Kilgore Magazine Issue 15 by Kilgore Magazine

Issue 15

MAGAZINE

It’s a

S.A.F.F.E Day

in Kilgore

WWW.KILGOREMAGAZINE.COM

C NTENTS

Editor: Mary Ramos

Creative Director: Amanda Reel

FEATURED ARTICLES

Contributing Writers:

Bob Gamill Estella Strong Johnny Bellows Rusty Kennedy Cindy Morris

Contributing Photographers: Sean Landry - Southwest Studios Amanda Reel

Mailing Address:

421 North Center St. Suite A Longview, Texas 75601

Amanda Reel

ON THE COVER

A.F.F.E. Day is “Special Abilities Family Fun Event Day.” It is on September 20, 2014, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm downtown Kilgore. The events are free.

Mary Ramos

August/September 2014

Office : 903-757-4444 Fax: 903-236-7541 MaryRamos@msn.com KilgoreMagazine@gmail.com Graphics@etta.com

©Copyright 2014 by Kilgore Magazine. All pieces reproduced in this issue are under prior copyright by the creators or by the contractural arrangements with their clients. Nothing shown may be reproduced in any form without obtaining the permission of the creators and any other person or company who may have copyright ownership. Kilgore Magazine® reserves the right to edit any or all submissions as they deem necessary.

Kilgore Renewal!

Reprinted from the Spring & Summer 2014 Gallery Contributed by Bob Gambill

Monster Truck’n Benefits Education

S.A.F.F.E. Day

Meet Lexi Bass

50 Years of Staying Strong

By: Rusty Kennedy

By: Johhny Bellows

By: Cindy Morris

Contributed By: Estella Strong

Advertise in Kilgore Magazine To purchase advertising space or submit editorial stories, Call: 903-757-4444 or Email: MaryRamos@msn.com

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Visit Downtown Kilgore and play the street piano!

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Kilgore Renewal! Reprinted with permission from the Spring & Summer 2014 Gallery

Written by Bob Gambill

“City of Stars” family bound by love & marriage, kinship & community service and dedication to work… find themselves building a rapidly growing enterprise affecting East Texas-at-large and fueling another… Kilgore Renewal! Kilgore’s history as an oil boom town and its international reputation for stars like renowned pianist Van Cliburn and the Kilgore College Rangerettes keep this small East Texas town on the minds of people around the world. Ironically, while its reputation has grown, the city itself has suffered a lack of certain assets. Until recently, one of the major shortcomings was in housing. But that’s changing. Rapidly. And one of the major reasons has a lot to do with a pair of brothers, who in 1983, bought a backhoe and dump truck and began doing dirt work around Kilgore, Lake Cherokee and other opportunities as they arose. Kenny & Keith Mobbs started K-K Mobbs Construction by building housing pads, constructing boat houses and took on almost any general dirt work for both residential and commercial needs, as well as oil field applications. Sometime in 1989, the brothers began to act on an idea they shared of doing residential development. They worked the land into streets and house pads, and then sold lots to home builders. Since they had the ability, they did build homes from time to time, but mostly for family and a few close friends, with no real plans to go into building homes, as the construction and dirt business was taking most of their time. As Kenny’s sons grew, the second pair of brothers took an interest in those few home building efforts, and found a fast desire to do more with the sideline Kenny and Keith had started. They went to the commercial building side of the industry first, but it wasn’t long until new home building grabbed their attention as well, and soon after the June 2009 formation of Mobbs Builders, Nate and Jason were off and running. Today, between Mobbs Construction and Mobbs Builders, there are few new building, commercial or residental, that can’t be handled by a Mobbs company. The whole family realized that 6

Kilgore, as wonderful a home town as any could find, suffered from a lack of quality, new homes. While some beautiful older homes still flourished and carried the rich heritage of Kilgore, there were just too many people deciding to live in some other East Texas community, citing the lack of housing as the cause. Mobbs Builders got busy. From doing the original dirt work, to designing floor plans to the actual construction of new homes, the Mobbs family were on a path to fill the gap that kept Kilgore from adding its fair share of new residents. After a couple of years, Kenny’s wife, Charlotte, added another level to the family business. In 2011, after working in another real estate office where the family had a small interest, Charlotte opened Mobbs Real Estate Group. She was ready to do more with her broker license, and her current broker (and friend) was wanting to scale down a bit. Today, her former boss is now an associate at Mobbs Real Estate Group. As odd as that might seem, it fits in with the entire organizational atmosphere. It’s clear when you visit with any member of the various Mobbs interests, that everyone is part of the family. Take Kenny’s sons Nate and Jason. Jason Gunn is actually a “step-son.” But don’t get caught using that term around any of the family. The bonding of both family and employees is so strong and the focus on loyalty so intense, that you are hard pressed to tell which is which. Even during the early days as Kenny and Keith began adding to their upstart firm, employees were valued and protected. The growth of the business has always been controlled and monitored, so that in slow times or economic downturns of almost any duration, avoiding layoffs has been a primary culture issue for the founders and the whole company. Meanwhile, as Charlotte and her team began to grow, she convinced Kenny to develop a recently purchased tract of land as a new residential neighborhood instead of initially planned commercial development.

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They turned to their sons and Mobbs Builders got on board. So, a site for 50 homes began to take place. K-K Mobbs Construction did the land development, Mobbs Builders did the design and building of homes and Mobbs Real Estate Group marketed the homes. All of the homes were designed to compliment one another, to enhance and secure long term home values. Mobbs Builders has the capability and necessary equipment to render their floor plans in-house. This provided for a complete turn-key service, further adding value to new home buyers in the design and build process. Not surprisingly, the demand for Mobbs Builders homes is high enough that, to date, few of the speculative homes have made it to completion before being sold. That means the home owner still gets to pick out many of the finish items like counter tops, flooring, paint colors and fixtures. Nathan and Jason call it “semi-custom.” “We start a home, get partially completed and before we finish, it sells,” said Nathan. “The customer comes in to work with Jason just like a full custom home buyer would to finish it out.” Jason added, “We usually start with the home buyer’s desires, dreams and ‘wants’…putting that down and starting the process of site selection, floor plans, and materials. Thanks to our computer software 3-D modeling capabilities, the home owner can see their home before we ever break ground.” While Nathan and Jason work together through the home building process, Nathan is more of the “outside” man, while Jason is more of the “computer/design” partner. “With 3-D modeling, there’s really no reason a person has to endure any of the doubts or fears that building a home used to carry,” Jason said. “Together we can put their ideas onto a computer model and they can make changes long before it reaches the expensive stage of tearing something out or replacing a piece of material.” “Exactly,” chimed in Nathan. “We keep cost down because we eliminate a lot of the back and forth decision issues during the planning stage. Our home buyers save money avoiding errors.”

want to build. So we take them to Mobbs Builders and begin the process,” Charlotte reported. “Other times,” agreed Jason, “people call us thinking they want a new home, but while they describe what they are looking for, we find a home already listed with the real estate company that fits their needs perfectly. All of this is possible because of the family ties between the construction business originally started by brothers Kenny and Keith, the home building business now run by brothers Nathan and Jason… and the real estate group run by “mom” Charlotte. Names and titles don’t mean much at the Mobbs Companies, as everyone is valued the same and all are expected to do whatever is necessary to serve and satisfy the customer. Where stand-alone companies in real estate, home building or construction are in a competitive battle, the Mobbs Companies are only focused on customer satisfaction. This allows opportunity for a special brand of integrity, since each member of the team is intimately involved with the workings of all the other areas. Self-imposed standards of customer service and accountability are watched constantly by everyone, because whether the last name is Mobbs or Gunn or Gorman… it means the same as Price, Melton, Holmes, Kincaid, DeBerry, Barnard, Workman, Griffin, Jones or Williamson. Today, the Mobbs Construction team is a bit larger than when it was just Kenny & Keith. And the equipment is a bit more sophisticated. Like the GPS controlled bulldozers that are digitally monitored and controlled. And while the business aspects of the family are important, we can’t forget the primary focus and purpose was to build a better Kilgore, and by virtue of their success, a better East Texas.

To read the complete article visit

www.KilgoreMagazine.com

This “see it before you build it” process allow the home owner to make various alterations to floor plans, colors, styles and products used in the home. It helps the home owner to avoid sort of “overbuilding” and harsh “over-budget” surprises that can wreck a home building project. In fact, a home owner could begin the process with Mobbs Real Estate Group, locate the proper lot, and end up with the same friendly faces when the home is finally closed at a mortgage company or title company. The Mobbs Real Estate Group building is a recognized site in Kilgore, sitting on the corner of Highway 259 Business and East Lantrip. The former home, turned office is central to all of Kilgore and houses all seven of the real estate offices agents. There is a synergistic energy between the three companies that offers a true efficiency and interoperability. “Some customers come by the real estate office first, and we find out they really 2014 | www.KILGOREMAGAZINE.com | www.facebook.com/KilgoreMagazine

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(903) 981 - 9100 Hwy 259 N. Kilgore Tx PattersonKilgore.com

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Proud Sponsors of the

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Monster Truckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Benefits Education By: Rusty Kennedy, President Of White Oak Education Foundation

n addition to getting your student ready, backIleaders to-school is also a time when most community and parents revisit strategies that help

support their children and teachers during the academic year. Kilgore Magazine reached out to the White Oak Education Foundation about their goals and strategies for the coming year. The Monster Truck Fall Nationals is one of their major fund raisers. What they do with the monies raised and their goals should be a lesson we all can learn.

Rusty Kennedy, White Oak Education Foundation President, had this to say about the step they took to achieve their goals. How do educators face the growing need for more funds for equipment and supplies in a time of reduced budgets and increased student population? The board of the White Oak Education Foundation is working to provide an opportunity for their districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachers and staff to have an answer to this problem. The WOEF is an independent, nonprofit corporation established in 2001, to promote quality education in White Oak schools. The Foundation invites people from all sectors of the community to become involved in linking the White Oak community and alumni resources with the needs of our school to complement and enhance the mission of White Oak ISD. All support is given in cooperation with the school administration.

including academic, fine arts, music and sports show that our school teachers, staff, and administration are doing an outstanding job. In the present business climate in White Oak, a primarily neighborhood community, the WOEF realized that creativity was needed. If the Foundation was to become the source of funding that would be required to meet the challenges that these exceptional teachers presented, dreams would have to be big. Big dreams often involve big risks. That was just what the Monster Truck Fall National sponsorship was: a big, exciting, costly risk that might produce big results. Thankfully, from that first year until the present, this event has helped make many things possible. These funds, along with the gifts of generous businesses and individuals, have made many needs a reality. Since 2001, the WOEF has funded $245,800 in teacher and site grants, has supplied $76,000 for playground equipment and the implementation of a nature center, and has contributed $14,000 to improve our community library. The Foundation has provided benches for walkways, uniforms for students and improvements for the auditorium. Deserving Seniors have received $54,000 to help with their first year of college. The WOEF is nearing the $500,000 mark in returning funds to our district while keeping a permanent endowment fund intact. Help support a worthy cause. Enjoy the Monster Truck Fall Nationals on September 13th at the Lone Star Speedway. For more information www.MonsterTruckFallNationals.com www.WhiteOakEducationFoundation.com www.Facebook.com/monstertrucktexas

The Foundation strives to promote the understanding that everyone in the community is responsible for the creation of a quality educational system. The many honors and awards that our district receives each year in district, regional and state achievements in all areas 2014 | www.KILGOREMAGAZINE.com | www.facebook.com/KilgoreMagazine

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2014 GREAT TEXAS BALLOON RACE

SAFFE

DAY SPECIAL ABILITIES FAMILY FUN EVENT By: City of Kilgore Fire Chief, Johnny Bellows

n the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth and over the next few days he finished His miracle by creating animals and man. With infinite wisdom the Master decided that each of His creations should be unique with different abilities. After His work was complete God observed what He had done, smiled, and said, “It is good.”

The Kilgore Fire Department recognizes that different is a good thing and has a special day that celebrates these differences in people for anyone with special needs and abilities allowing them to come together to become the normal for a day. In it’s third year S.A.F.F.E. day has become a huge success. S.A.F.F.E. is an acronym for Special Abilities Family Fun Event which is a day held annually in September for people with special needs and their families to enjoy. The day begins with Brothers Keepers making a grand entrance on their motorcycles, followed by the Kilgore and Longview Fire Departments Honor Guard and Pipes and Drums presenting the colors. After a short dedication the fun begins with games, events and food that is all free to participants and their families. The community comes together for this rewarding event. Along with the 150 volunteers you can observe Kilgore Firefighters and Police Officers, Rusk and Gregg County Sheriffs, firefighters from Henderson, Longview, Sabine, Crimms Chapel, Overton, Lufkin are present to assist with the family fun.

Upon arrival, the special visitors are welcomed to the World’s Richest Acre by the towering downtown oil derricks to a full day of fun and festivities. Commerce Street is closed for guests and their families many of whom travel from out of State. There is no cost involved for the attendees as they visit the carnivallike atmosphere with games, exhibits, demonstrations, rides, shows, food, face painting, clowns, balloons, and much more. All activities are designed so that anyone with a special need can participate. S.A.F.F.E. day is a blessing to all that attend, volunteer, and participate. To look at the smiles on the faces of everyone brings about emotions of tears, smiles, and laughter, leaving you with a day that will long be remembered and cherished. To quote Olympian, Scott Hamilton, “The only disability in life is a bad attitude”. S.A.F.F.E. day is supported by donations to make the event free to the participants and families. • Anyone interested in making a donation, contact Josie Atchley at 903-988-4119

SPECIAL ABILITIES FAMILY FUN EVENT

DAY KILGORE FIRE DEPARTMENT

“The only disability in life is a bad attitude”

- Scott Hamilton

ant inst

issu

Show you’re a FAN even when you’re not in the stands! Why Wait? Walk in, Walk Out tOday with your custom team Visa checkcardsm Texas Bank and Trust will make a $4 contribution to your school for every new card sold.

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BASEBALL, BALLOONS & ROOT BEER

20 20

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Chamber Announces

Tourism Manager!

Lexi Bass “I am excited about this opportunity to promote and sell Kilgore,”

- Lexi Bass.

he Kilgore Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce Alexa Bass has been hired to serve as the Tourism Manager. Alexa, known as Lexi, is a graduate of East Tennessee State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication and minored in marketing. Bass, a Longview, Texas native, was chosen out of a pool of 28 applicants during the recent search. Under the direction of the President of the Kilgore Chamber, Bass will be responsible for planning, directing, and managing tourism activities and operations, including communications, collaboration, marketing, sales and services designed to attract visitors to the city. Bass’ overall responsibility is to expand the economic impact of our tax base with increased visitors to Kilgore including daytrips, overnight visits, extended stays and business conferences. In addition, Bass will promote Kilgore’s heritage, culture, lodging, dining, shopping, events and attractions. “We are excited Lexi has joined the Chamber team,” said Cindy Morris, Chamber of Commerce President. “Her education, knowledge of sales and marketing and her energetic personality will be invaluable assets to our organization and the promotion of Kilgore. As we seek to grow the economic impact of tourism for Kilgore, Bass will play a key role in marketing our community.” Bass previously worked for KLTV News (Longview) as a Digital Sales Specialist. Her previous experience in sales, marketing and a stint in retail management has given Bass the opportunity to hone her communication and marketing skills. Bass also coordinated and managed public relations efforts at ETSU for numerous student programs and was part of Metamorphosis PR, a student-run Public Relations Firm. Her college activities included, Public Relations Student Society of America, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, East Tennessee State University Cheerleading and the BucWild Athletic Organization.

“I am thrilled to venture into the tourism world and utilize my communication and marketing skills. I am very eager to get started in promoting Kilgore through the upcoming Baseball, Balloons & Root Beer event at Driller Park on July 30th. I Can’t wait to see ya’ll there!” 2014 | www.KILGOREMAGAZINE.com | www.facebook.com/KilgoreMagazine

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ily

The

ong Fa r t S

Years of Staying Strong Contributed By: Estella Strong

May our family unity be an example of a labor of love for “other families to see and emulate; and may the toil of our hands; the sweat of our brows and the bend of our backs bring forth through the grace of our GOD, 50 more years of STRONG FAMILY REUNIONS.

”

n the year 1862, when the great civil war was heating to a furor in the South - Georgia was in the middle of it all. Three young white couples decided to move away to escape the impeding catastrophe. These couples were given two slaves each from the Griffin Plantation in Coweta County, Georgia, a male and female to help them in their travel. These couples being conscientious objectors to the war and against slavery agreed to take the slaves along and promised to free them as soon as they had reached safety. The slaves turned out to be the ancestors of prominent families sprinkled throughout the Kilgore-East Texas area. They left the plantation to begin a new life. Although, other family slave members traveled with this entourage, many of them settled in other cities along the way to Texas. Peter’s brother settled in a place know as Big Head Creek in Henderson, Texas – The connection to this family has not been established. The couples that left Georgia were Mr. & Mrs. John Seals and their slaves Embry and his sister Rebecca, Mrs. & Mrs. Hugh Strong and their slaves Peter and his young sister Mary and Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Adkins and their slaves Nick and his young sister Martha.

grew, they decided to build their own Baptist church. Rebecca named the church - Mount Calvary and it still remains in its original location to this day. In 1932, the Peter and Rebecca Strong family decided to build a church that would service the North Chapel Community. They wanted to keep the same name since the church was named and organized by Rebecca Strong. It was decided to name it New Mount Calvary and rename Mount Calvary to Old Mount Calvary. Being brought up as house maids, Rebecca Seals Strong, Martha Adkins Seals and Mary Strong Adkins were literate and saw to it that all of their children could read and write. These great ladies conducted the first school in the community. Peter Strong was born in Georgia in

After traveling many months and arriving in East Texas, these three pioneer families were freed as the young white couples had promised and the former slaves began their new lives as married couples. Rebecca Seals became the bride of Peter Strong. Mary Strong became the bride of Nick Adkins. Martha Adkins became the bride of Embrey Seals. The young black couples purchased a farm in what is now called the North Chapel Community. They attended the Cumberland Church, organized by Rebecca and other ladies where everyone, Baptist and Methodist all worshipped together. As the families 24

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1811 and died in Kilgore, Texas, January 18, 1894 at the age of 83. Rebecca Seals Strong was born in Virginia in 1836 and died in Kilgore, Texas, June 14, 1893, at the age of 52. They were prominent owners of real estate located in the Kilgore area. After numerous gatherings of funerals and sad occasions, the family made the decision to override these occasions by establishing a purposeful time to come together for joy and fun with each other by planning a family reunion. The first Strong Family reunion was held for one day on July 25, 1964, in Kilgore, Texas, on the property of Mary Lee and Collie B. Strong, son of Coleman Strong, grandson of Peter and Rebecca. More than 250 family members from across the Unites States came for work assignments and family presence in leadership roles. It was agreed at that time that the reunion would be held annually on the 4th Saturday of July in Kilgore, Texas. The members of the first Reunion Committee were: Zebedee Strong, Sr. – Chair -Dr. Arberenia Malone, Mrs. Anna Mae Parker, Mrs. Flora Moorehead, Collie B. Strong, Mercy Lee Strong, Alvin N. Canida, Jr., Arils Dale Williams and Cleveland Gray. From 1965 until 1977, this committee oversaw the growth and direction of the reunion moving it from the family property to the (segregated) West Point Community Center to provide better facilities which included banquet space, professional kitchen, and air conditioning, fenced playground with merrygo-rounds, slides, a baseball field and large covered barbeque pits. In 1977, Arlis Dale Williams was named Chairman after the death of Zebedee Strong Sr. in May 1977. The second reunion in 1965 was held over two days and a Fish Fry was added on the Saturday evening with games for the youth and adults during the day. The men of the family (especially Mercy Lee Strong, Archie Strong and Cleveland Gray) fished during the year to supply free fish and spent Saturday barbequing meat for the Sunday meal. Sunday activities included attending a morning worship service at New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, a banquet meal at West Point Community including a formal program with a family speaker and theme to encourage the family. Family members were asked to bring a covered dish and dessert to supplement the Sunday meal and young high school ladies in the community were asked to serve the family during meal time. During the first years, many new ideas and activities shaped the reunion’s growth and created many far-reaching impacts.

Peter & Rebecca Strong’s tombstone in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery

50th Anniversary Celebration of the Peter and Rebecca • Seals Strong Reunion • Celebrating 50 continuous years of Strong Family pride, strength and unity, on July 26-27, 2014, the Strong Family hosted the largest ever contingent of members from Rebecca’s brother’s family, Embrey Seals. Since learning their connection to Rebecca Seals Strong in the early 2000’s, the descendants of Embrey Seals (Rosie Seals Brown) have consistently joined the Strong family at each reunion. The 50th reunion kicked off Saturday morning at the Kilgore Community House with reminiscing and games for all ages. More fun and games will be held at Olivia Hilburn Community Center during the day. Saturday evening includedd monumental gala celebration with tributes highlighting the five decades of the reunion. The program included dance performances, acknowledgements, and presentations. A special banquet closing ceremony included singing the family song “Light the Candle.” The after-dinner celebration featured entertainment by family members who are instrumentalist, musicians, songwriter, producers, poets and operatic singers. In a lighter atmosphere the families enjoyed a dance contest for couples age 50 +, a jazz set, singing, tributes to Ruby Dee, Maya Angelo and others. A special sacred memorial service was held on Sunday morning at the grave of Peter and Rebecca Strong in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Kilgore, Texas. Before leaving Kilgore, many family members visited the historic Strong Family Memorial Cemetery. Sunday Reunion Program - Highlights include recognition of 2014 Strong family member graduates (high school, college and post graduate) with special remarks by Strong Family Reunion Scholarship recipient at Sabine High School , Ms. Haley Stuart, who is the scholar ship recipient of the Strong Family scholarship. The “Strong Family has been Standing Strong 50 Years Long.” They are bound by the strength, the zeal, the will, and the tenacity of one another to continue each year together. They persevere, despite the obstacles through our ancestral bond. Many other families have started and stopped their reunions over the years, but all of the descendants of Peter and Rebecca Strong are committed to sharing the great responsibility- first individually, then to one another and to the families to keep the bond of unity and family reunions and legacy alive – from generation to generation.

To learn more about the Strong Family Reunions read the full article at www.KilgoreMagazine.com

Darnetta Strong & Allyson Williams

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1977 Reunion

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Landmarks of 15th Annual

LONGVIEW An Architectural Home Tour September 20th & 21st • 1:00pm - 5:00pm

he Gregg County Historical Museum is preparing for the 15th annual Landmarks of Longview home tour. Five beautiful homes will be open to the public in the Huntington Park subdivision located off McCann Road in north Longview. Tour dates are Saturday, September 20th and Sunday, September 21st from 1:00 to 5:00 pm both days. The original event was pioneered by the museum’s dedicated board Member, Dr. W.D. Northcutt, III and has since become an annual event the public, homeowners and the museum eagerly anticipate each year as it approaches. Proceeds from the ticket sales as well as donations from local sponsors help to keep this event one of the year’s most highly anticipated functions for the museum. Originally the tour was in widespread areas throughout the city, but over the last 5 years, the Landmarks committee has chosen to limit the tour to a specific area or neighborhood making access to the homes easier and giving it that old fashioned “neighborhood get-together” feeling. Many of the museum volunteers serve as docents in the homes and are able to point to interesting facts about each house as well as homeowner artwork and collections that are unique to each home. Presale tickets are available for $20 prior to the event at the Gregg County Historical Museum and at several merchants in Longview including Johnny Cace’s, Barron’s, Horaney’s, Louis Morgan #4, The Blue Door Antiques/Pen and Company, Texas Bank and Trust and Citizen’s Bank in downtown Longview. Tickets may also be purchased at one of the homes on tour days for $25 or online. The Gregg County Historical Museum is located in downtown Longview at 214 N. Fredonia and is open from 10am - 4pm Tuesday thru Friday and 10am - 2pm on Saturday. When you purchase a ticket at the museum you’ll also receive a complimentary museum tour while you’re there! Tickets may also be purchased online at www.GreggHistorical.org This program made possible in part through a grant from The City of Longview

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GCHM TEA PARTY 2014

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