Fort Bend Women Make Fort Bend Strong!

Since 1987, every March has been Women’s History Month in the United States. This is a month dedicated to the contributions women have made to society, history and culture. All of us have one woman who should be honored – our mother. My mother celebrated her 84th birthday last month. She is the best mom ever! She smiled and encouraged me to follow my dreams, even when those dreams appeared a bit crazy. She had a big grin when I told her that I was not going to use my Computer Science degree from Rice University. At the very last minute, I was going to the University of Texas School of Law. Three years later, I announced that I was going to graduate from law school, pass the Texas Bar Exam, and fly warplanes for the U.S. Navy. My mom never flinched.

After four years in the Navy, I married my soulmate, my Romance, my Nancy. Like my mom, Nancy never wavered when I changed our plans. We had been married for seven months when I left for a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf. I came home expecting a few months of rest and relaxation with Nancy in Hawaii where we were stationed. The Navy had different plans for us – I was ordered to report to Washington, D.C. three weeks after coming home.

Nancy and I were reunited three days before Christmas 1994. After our two children were born, I gave my Romance another surprise – we were moving back to my Texas home so I could run for Congress! I was elected to Congress in 2008 and spent most of twelve years in Washington, D.C., away from Nancy, Kate and Grant. My Romance never faltered. Like my mom, my Nancy’s love for me has always been pure. Whatever success I have had in my life is because of my Nancy and my mom.

We Texans all have a common mother, Jane Long. Jane was given land grants in Fort Bend by the Father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin. On December 21, 1821 at Bolivar Point, she gave birth to possibly the first child born in Texas to an American mother. She became known as the “Mother of Texas.” The town of Richmond was built on land Long owned. The Mother of Texas died on December 30, 1880. Befitting the stature of being the “Mother of Texas,” Long is buried in Richmond’s historic Morton Cemetery with a Texas flag proudly flying beside her 24/7/365. The Mother of Texas was Fort Bend Strong!

Arizona Fleming is another Fort Bend woman we all need to celebrate during Women’s History Month. She was born in Richmond on March 3, 1884. An African-American, she grew up in a Fort Bend County where white racists resented former slaves who could now vote and were nearly three times the population.

Black men like Benjamin Franklin Williams and Walter Moses Burton were elected to powerful positions. Enraged, the racists devised a way to stop the black vote. Since the majority of Texans were Democrats, these evil men, called Jaybirds, formed a club to control the Democrat primary elections. They banned African-Americans from participating in Democrat primaries, effectively denying African-Americans a voice in Texas elections. The Jaybirds called themselves a “private club” instead of a “political organization.” This false distinction allowed the racist Jaybirds to freely and openly discriminate against black Americans.

Fleming made it her life’s goal to end this hideous practice. She teamed up with a wealthy black farmer from Kendleton, Willie Melton, to challenge the Jaybirds in federal court. Their case, Terry v. Adams, went to the United States Supreme Court. Flaming WON, 8-1! The personal cost of justice was high. Fleming spent her entire savings to make Texas and America better. She died penniless. Assessing the cause of her poverty, Fleming said, “I’d do it all over again.” Arizona Fleming was Fort Bend Strong!

The Fort Bend County we love would not be that way without Polly Ryon, Lizzie Davis and Mamie George. Polly was Lizzie’s mother, and Mamie was Lizzie’s daughter. Their property on FM 762 had been part of a land grant from Stephen F. Austin. The family became successful farmers and ranchers. That all changed on September 12, 1923 when Mamie and her husband, Albert, were in charge. Oil was discovered on their Fort Bend Ranch. Their wealth grew dramatically. Mamie and Albert died with no heirs. Their only child died as an infant, and the niece who lived with them died in an automobile crash. They used their pain of loss to make Fort Bend County strong; they created The George Foundation “for the use and benefit of the people of Fort Bend County.” To date, The George Foundation has given us $270 million. That’s Fort Bend Strong.

I never chatted with anyone who knew Jane Long, Arizona Fleming, Polly Ryon, Lizzie Davis or Mamie George. I have been blessed to talk with people who knew Fort Bend heroes Anne Sullivan and Sonal Bhuchar. Anne was killed fighting a fire in Houston on May 31, 2013. Four firefighters died with her, making it the worst day in the history of the Houston Fire Department. She lived her entire life in Fort Bend. I knew her mom, Mary, who was the nurse at the intermediate school both of my kids attended. Anne was 24 years old when she left us.

Shortly after that horrific day, Mary and I worked toward a common goal –to have an elementary school named after Anne. Anne McCormick Sullivan Elementary School opened in 2016. The entry foyer at Anne’s school is a museum of her life. Check out the mural of Anne, a fire truck, an adult Dalmatian and two Dalmatian puppies. If you look closely at the adult Dalmatian, one of its spots is shaped like a heart.

My dear friend, Sonal, was 58 yearsyoung when she lost a gallant fight against cancer. She was a trailblazer in Fort Bend County. Sonal was from Mumbai, India. She came to Texas with her husband, Subodh, in 1984. That’s when she took over and made Fort Bend County better. Her life was devoted to our children. She was elected to the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees and served six years on the Board. She was the Board President for two years. While on the Board, she pushed through several initiatives like the Student Leadership Program, the Legislative Advocacy Program and the International Festival. She helped children who had been abused with her involvement in Child Advocates of Fort Bend. I remember Sonal’s joy of life and infectious smile. She spent nearly two hours at our home helping Nancy get dressed in formal Indian clothing for a traditional Indian wedding. Sonal and Anne made us and continue to make us Fort Bend Strong!

Who do you know from Fort Bend that we should honor, celebrate and remember during Women’s History Month? Please let me know – pete@absolutleyfocusmedia.com. I may include your honoree in one of my Fort Bend Strong columns.

Celebrating Fort Bend at the 2023 Fort Bend Chairman’s Gala

The 5-Star Accredited Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce (FBCC) held their annual Gala on Friday, January 27th at Safari Texas Ranch. The annual event paid tribute to the leaders and volunteers of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce who served the chamber in 2022 and welcomed the new leadership for 2023. FBCC celebrated a record year for new membership and welcomed in the new slate of dynamic leaders. King Banerjee, owner of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of Sugar Land, was announced as the 2023 Chairman of the Board. Banerjee served as the 2020 Business and Professional Division Chair delivering much-needed business resources and support for the business community. He is a 2020 Fort Bend Leadership Forum graduate. As a small businessman, Banerjee understands the challenges that come with building a business. “I am honored to serve the Fort Bend business community as the 2023 Chairman of the FBCC,” Banerjee said.

Outgoing Chairman Kevin Riles led the FBCC bringing in a record-breaking number of new members in 2022. “We have had an extremely successful year and believe that 2023 will be a continuation of that trend. I look forward to continuing my active involvement as Past-Chair in support of Chairman King Banerjee.”

Riles, with Kevin Riles Commercial, presented the Community Spirit Award to Pastor David Lee Sincere, Jr. This award was presented to an individual who has given their time and treasure for the betterment of the community. Sincere is an advocate for the youth of Fort Bend County and has made a positive impact on many students throughout the community. He is tireless volunteer with Fort Bend ISD for over 24 years through mentoring students and sponsoring campus clubs. He has also served on the District’s Board Leadership Academy and facilitated Trauma Informed Care training. In 2017, he created an institution, Advocacy Now, to address the systemic issues that negatively impact economically disadvantaged communities. For the past two years, he has been part of an initiative to provide hundreds of students from Briargate Elementary with basic essentials, and in December of 2022, he donated 1,500 toiletries to students through partnerships with NRG WA Parish Power Plant and others. Sincere is a member of many organizations that have helped shape and mold youth to make a difference in Fort Bend County.

The Chairman’s Award was presented to Breah Campbell with SI Environmental and Dr. Jay Neal with the University of Houston. This dynamic duo is a powerhouse together as cochairs of the Fort Bend Leadership Forum.

Breah Campbell radiates passion by serving as a key component behind building and mentoring leaders within the chamber through the Fort Bend Leadership Program and has assisted in graduating four classes. She strives to always enhance and promote a dynamic and more evolved community and is involved in various nonprofits throughout the county including the Fort Bend Women’s Center. Not only does she assist shaping leaders within the chamber, she also adds a helping hand to the future of the MUD industry by serving as a co-chair for the AWBD Emerging Leaders Programs.

Dr. Jay Neal is active with the Economic Development Council, Fort Bend Future Initiative with the Chamber, Fort Bend County’s Technology Task Force, Fort Bend County’s Diversity Over Division and the City of Sugar Land TIRZ Board. His biggest driving force is education and evolving our future leaders. Under Neal’s guidance, business, academic and community entities in Fort Bend County have come together through collaborations that benefit the region. Those efforts have ensured that the future of Fort Bend County includes a Tier One University with programs that feed our workforce and fuel our future successes.

Through the leadership and dedication of these two incredible recipients, the chamber is able to produce the premier community leadership program that develops future leaders.

The awards continued with Riles acknowledging the leadership and service of immediate past Chairman Janice Suchyta with Baker Donelson; retiring legal counsel Dustin Fessler with RMWBH Law; retiring Board Members Juan Alexander with SI

Keith

Environmental, Noe Escobar with LJA Engineering, Afshi Merchant with Oil Products Distribution, and Allisandra Wen with Safari Texas Ranch; retiring Fort Bend Leadership Forum Division Co-Chair Jan-Michael Jenkins with Legacy Fitness, and retiring Internal Committee Chair Jeffery Willis with PAGE.

The Fort Bend Chamber Executive Team is comprised of King Banerjee, Chairman; Kevin Riles, Immediate Past Chair; Qiara Suggs, Chair-Elect; Keith Borgfeldt, Treasurer and Tariq Zafar,

Legal Counsel. “I’m eager to continue to work on issues and initiatives that keep our business climate strong. I look forward to seeing our region prosper and grow in the new year,” said Riles.

The Board of Directors welcomed six new board members, each serving their first two-year term, while five members retired on December 31st, 2022.

The 2023 FBCC Directors and Division Chairs include:

King Banerjee

Angelique Bartholemew

Allison Bond

Keith Borgfeldt

Christopher Breaux

Breah Campbell

Stephen Carter

Jonathan Chapman

Nancy Colmenares

Rick Conley

Aman Dhuka

Michael Dobert

Mike Dotson

Laura Fisher

Trisha Frederick

Matt Froehlich

Lupe Garcia

Andrew Gilmore

Jennifer Goodall

Darrell Groves

Jennifer Henrikson

Melissa Hoffman

Jeff Hogan

Patrick Houck

Rachelle Kanak

Matthew Kelly

Tommy Kuykendall

Ginny Moon

Bonnie Moss

Kevin Murphree

Jay Neal

Joop Oranje

Dominique Sachse to Headline Fort Bend Literacy Council’s Ninth Annual “Reading Between the Wines”

The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County is excited to announce Dominique Sachse as the featured speaker at its “Reading Between the Wines” on Friday, March 31st at Safari Texas.

Co-chaired by Helen Bow and Kirin Wells, the event is sponsored by The Fred and Mabel R Parks Foundation. The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County’s signature fundraiser benefits adult literacy education programs and services. Since 2013, the organization’s event has raised more than $1 million to invest in programs, including English as a Second Language, High School Equivalency/GED Exam Prep and United States Citizenship and Civics courses.

Sponsorship opportunities between $500 to $5,000 are available for “Reading Between the Wines.” The event features a restaurant stroll promoting the best menu items from local chefs and restaurants along with live music, a live auction, super silent auction plus a dessert auction.

A YouTube sensation since 2014, Sachse is currently nearing the 2 million subscriber mark. Sachse passionately creates content for women in their prime to live their best, most beautiful life. She recently retired from her evening news anchor post at KPRC-TV after 28 years to focus on promoting her new book Life Makeover - Embrace The Bold, Beautiful, and Blessed You.

For more information about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities for “Reading Between the Wines,” visit the www. ftbendliteracy.org/reading-between-thewines

Elexa Orrange-Allen

Mihir Patel

Kevin Patton

Jim Rice

Kevin Riles

Luc Sanderson

Keri Schmidt

Shana Scott

Kalika Sinha

Qiara Suggs

Tommy Thompson

Ted Volf

Carl Willis

Beth Wolf

Tariq Zafar