INSURANCE

Mike Hall, CLU® Agent 807 Center Suite C. 325-646-8600 www.michaelhallinsurance.com

42 YEARS

Longhorn Auto SALeS 903 W. Commerce 325-643-2994 Glen Smith - Owner

40 YEARS Early First UnitEd MEthodist 1073 Early Blvd 325-646-2300

34 YEARS

1303 MAIN ST 325-643-2591

29 YEARS David Robnett Agency Owner

508 Main st. 325-646-2886

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

40 UNDER 40

PARADE OF PROGRESS 2019 29 YEARS

BRINDLEY BOOKKEEPING Formerly King’s BooKKeeping 314 Brown

646-7057

26 YEARS

CAIN ELECTRICAL SUPPLY CORP. 2000 Fisk • 643-4851

24 YEARS

Taylor’s Pickup Truck Accessories & Window Tinting

Flatbeds • Rear Bumpers • Headache Racks Front Bumper Replacements • Grille Guards Corner of Austin & Melwood 325-643-9903

21 YEARS

28 YEARS

28 YEARS 212 E. Commerce 325-643-6415

26 YEARS AUTO GLASS MAGIC

15 YEARS Video + Internet + Phone 500 Fisk • 325-646-9493 www.harrisbb.com

25 YEARS

646-9789

100 North Main • Brownwood

23 YEARS

Box-N-Mail Express

& spas

Phone: 325-641-2855 Cell: 325-647-9832 Jason Angerstein

www.heartlandpools.com

15 YEARS

Full menu available We Cater everyday

Keith & Wanda Lemons, Owners Meetings rooms available God Bless

22 YEARS

919 North Fisk St. • 643-6661 Dine In or Drive Thru www.cooldeli.com

19 YEARS

First Aide Agency

17 YEARS

Elderly and Disabled Care Service

www.firstaideagency.com 18 years of experience 325-641-2512

13 YEARS

Hutchins Custom Homes LLC 501 W. Baker Kenneth - 325-998-2254 Brent - 325-642-3470

OPEN:

325-643-1238 • psstaffing.com

www.neighborhoodpostal.com

Custom

24 YEARS

646-9655

901 N. Fisk Brownwood, TX 76801 325-643-1037 325-641-0942 Fax

20 YEARS

303 Early Blvd. • 646-9424

Mon.-Wed. 11-2:30 Thurs. - Fri. 11-8 3202 Coggin Ave Brownwood, TX

WINDSHIELDS

gunite pools 3500 Hwy 279 Brownwood, TX 76801 Email: jgribble@verizon.net Business: 325-646-7979 Fax: 325-646-5158 Mobile: 325-647-4886

HEART OF TEXAS MECHANICAL CONTRACTING 203 Cordell Street 325-646-1655 - Brownwood 325-752-6602 - Bangs Plumbing & Air Conditioning

27 YEARS

318 Center Ave 325-998-2801

11 YEARS

Tootie Kelly Real Estate

Early Branch Office 2222 Highway 377 S #1 325-646-4781

Call for all your real estate needs

111B Early Blvd.

325-646-2444

40 UNDER 40

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

PARADE OF PROGRESS 2019 11 YEARS

9 YEARS

8 YEARS DIAMOND R

9 YEARS Little Creek Auto Sales

store

USED CARS

739-2068

No Credit • Bad Credit • No Problem EVERYONE’S APPROVED

Cody Rogers

Come See Debbie

9 YEARS

DEPOT LIQUOR AlwAys something new 1001 Vine Street

325-646-3500

YEARS

& cafe

Hwy 183-84, Zephyr, Texas 7 Days a Week

702 Early Blvd. • Early, TX 76802 325-643-8116

A&M STORAGE 1060 Early Blvd Early TX 76802 325-649-0901

ASSISTED LIVING 1605 Calvert Rd 325-200-4904

500 W. Commerce • 643-1651

YEARS

HAIR NATION 201 E. Adams Suite D 325-430-5944

325-643-5215

24/7 PLUMBING

Day or night same service rate for residential customers #M18664

Thank you to all area businesses in helping to promote community progress.

Auto Care Checklist

TIRES

WIPER BLADES

Check tire pressures and tread depth. Check the pressure on all the tires - including the spare - with a

Wiper blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Make sure the windshield washer reservoir is filled.

quality gauge when the tires are cold.

BATTERY

OIL CHANGE

Many motorists believe their cars’ oil ghouls be changed every 3,000 miles, however most late-model vehicles now can go 5,000 to 7,000 miles between oil changes. Check your owner’s manual and get on a routine to good car care.

2 LOCATIONS TO

SHOP AND COMPARE ANYWHERE AND YOU WILL BUY AT TRANS TEXAS TIRE!

BR-00105423

SERVE YOU

509 E. South Loop Stephenville 254-968-7114

109 S. Broadway Brownwood 325-643-1541

HEARD BROTHERS

AUTOMOTIVE 403 Early Blvd. • 643-1725 Phyllis, Russell & Gaylon - Owners BR-00105431

THE SHOP CUSTOM AUTO DETAILING

325 200 2237

DA SHOP 1503 Austin Ave., Bwd,TX 76801 Specializes in Commercial and Personal Vehicles

Gene Galloway 325.200.2237

James Galloway 325.998.0789

BR-00105517

TRANS TEXAS TIRE

Ensure the battery cable connections are tight, and the terminals are free form corrosion. If the battery is more than three years old, it’s a good idea to have it tested to determine how much life it has left.

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

40 UNDER 40

Brownwood Funeral Home ...serving all faiths and cultures ...we accept all pre-need programs Drive Thru • Dine In • Catering We accept Visa, MC, Discover, Am. EX & Checks

Sun - Thurs 10AM - 8PM • Fri & Sat 10AM - 9PM

2512 Belle Plain, Brownwood, Texas 76801 BR-00104897

919 N. Fisk • Brownwood • 325-643-6661

(325) 646-5551 BR-00105030 BR-00105030

LARGE SELECTION OF FURNITURE, APPLIANCES, BEDROOM AND DINING GROUPS IN STORE. HOME OWNED & OPERATED BY ELLIS & YANCY PERKINS FOR 38 YEARS.

BR-00105243

Same Day Delivery or within 24 hours. *FREE DELIVERY up to 50 Miles*

Package Pricing for Remodeling or New Home

SOUTHWEST APPLIANCE & FURNITURE

Over 120

Recliners on Display

100 C.C. Woodson Rd, Brownwood, TX 325-646-8773 • www.brownwoodsouthwestappliance.com

40 UNDER 40

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

RAINFOREST APTS rainforest

2300 Magnolia, Brownwood, Texas 76801

Apartment Directory

Phone: (325) 643-5716 Fax: (325) 643-5717

The ultimate in apartment living! BR-00105430

camelot2001@verizon.net

BR-00105428

camelot 325-643-4591 2001 Slayden Street

Welcome to Your Home Sweet Home!

wayside

UPDATED!! 1 month FREE rent with a 12-month lease.

BR-00105449

Home Sweet Home

WAYS WA YSID YS IDE ID E 2001 Brady Ave Brownwood, TX 76801

COLONIAL COURTYARD 1300 13th St Brownwood, TX 76801

(325) 643- 6513

(325) 203- 5089

bwd apts PHASE I : 322 Bluffview Dr... PHASE II : 320 Bluffview Dr.... has 1 & 2 bedrooms has 1,2, & 3 bedrooms

BROWNWOOD RETIREMENT VILLAGE : 318 Bluffview Dr BR-00105465

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE BEST OF BROWN COUNTY EVENT Join us at our Best of Brown Where the Stars are Big and Bright Celebration event on July 20th!

Call 325-646-2541 BR-SPAD0227151224

for more information.

BR-00105347

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

40 UNDER 40

2019 Services & Directory GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1401 First Street in Brownwood

325-646-2046

Sunday Morning Bible Study for Children, Teens, Adults

9:00 Sunday Morning Worship

May First Baptist Church 18955 Cunningham St. • May, TX • 254-259-2182

Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. • Morning Worship - 11 a.m. Sunday Youth & Adult Bible Study - 6 p.m. Wednesday - Gospel Kids - 6 p.m. • Prayer Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

10:15

The Church of “The Lutheran Hour” Radio Broadcast

BR-00105372

Nursery provided for all services. EVERYONE WELCOME!

Jay Fraze, Senior Pastor Joey Wilbourn, Associate Pastor

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH BROWNWOOD,TX 2500 11th Street 325.643.1555 www.fumcbrownwood.life BR-00105380

We are located at the corner of Tenth Street & Asbury across from Brownwood High School Sunday Services 8:30 a.m. Communion Service 10:40 a.m. Common Ground Service in the CLC 10:40 a.m. Traditional Service in the Sanctuary

40 UNDER 40

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

“A warm welcome awaits you...”

AUSTIN AVENUE CHURCH OF CHRIST A loving, caring, friendly congregation with a place for you.

1020 Austin Avenue • 646-0855 Bible Class 9:30 a.m. • Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Midweek Service 7:00 p.m.

Catholic Community of

ST. MARY QUEEN OF PEACE CHURCH 1896 - 2019 (Monday - Friday 12:00 Noon) Saturdays: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: 4:30 - 5:15 p.m. Saturdays: Sacrament of Reconciliation: 4:30 - 5:15 p.m. Saturday Evening Mass: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m. Spanish; 11:00 a.m. English; 5:30 p.m. English DAILY MASS SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday 12:00 Noon unless otherwise noted in the parish bulletin

Tom Washburn, Pulpit Minister Sean Fitzgerald, Youth Minister Roland Bowen, Minister of Education & Missions Julie Moore, Director of Children’s Ministry

REV. FRANCIS NJOKU

1103 Main Avenue; Office/Mailing: 1101 Booker St. Brownwood, TX 76801 • OFFICE 325-646-7455 FAX 325-646-6643 • www.sm1familybwd.org

Everyone Welcome

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND

BR-00105346

BR-00105379

Union Presbyterian Church

a congregation of the P.C. (U.S.A.) 700 Fisk Ave., Brownwood, Tx http://www.unionpresbrownwood.org.

CHRISTIAN 2411 Coggin Ave. 646-8901 CHURCH

BR-00105382

www.fccbwd.org fccbrownwood@harrisbb.com fccbrownwood@gmail.com

Nursery Provided For Each Service

EVERYONE WELCOME

ȟȮĴŝȉŃȉŝēĴȉƐ

]āɒǎ ƙȳņ .ƙȳǳā

Christian Education (all ages) ................9:30 a.m. Fellowship Time......................................10:00 a.m. Morning Worship....................................10:30 a.m. Soaking Prayer........Noon-1:00 p.m. Wednesday BR-00105383

“Take

Care of Your Heart “

STERLING LENTZ, Pastor Sunday School 9:45 AM Sunday Worship 10:50 AM Wednesday Bible Study 6:00 PM

BROWNWOOD BULLETIN

DIGGERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DIAMOND ELECTRIC

40 UNDER 40

1814 3rd St., Brownwood, Texas 76801 | 325-642-9222

BR-00105098