NETWORKING
The
“Leo Wood” Steak Fry
Story
G
eorgetown continues to enjoy the kind of explosive growth and development that would make Steak Fry founders proud. We’re still building it, and they’re still coming.
Former mayor, former city manager, and Mr. Georgetown Leo Wood has always believed in networking and he founded the Steak Fry to bring passionate and capable players together to become closer friends, work together with creative ideas, and execute the same.
Steak Fry the following November at the Community Center in San Gabriel Park. Two members caught and fried some fish and another cooked elk steaks provided by Y.W. Kimbro, who killed the elk in Colorado. About 15 people attended. At Steak Fry #2, and in the years since, the menu shifted to sirloins, sides, and beer.
LITTLE DID THEY KNOW HOW LONG THIS MONTHLY STEAK DINNER NETWORK WOULD LAST, OR HOW LARGE AND HOW INFLUENTIAL IT WOULD BECOME.
WHAT IS STEAK FRY? Leo moved to Georgetown in 1969 to take over as city manager. A born strategist, he wasted no time building a network and strategy, and held the first
The tradition carried on for years— not fancy or catered—rotating through members’ back yards. It was just the guys, cooking steaks on their own grills, sharing a few beers, all paid for by each host.
Leo says attendance remained constant at 20 or so members until the mid1990s when Sun City began to grow. Pete Bouffard, John Doerfler, Joe Saegert, Ken Olson, Stanley Bland, Luther Lubach, Gene Jacobs, Joe McMaster, and a few others grew the crowd—some business owners, some elected to office, but all loved Georgetown, especially Leo. While still invitation-only, the group grew to about 50 and their gatherings were then formally set for the third Thursday of each month except during the hottest and coldest months.
SOMETHING SPECIAL While none can quite put a finger on how or why it works so well, Steak Fry members recognize what they have is special and rare. Leaders in other cities have tried it, but without the same success. Most would agree the consummate team of Leo and his wife, Vivian (above)—always cheerleading and strategizing how to help Georgetown— were the major factor in the group’s endurance. As such, the theme of Steak Fry has been and will always be Leo’s commission: What can we do to help Georgetown?
With Judge Bill Gravell • May 18th, 2021 “Mr. and Mrs. Williamson County Day”
18 WILCO BUSINESS REVIEW | 2022 • ISSUE 3
