Uniquely Longview

2013 edition

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C O M M E R C E

People Make The Difference.

Executive Management Team

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Longview Chamber of Commerce

410 N. Center St. Longview, TX 75601 903-237-4000 Fax 903-237-4049 www.longviewchamber.com 2013 EXECUTIVE B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S CHAIRMAN Brad Tidwell Citizens National Bank PA S T C H A I R M A N Dr. Dale Lunsford LeTourneau University CHAIRMAN–ELECT Jeremy DuMond U.S. Steel Tubular Products CHAIRMAN OF FINANCE David McWhorter Gans & Smith Insurance Company VICE CHAIRMAN Jill Bayless Longview Regional Medical Center VICE CHAIRMAN Brett Lindig SYSCO Food Services of East Texas, LLC VICE CHAIRMAN Tim Vaughn TVaughn Builders LLC PRESIDENT Kelly Hall Longview Chamber of Commerce

2 0 1 3 B OA R D O F DIRECTORS Jim Barron Barron’s Kara Bolster STEMCO Pat Britton Eastman Chemical Company David Hayes Hayes RV Center Keith Honey AEP/Southwestern Electric John Ray Lively Cadillac GMC Shelby Snell Oleum Operating Company Darwin Winfield Atmos Energy

2013 APPOINTED DIRECTORS Mayor Jay Dean City of Longview Lester Lucy Longview Economic Development Corporation Judge Bill Stoudt Gregg County

Welcome.

In 1981, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life when I chose to move to Longview, Texas. I was born and raised in Opelouses, Louisiana, a place I still love, but I saw in Longview a beautiful town with new opportunities for me and my family. We loaded our stuff and headed west to the East Texas town situated along historic U.S. Highway 80. More than 30 years later, I can say that I am still very pleased with that decision.

I can also say that Longview continues to be a place of opportunity. We have opportunities for businesses to grow, for families to enjoy our parks, for art groups to entertain, and for kids to learn at schools with premier facilities.

We have opportunities for higher education, through institutions like UT-Tyler, Kilgore College, and LeTourneau University. We have opportunities for jobs, with an unemployment rate better than the state or national averages. We also have opportunities for volunteers to get involved in the community to make a positive impact, like the group that brought the U.S. National Balloon Championship to Longview.

Thanks to efforts of people across Longview, we continue to see positive transformations in our community in recent years. We continue to be recognized as a leader in economic and workforce growth. Our hospitals continue to improve and expand. We’ve seen construction of new homes, businesses, and school projects. We’ve also seen efforts for renovation, revitalization, and transportation.

I certainly wouldn’t take credit for the wonderful things that the people of Longview have accomplished, but I will say that I am thankful for the opportunity to serve alongside you as your Mayor. I look forward to our efforts to continue to move forward.

Jay Dean

Mayor, City of Longview

I am humbled and honored to serve as the Chair of your Longview Chamber of Commerce in 2013. Having grown up in Longview, I am so proud of what our city has become. The changes have been many over the last 50 years and today we live in a thriving and dynamic community that has much to offer families and businesses.

There is an old Chinese proverb or curse, depending on your perspective, that states, “May you live in interesting times.” We are certainly living in interesting times, and the Longview Chamber of Commerce is a great resource in helping our business community cope with both the many challenges and opportunities these times present. Your Chamber accomplishes this through the professionalism and initiatives of a dedicated staff and the tireless efforts of a wonderful group of volunteers. These two groups must come together for a successful Chamber and there is no better example of this than in Longview.

At your Longview Chamber, we have many roles and responsibilities, but our primary reason for existence is to serve the businesses of our community. There are no greater champions of the merits of free enterprise than the Longview Chamber of Commerce. Your Chamber understands that a community’s economy, quality of life, educational resources, and future largely depends on a thriving local business community. The support of, and advocacy for the business community is job one at the Longview Chamber.

I am often dismayed when I hear national leaders dismiss or question the value of our businesses.

We have a solid and growing economy in Longview due first and foremost to the spirit and work ethic of our citizens and the commitment to quality and innovation of our business community.

We at the Longview Chamber are thrilled to partner with a supportive local government at the city and county, with the Longview Economic Development Corporation and many others who share our commitment to the principles of free enterprise.

This publication is appropriately titled Uniquely Longview. We are a unique city with a great past, but an even greater future. If you are already a member of our community, we encourage you to pitch in and join our efforts. If you are a visitor, we encourage you to stay and see what Real East Texas is all about. We think you will find this a great place to call home.

Brad Tidwell

Chairman, Longview Chamber of Commerce

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PUBLISHER

CONTENTS

Uniquely Longview is published annually by Hudson Graphics, Inc. and distributed by the Longview Chamber of Commerce, 410 N. Center St. • Longview, TX 75601 Copyright © 2013 by Hudson Graphics, Inc. 611 S. Mobberly • PO Box 7010 Longview, TX 75607 • 903-758-1773 www.hudsonprint.com PRESIDENT Steve Cartwright CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Robert Mitchell PRODUCTION MANAGER Bryan Boyd EDITOR Jeri Boyd PRODUCTION STAFF Jackie Barton Jaime Castillo Anita Chapman Jill Clevenger Frank Cranston R. L. Davis Julie Denton Starr Furnish Jacob Gerlach Paul Gerlach John Harton Mary Hernandez Penny Hummel J. D. Knight Kaylen Medlin Doreen Miles Rebecca Offield Wendy Pairsh Eve Pinson Larry Siela Celia Taylor MARKETING/SALES Tim Shaughnessy FEATURES WRITER Kimberly Fish GRAPHIC DESIGN

14 28 44 58

104 W. Methvin Longview, TX 75601 • 903-753-2098 www.forbesbutler.com

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jason Butler GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Holly Forbes Jim Tilley Abbey Tyson ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Shelly Butler COPY PROOFING Glenda Ross PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Anderson Bryan Boyd Tammy Cromer-Campbell Sam Smead Jim Tilley Abbey Tyson

Welcome

on the cover Balloons Over Longview Fun is Up, Up, and Away

U.S. Highway 80

The Story of Who We Are, in Blacktop

Can Do Spirit

Local Business is Alive and Well

LeTourneau University

Success on Land and in the Air

A Healthy Obsession

First Class Medical Care in Longview 7

Advertisers

11

Arts & Events

72

City Map

88

Longview United

90

Education Guide

92

Annual Report

110

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

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IMAGINE YOUR DREAMS FULFILLED

Jennifer & David Johnson

( 9 0 3 ) 2 3 8 - 3 7 6 0 • W W W. D J J O H N S O N B U I L D E R S . C O M

Advertisers

All Seasons Window & Door .................................71 Allied Waste Services ..........................................83 Austin Bank.........................................................27 AutoBody Express ...............................................11 BancorpSouth .......................................................3 CS Cutting Co. ....................................................86 Citizen’s National Bank .......................................37 Community Bank .................................................68 Community Healthcore ........................................98 Computerland .....................................................38 Copeland Group.................................................109 Crosby Group - Lebus Manufacturing ..................68 D & H Insurance Group ........................................71 D. J. Johnson Design & Build ...............................10 East Texas Baptist University ..............................98 East Texas Lawn Care .........................................42 East Texas Professional Credit Union ....................8 East Texas Radio Group .......................................70 Eastman Chemical Company.................................2 Eastman Credit Union .......................................106 Express Employment Professionals .....................39 First Bank & Trust East Texas .............................56 Forbes & Butler Visual Communications, Inc. .....12 Gans & Smith Insurance Agency .........................26 Good Shepherd Medical Center ..............back cover

Goodwill Industries of East Texas ........................99 Gregg County Historical Museum ........................84 Heart’sWay Hospice.............................................83 Heaton Eye Associates ..........................inside back Homewood Suites ................................................26 Horaney’s ..........................................................108 Hudson Printing & Graphic Design ....................120 Hugman Architecture & Construction..................13 Internal Medicine Association of Longview..........36 Johnson & Pace ...................................................25 Joy Global ..........................................................108 Kilgore College ...................................................95 LeTourneau University .........................................97 Longview Asphalt ................................................25 Longview, Certified Retirement Community ........55 Longview, City Council ........................................52 Longview, Parks and Recreation .........................53 Longview Economic Development Corp. .............54 Longview Glass ...................................................24 Longview Regional Medical Center ........................6 Maude Cobb Convention & Activity Complex ...66-67 Mobberly Baptist Church ...................................107 Morgan Stanley ...................................................87 Neiman Marcus ...................................................41 Pliler International...............................................84

R&K Distributors .................................................57 S. E. Belcher Jr. Chapel & Performance Center....97 St. Mary’s Catholic School...................................93 samsmead photocreative ....................................69 Scott Orthodontics ................................................5 Southside Bank .....................................................4 Spring Hill State Bank .........................................43 STEMCO ..............................................................41 Suburban Extended Stay Hotel ............................85 Summer Meadows .............................................107 Suzanne Cook & Company, LLC .............................1 TCC Photo/Gallery & Productions ........................40 Texana Bank ........................................................38 Texas State Optical - White Oak ..........................24 Texas Bank and Trust ............................inside front Texas Oncology - Longview Cancer Center ..........82 Thieman & Associates, Inc. ...............................109 Tommy N. Thomas & Associates ..........................25 UT Tyler Longview Center ....................................96 Vaca & Kirby Dental Group ..................................36 Vision Source ......................................................55 Ward Agency .......................................................85 Zeid Women’s Health Center ...............................83

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

Fun is Up, Up and A way

Balloons over longview

by Kimberly Fish

itting around a conference table last June, moments after Dr. Bill Bussey talked to local hoteliers and restaurateurs about the economic impact of the National Balloon Race (scheduled to be in Longview through 2014) revealed one very big truth about hot air ballooning: It’s big business. “There will be 50 industry-leading pilots competing here for the National Balloon Race,” said Frankie Parson, The Great Texas Balloon Race board chair. She leaned back in her chair, reflective about the caliber of professionalism required in pulling off a U.S. National race – the Masters, if you will – of a sport many don’t understand.

“There’ll be another 18 who enter the Great Texas Balloon Race and every one of them is a die-hard about their love of flying. There’s nothing they’d rather do and it shows in the skill they use to maneuver their balloons through invisible tasks in the sky. They’re passionate about the race.”

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

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“Pilots are like surgeons in the sky…

Pilots observe a “pie-ball,” which is short for “pilot’s balloon,” to aid in determining wind conditions aloft.

They’re navigating extreme coordinates on a race map, battling surface winds that can toss a craft off bearing with a whisper, and with each maneuver they make a GPS recording and data-processing every lift, turn, and drop and … assigning points.”

– Elaine Reynolds

And as for those who have an idea that ballooning is a

and precision, but there’s also a totally unpredictable

leisurely drift across the sky, when it comes to these balloon

element that can toss the whole race into a chaos:

races, they couldn’t be more wrong.

weather. The clouds and breezes that cover the rooftops and patios with cooling comfort on a summer day can

“Pilots are like surgeons in the sky,” Elaine Reynolds of

wreak havoc on a pilot navigating his balloon with a

the Longview Chamber of Commerce says. “They’re

compass, GPS, binoculars and coordinates planned hours

navigating extreme coordinates on a race map, battling

in advance. It just takes one little change in wind, or

surface winds that can toss a craft off bearing with a

temperature, or humidity and the whole flight can be

whisper, and with each maneuver they make a GPS

scrubbed. “To keep this thing fair, and to make a mean

recording and data-processing every lift, turn, and drop

race, the Balloon Meister puts Balloon Federation GPS

and … assigning points.”

devices on every craft,” Bill Bussey explains. “That’s in addition to the one the pilot’s been training with on

Frankie Parson smiles with the sage expression of one who’s

his practice runs through the area. Those things are so

been involved with local racing since the very first event

accurate that tracking teams on the ground can gauge not

launched at Longview Mall in 1978. “Yeah, it’s rough up there.

only every move the pilot makes, but also if he’s on the

They have so many details to keep track of that the tension of

course for the competition, even before the pilot knows

monitoring all the data and staying on target is nail biting.”

sometimes. Having GPS has been a good thing – both because of the fact that a GPS never gets lost, unlike

16

Not only are race details cloistered in secrecy, and

some pilots I know, and also because it is designed to

pilots held to inscrutable challenges to prove their skill

make an honest and fair run for each competitor.”

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

Janice Sines inflates “The World’s Biggest Gumball Machine” with help from her crew.

“It’s the hottest, most miserable fun you’ll ever have.”

– Bill Bussey

That’s just in the air. While the pilots are dodging surface

with dream-like awe. It’s not a stretch to think he’d

winds and temperature shifts in the air, they’re also

still like to be in the race for that kind of accolade. “The

aiming for a task to accomplish during flight and also hit

pilots in other parts of the world take this sport just as

a target on the ground – a 300-foot target marked with

seriously as we do. That’s going to be some cutthroat

white tape in a cross shape on the ground of someone’s

competition. The Germans, they’re good. Real good.”

pasture. And there’s extra points assigned for those who hit an exact spot on the target. Points. Numbers are assigned

Not as good as some of the racers coming to Longview for the

for every variable in every challenge of the tasks and

next two summers. Several of the pilots who’ve committed to

targets assigned to pilots during the race. As these points

race in the National Balloon Race and the Great Texas Balloon

accumulate, a pilot’s skill is assessed and rankings are

Race are seasoned professionals. “And they’re good as gold,”

assigned. Fractionalized numbers are to pilots what RBIs

Elaine says as she ticks off on her hand the number of

are to baseball players. They can make or break a career,

high-caliber and high-character competitors in the field.

and with the fickleness of weather potentially scrubbing

“These pilots compete against themselves and the elements as

an entire race day, it could be one day’s accumulation of

much as they do against other balloonists. They want to be

points that determines a winner. With the winnings come

the best at this sport because flying means the world to them.”

big money, and the best prize of all, bragging rights.

When the pilots, families and crews reassemble in Longview “The top three pilots that come out of Nationals with

every summer for the Great Texas Balloon Race it’s one

the highest points get selected to go to the International

big happy reunion. “The pilots love to fly here,” Elaine

Balloon Race in Brazil. That’s huge,” Bill Bussey says

says, “because the community is very balloon friendly and

A S pecial Thank You

TO THE GTBR SPONSORS

Curves (Presenting Sponsor) AAON Coil Products ABC Auto ABC Printing AEP Swepco American Gold & Diamond Exchange Amtrak Austin Bank Autobody Express Bancorp South Bealls Blake Furniture Bodacious BBQ Brookshire’s Buchanan Fence Co. Capacity of Texas Carmela Davis, CPA Cathy’s Carpet Care Cavender’s Boot City Charles Tomberlain Insurance Chili’s Coors of Longview Cotton Patch Cafe Cowboy Chicken CS Cutting Company Darr Equipment Co. Derksen Buildings

Diagnostic Clinic of Longview/ Longview Regional Medical Center DiamondJacks Casino East Texas Baptist University East Texas Charter School East Texas Regional Airport / American Airlines East Texas Spa Eastman Chemical Company Equipment Depot Fastenal First Bank and Trust East Texas Forbes & Butler Visual Communications Gateway Glazer’s Distributors Good Shepherd Medical Center Green Ad Agency Hayes RV Center HealthCare Express Heaton Eye Associates Horaney’s Hudson Printing & Graphic Design InHouse Associates Ivan Smith Furniture Jim Neuman & Associates JMH Electric Johnson & Pace Joy Global

Kilgore Chamber of Commerce Kilgore National Bank KK Mobbs KSA Engineers LB Bolding LeTourneau University Locals Love Us — Perceptive Marketing Lone Star Events Longview Bingo Center Longview Snack Foods Longview/Kilgore Cable Television Martin Midstream Matheson Gas MorganStanley SmithBarney Morrison Supply Co. Mountain Supply and Service Nancy Mobley Neiman Marcus Network Communications Orgil Inc. Outdoor Supercenter Outhouse Tickets Panera Bread Patterson Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Patterson Nissan Patterson Select Used Cars Premier Pediatrics PLLC R & H Machine

R & K Distributors Rebecca Creek Distillery Republic National Distributing Co. Republic Services Ricoh Complete Business Systems Skeeter Sleep Masters Spring Hill State Bank Suncoast Resources, Inc. Super 1 Foods Suzanne Cook & Company Sysco Teddy’s Specialized Hauling Telco Credit Union Texas Bank and Trust The Clower’s Company The Jalapeno Tree The Made Rite Company The Mercantile The You Name It Sign Shop Tito’s Vodka Toyota of Longview Tyler RV Wells Fargo Advisors WillyG’s WPI Zippy J’s

Betty Jean Butterfly delights the Friday evening crowd.

the weather conditions – at least in the early morning – are

of filling the gigantic “envelope” (the official term for the

perfect for flying. In between the pine forests there are plenty

balloon) and admiring the skill of the ground crew as they

of places to land, and they love what the balloon festival has

navigated the 50-foot shapes into the air. The special shapes

created in the sense of a community event.“ Bill Bussey leans

balloons also held court at East Texas Regional Airport

forward with a mischievous smile, “It’s the hottest, most

Friday and Saturday nights as the pre-glow “stars.” Because

miserable fun you’ll ever have.”

of the length of time it takes to fill the special shapes with hot air, they have to be up and ready before the other

Part of the million-dollar influence felt in the local economy

balloons go into “glow-mode” when the skies turn dark.

is the after-flight events staged for community involvement.

Last summer the special shapes balloons were strategically

The special shapes are part of the thrill associated with

launched from in-town locations so spectators could rally

the mile long entertainment venue that transforms

around some familiar favorites: Betty Jean Butterfly lifted

the airport grasslands into the world’s largest balloon

off at Austin Bank on north Loop 281 and Arky was waiting

party. Internationally famous singer/songwriter, Ronnie

for kids to climb in while it was perched on McCann Street.

Milsap, made the 2012 Saturday night event memorable,

Lilly Bee lifted off from where all the hoopla first began,

and he joined a long list of entertainers who’ve stepped

the Longview Mall. And the Wells Fargo Stage Coach

onstage to entertain the almost 100,000 people who

balloon took over the old Lack’s parking lot on H.G. Mosley

come to Longview for the balloon events. Through

Parkway. The kids, parents, wheelchair-bound guests from

trial and error, the GTBR board and volunteers have

Buckner Westminster Place, and those who pulled over

figured out a secure way to move that many people

on their way to work had a blast watching the spectacle

in and out of the airport district while keeping folks

Pilots participate in coordinated “burns” to create an awe-inspiring balloon glow event on Saturday evening.

hydrated, fed, entertained, safe from butane burning, and

launched from what is now the Holiday Inn Express and

awed year after year with the famed balloon glow.

Suites on Tuttle Circle. But over the past 35 years kids who grew up attending the festival have now started

By now everyone knows that Dr. Bill Bussey invented

bringing their children, and GTBR has become as close to a

this ultimate festival feel-good moment, the balloon glow

Longview identity as we have in this city. Gov. Mark White

(balloonists firing off their burners at dusk in synchronized

proclaimed Longview the “Balloon Capital of Texas” back

beats and letting the heat/light illuminate the fabric of the

in 1985, and ballooning has now become a part of the fabric

envelope), but what spectators might not know is that it has

of our community. Because a couple of folks were brave

been copied world-wide and is the quintessential balloon

enough, and willing enough, to do something unheard of

festival event featured at every balloon race in every part of

in east Texas – offer a balloon challenge, and maybe just a

the globe. That’s kind of a big deal for a local dentist who

bit of spectacle, now people from Japan to Croatia know

just loves to fly. And it’s a big deal for the thousands of

where Longview is and that it’s a wonderful place to fly.

people who pack their SUVs and haul their chairs and picnic blankets out to the grounds for the awesome spectacle of fire

Boasting a budget of $400,000 in 2012, the race isn’t so

and light that takes over the horizon as 70 balloons “glow.”

little anymore, nor is it as simple as setting a few targets and dropping the traditional mid-air ring toss. This is big

Not only does Dr. Bussey love flying, he loves what the

business. Last summer took 12,000 gallons of propane alone

GTBR has come to mean for the community. The race began

to fuel the balloons in the National Balloon Race, eight

all those years ago as a means to have a fantastic opening

tons of ice to cool everyone down, 60 tents to shade the

for the brand new mall, and for many years the balloons

folks involved with the race, and 35 4-wheelers to keep

“Ballooning is a thing that brings people together.”

– Pat Cannon

Contestants throw bean bags at pre-determined targets to score points during the morning competition rounds.

volunteers cris-crossing the fields assisting with target

laugh in his throat, he likes to bracket himself with the pilots

measurements, emergency repairs, and the run-of-the-mill

who are “older, wiser, and smarter.” He credits the “smarter”

crises involved with the BTU output of 70 hot air balloons.

part to years of trial and error. In the old days, a pilot needed only a compass and a map to land at targets, but today’s

Because so much is at stake, some have asked how Longview

crop of pilots rely on sophisticated GPS devices, laptops with

won the rights to host the United States’ National Balloon Race

extensive weather scouting applications, and direct contact

when so many cities had bid for the opportunity. “In a word,”

with the ground crew regardless of altitude. He wonders if

Frankie Parson says, “History. The GTBR has always been one

all this technology hasn’t taken the joy out of competing.

of the best run, most accurate, most fun events on the racing circuit.” She nods toward Dr. Bussey, implying that his drive

He’s not alone. Pat Cannon, multi-title holder of the National

for excellence and fun spoke as loud as the written accolades,

Balloon Race, says that one of the keys to a successful racing

but Dr. Bussey brushes off her praise. He insists the balloon

experience is the connection with the ground crew. “In

races are challenging and worth every moment of personal

times past, a pilot relied heavily on the information, signals

pride a pilot acquires from meeting the rigorous tasks, because

and sheer manpower supplied by a ground crew,” Cannon

it’s just fun. And if it wasn’t fun, no one would want to have

reflected in a recent phone conversation. “With so much

anything to do with it. Judging by the record-busting ticket

technology on board the aircraft, the ground crew’s role

sales and flawlessness of the 2012 event, the fun is contagious.

has been reduced to almost a retrieval process.” He misses that human connection to the art of racing. “Ballooning is a

Guy Gauthier, owner of Balloon Repairs of East Texas, has

thing that brings people together,” Cannon said. “You create

been involved with GTBR from its earliest days. With a deep

a family with people you’d never have met otherwise.”

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

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Pilots continually monitor weather conditions as the canopies are being inflated for lift-off.

“there’s nothing under the basket of a balloon except more air.”

– Pat Cannon

Cannon is a natural competitor and pilot of many forms

behind the scenes of the balloon challenge. “Chasing the

of aircraft. His experience in the skies has helped him

pilot after he takes off and dodging the pitfalls of tracking

log countless hours above ground, and despite the

them (sometimes into hard-to-reach locations) is serious

extensive training – both for competition and safety – he

business. It takes a good eye, good knowledge of the area,

still gets nervous before a race flight. “It’s a 3D world

and a knack for making friends fast. Trying to help the

up there, and though folks often compare ballooning

pilots find the targets and pick a place to lift and a place

to boating there’s a significant difference in that there’s

to land is tricky. Not everyone is thrilled to have a pilot,

nothing under the basket of a balloon except more air.”

balloon, and a crew show up in their pasture. Although,”

He explained the characteristics of airflow, currents, drag

she smiles brightly, “most folks are pretty nice about it.”

on the basket, and wind shear that can throw a number one pilot into last place. “The variables in racing are

Kinnie Gibson, ranked as the 5th best pilot in the nation

what make it exciting. And though there’s extensive

coming into the 2012 Nationals race, explains why the

pre-flight planning, analysis, and a hefty amount of

hardest part of the balloon challenge is finding the best

luck, it all comes down to a pilot and his craft.”

place to start every morning. “A good lift sets the tone for the whole race. We’re given the coordinates, the

Jordan Fout, a lab tech at Good Shepherd Medical Center,

targets, the wind conditions, and the dynamics, but

has been crewing for GTBR pilots since she was a teenager.

finding that sweet spot that’s going to give me the edge

“It’s just the most fun,” she said, answering why she

22

in riding the wind is an art form. I rely on my local

routinely gives up a week of her summer to work hard, get

crew to know the nuances of the area, the elements that

mosquito bitten, break fingernails, and otherwise work

just can’t be communicated in a computer printout.”

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

“Chasing the pilot… is serious business.”

– Jordan Fout

Balloons are tracked by skilled and knowledgeable crews, and sometimes end up in hard-to-reach locations.

Crewing for the national and GTBR pilots is one of

Barbara Smith has been a volunteer since 1978. She says

many ways Longview folks can get involved in the

there’s nothing like it for fun, and to have watched the

balloon race. Jim Tachias, GTBR board member and

evolution of the race from a local event promoting the

admitted balloon junkie, credits local involvement

opening the Longview Mall to the caliber of the race that

as the secret for why this race and its festival is such a

invites world-class pilots into the area, is a marvelous

well-anticipated event. “There’s something for everybody

thing. This KLTV executive would know. She’s served

in the Great Texas Balloon Race. From vendors, to

in just about every role a volunteer can have with

volunteers, to crews and the pilots everyone gives

the GTBR, including chairing the event in 2005.

and gets something from this organization. We utilize everyone, from every background, every day.”

With the focus brought to Longview as a result of

Jim began by volunteering as a crew member for Dr.

the pilots, their crews, the media attention, and

Bussey. He wasn’t daunted by the heat or the early

the fan base, the economic impact ripples happily

morning hours – he admits, it began a fascination for

into the millions. According to Frankie Parson, all

ballooning that led to him continue crewing, take pilot

records previously established for ticket sales,

lessons, find a way to bring the Wells Fargo Stage

vendor exhibits, and proceeds have been broken. All

Coach balloon to Longview, and take his volunteerism

indications point to growth and continued success

to the board level. “One of the best things about being

for the 2013 and 2014 U.S. National Championships.

involved with Great Texas Balloon Race is watching the

For the Longview community, the National Balloon

faces of the folks who see the magic of hot air flight for

Race and the Great Texas Balloon Race mean one

the first time, up close, and you see them get hooked.”

thing: Summer fun is always up, up and away.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

Historical Museum w

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

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Coast to Coast

NG V I E W

LO

U.S. HIGHWAY 80 TEXAS

San Diego

Tybee Island

CALIFORNIA

GEORGIA

THe STorY of WHo We Are, In BlAckTop

by Kimberly Fish

Mule trains lugged heavy bois d’arc trees while wagons loaded with fresh-picked cotton navigated roads. Flies and bees dodged the whips of the sweaty drivers as calls were yelled from one cart to the other. Farmhands shoved wheels back onto tracks as they steered loads between ruts, fallen trees and each other on the first roads carved through Gregg County. Traffic was a problem from the very beginnings of east Texas and congestion didn’t look to be getting any better any time soon. With settlers in this region even before Longview was incorporated as a city, it’s no surprise that transportation was an issue long before the Texas and Pacific railroad laid steel between the pine trees.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

29

The Longview and Junction Railway Company was created in 1883 to operate a mule-drawn trolley between Longview’s “uptown” Texas and Pacific depot and the Longview Junction depot east of town.

The track ran some 3,300 feet on Fredonia and Methvin Streets.

Originally pulled by a single mule, in 1863 a larger car was purchased, requiring the use of two mules.*

Mule Power

olks plugged on over those mud-rutted hills

but trade routes were a problem for farmers. Not just

thinking of ways to make a better route to

because of the unpredictable nature of travel due to the

Dallas and Shreveport, a road that would

whims of nature, but also because population growth was

improve the economic development of an area

changing the usefulness of those narrow, graveled roads.

emerging as a regional hub even in the early

Early promotional pieces for Longview bragged about the

1900s. Already public transportation had been

“healthful” qualities of the small city, and with glamorous

established in Longview – a mule trolley moved passengers

hotels like the Mobberly Hotel and the Magnolia, folks

across the 16 blocks of downtown and in between the two

were seeking out Longview as a business district and the

train depots: creative minds at work even before the words

best stop between New Orleans and Dallas. But truly, it

mass transit had been coined. But there was something

was the advent of the automobile (and Texans’ instant love

lacking in the big picture of a developing trade industry,

of independent travel) that ultimately brought one radical

and though few could explain it, the “it” needed to be a

solution to traffic problems of east Texas circa 1925. With

long, county-crossing, state-uniting highway. A fantasy,

the Texas governor signing legislation to create a State

most said, of extravagant thinkers.

Highway Department, and a 2,700 mile master roadway

Longview was moving forward with future planning

plan offered by the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads, relief

under the bold leadership of mayor, G.A. Bodenheim,

appeared to take a fantastical turn.

In 1926, U.S. HIgHway 80 waS born.

blUeprIntS of tHe natIon’S fIrSt coaSt-to-coaSt, two-lane HIgHway were SUrveyed, begInnIng wItH tHe cold, atlantIc SHore lappIng agaInSt tybee ISland, georgIa and endIng wItH a beaUtIfUl pacIfIc SUnSet In San dIego, calIfornIa.

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

In 1926, the nation’s first coast-to-coast highway was

gusher to another, could hardly contain the onslaught of

born. Naysayers predicted doom and economic chaos on

vehicles seeking out the oil wells popping up, literally, all

a federal, state and local level because of the absurdity

across Gregg County. The mixture of road construction

of such a road. The amazing thing, particularly in light

workers and roughnecks made for a contentious crowd,

of something of this scope never having been considered

but Highway 80’s initial 12-foot wide paved thoroughfare

before, was that there were enough people in every state

became a much-needed answer to an infrastructure

affected by this plan to say that it just might work and

problem. Travel time to Dallas had been shaved by

become a boon to local economies. The planning and

two-thirds, and a whole industry sprung from the

implementation of a national highway was a tricky and

blacktop curbs lining the nation’s first highway.

unsure business, particularly since no one could agree on

It’s no stretch to say the travel industry was born at the

how to pave (or pay for) the road. However, a crazy, big

same time as U.S. Highway 80. Prior to that, only daring

road trip race in 1926 (led by a Californian who just wanted

souls on horseback or wagon trains were crazy enough to

to prove that a cross-country route could be driven) sealed

push through, over and under the trails.

the deal. Longview leaders saw that car scurry through Gregg County and they knew then they wanted a big part of the proposed highway to dip and curve through the Piney Woods, bringing the 12-foot wide, concrete road close enough to benefit the industries in Longview.

This sort of maverick thinking, and maybe a little bit of backroom negotiating, led to a boon in transportation when oil first gushed from the Lathrop well in 1931. Even though the highway wasn’t thoroughly completed, no one dreamed that the numbers of roughnecks, curiosity seekers, moonshiners, inventors, brokers, and every other sort of person who felt called to the oil fields would clog that road

With the advent of automobiles and a highWay stretching coast-to-coast, the idea of a road trip took shape.

and others. Roads carved between pine trees, from one oil

Derrick Skylines

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

31

Tourist Courts

The anTicipaTion in skeTching ouT gas sTaTions, car repair shops, resTauranTs, moTor courTs, and more Than a few enTerTainmenT clubs

musT have been like living in a dream.

Longview entrepreneurs had already experienced the mad

capitalizing on Longview’s natural beauty, invested in the

rush of services necessary to support an influx of people,

radical idea of creating “modern” cottages for daily rent.

courtesy of the oil boom. The same maverick spirit that

Their flair for thinking big led them to design with a bit of

had led people to carve farms out of pine-rich soil now

Spanish décor, and to provide all the conveniences motoring

led people to create whole new identities out of blacktop

folks required in the 1930s, including free garages.

tar. Longview became a tourist destination. With oil derricks pumping money into the economy, they set about planting a brand new industry alongside those derricks lining the roads connecting Hallsville, Longview, and Gladewater. Some of the first who put their heads together and figured out that Highway 80 was changing the way Americans traveled were brothers T.E. and J. Willis Booth.

These bold entrepreneurs decided that not one motel was

32

As it is with most entrepreneurs, when one daring step is taken others will follow. Soon motor courts were popping up along a stretch of roadway that was gathering nicknames like “Dixie Overland Road,” or, as some called it locally, the “Mile of Smiles.” For the first time in the history of the United States, the idea of travel for pleasure was settled deep into our culture and it’s never let go.

needed, but two, and built their structures next to each

U.S. Highway 80 wasn’t limited to the idea that families

other. “Visionaries” is not too slim a word to apply to men

should load up the Model T and explore states they’d only

who saw the need for overnight accommodations, and

heard legends about. It was originally intended as a means

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

of interstate commerce. The oil industry in east Texas put

wars, a national economic depression, and the birth of

that notion into hyperspeed. Petroleum-related suppliers,

an oil industry now had to deal with the another major

and pipeline and oilfield equipment manufacturers, crowded

adjustment – tourists. As the city tried to assimilate a new

the highway with their trucks (and the curb space alongside

style of transportation, an influx of dollars flowing from

with their shops) almost as fast as the restaurants and gas

the economic spine of U.S. Highway 80, the madness of

stations that cropped up, too.

automobile traffic, the changes brought to the railroad

With the tunes coming from KFRO (1370 AM,) the smell of grilled burgers in the air, and money in a roughneck’s

industry, and a new dynamic of city sprawl, the good folks of Longview also had to deal with Elvis.

pocket, it wasn’t long before U.S. Highway 80 took on a

No one fully appreciated the impact of a young Memphis

personality of its own. Soon the speakeasies and gin-joints

singer taking his first Texas stage in a club along Highway 80

that had taken root with the oil boom had to move over for

between Longview and Gladewater, but one thing was

burger drive-ins and family dining establishments, drive-in

clear – Elvis’ presence was not quickly forgotten.

movie theaters, tire shops, and ice cream vendors. No doubt

Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Willie Nelson,

about it, the “Dixie Overland Highway” had grown into a potpourri of successful shops and businesses. What had once been rolling hills topped by pine, maple and oak trees was now a roadway straight out of a Jules Verne novel, if Jules Verne had taken his undersea fantasy and put it on blacktop.

Not all the progress of U.S. Highway 80 was welcomed, either.

Within a very short period of time, a community that had rocked, rolled and survived not only two world

Since that firSt taSte of road trip, the idea of leaving the familiar and exploring Someplace new haS become a collective american paSSion.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

33

Family Dining

and a slew of emerging musicians brought a new glamour

laid claim to Top Burger. Just a generation ago, cruising

to a roadway that was becoming distinctive and unique in

this roadway in a convertible was a right of passage for

our American pop culture. Though Route 66 may have the

Longview youth. Grocery stores, hardware stores, doctors’

famed nostalgia, it was U.S. Highway 80 that created the

offices, and a post office or two also fleshed out the empty

mystique of dusty roads, cool dark bars, and bright ice cream

spots along U.S. Highway 80 and sustained life for towns

stands that became synonymous with American travel.

that became linked to each other, courtesy of the nation’s

No doubt, Highway 80 has its share of secrets buried beside

first coast-to-coast highway.

or maybe under all that tar, but the United States blossomed

Longview’s Highway 80 culture evolved over time, probably

in a way no one could have foreseen with the advent of

hitting its heyday after World War II. During that time

coast-to-coast travel, and it’s a widely known fact that our

period, car dealerships were introducing new vehicles, and

country has never looked back.

places like the Golden Point, Top Burger, K-N Root Beer,

But for the good folks of Longview, the highway gave meaning to a whole other type of frenzy – football rivalry territories. Now, the Pine Tree Pirates and the Longview Lobos were not new to the idea of clashes in the 1940s and 1950s, but the culture of drive-in burger joints brought on a whole new format for that rivalry to thrive – territorial hang outs. On a Saturday night, the Golden Point, next to

Myer’s Malt Shop and the Dairy Barn reigned. Curley’s Restaurant, later renamed Town and Country, offered nicer scale dining and dancing from the 1940s through the 1950s, a grown-up respite away from the noisier venues along the Mile of Smiles. Always popular, Curley’s provided a bit of big city culture for those who lived here, and something dressier for those just passing through.

Good Shepherd Hospital, was claimed by Lobo fans. A few

Not all the history linked to U.S. Highway 80 is glazed in

miles to the west, deep in Greggton, the Pine Tree Pirates

Happy Days hues. The roughnecks of the oil boom didn’t

*Photos used with permission from Van Craddock’s Postcard History Series, Longview and with archived materials from Longview Public Library.

34

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

go kindly into the civilized culture Longview preached,

Though the lights of the motels aren’t as bright, the

nor did the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s leave the

hardware stores are boarded up, the Top Burger is a car lot

roadway unscathed, but the reality of the economic impact

and the Golden Point a liquor store, there’s something of

of Johnny Cace’s Restaurant, Leonard’s Sweet Shop, Humble

Highway 80 in us all. And that bit of blacktop is what makes

Gas Stations, Pegues-Hurst Motor Co., and the Dun-Roamin’

us unique, and solid, and connected to each other.

Ranch Motel, coupled with the industries that supported the oil industry, has more than sustained this community.

It created memories and architecture that are as much a part of the fabric of our collective past as a door to the future.

And though U.S. Highway 80’s connectedness to a modern Longview has been eclipsed by Loop 281 around the city and Interstate 20 to the south of it, the Mile of Smiles Highway is still holding Longview together. It pieces the stories of a bygone era of slower road trips, complete with blinking motel signs and melting ice cream cones, in much the same way a family quilt tells the stories of the past through the patches in the cloth. U.S. Highway 80 is our door in the back of the cupboard: our jumping off point to exploring where we’ve come from, and in some sense it reminds us to value what we have so that our souls aren’t lost in pursuit

The gregg CounTy hisToriCal MuseuM is housed in The evereTT Building in downTown longview. For More inForMaTion aBouT MuseuM exhiBiTs and Tours, visiT www.gregghisToriCal.org.

of what’s yet to come.

For addiTional inForMaTion on The hisTory oF u.s. highway 80 and longview, reFer To The Following MaTerials:

East Texas tourism flourishes through the popular East Texas Vacation Guide, the multi-state travel guide for U.S. Highway 80, and the annual Highway 80 Sale, produced by the East Texas Tourism Association. To find upcoming events, dates, or contact information, visit www.easttexasguide.com.

Local author and historian, Van Craddock, charms readers with high stakes stories of the history of Longview. Both books are available at the Gregg County Historical Museum or wherever local books are sold.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

35

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

IN LONGVIEW

by Kimberly Fish

Local Business Outpaces National Predictions With 2,700 new jobs added to Longview in 2012, one of the blessings of being better than the national averages is bragging rights. Once again our natural resources, outstanding location, transportation network, strong work force, and reliable business community have proven that the elements that distinguish Longview as a great place to do business translate perfectly into why Longview is a great place to live, too. The surge in home construction and sales of pre-existing homes are putting more roofs over the heads of this new workforce.

National chain stores are turning to Longview’s market numbers as a smart indicator for locating here, and residents line up around the buildings to sample tasty offerings first discovered in other cities. New to Longview, Panera Bread renovated a pre-existing location and quickly moved into a market that actively supports new restaurant options. Though locals groaned when Old Navy closed its doors at the Loop 281 location, it’s with great relief that we see them open a new concept store in the ever-booming Town Centre shopping complex on U.S. Highway 259. In addition to the new Old Navy venue, Bed Bath and Beyond moved into town and filled a much-needed niche in the big box store inventory in Longview. Adding a new burst of energy to Downtown Longview, Citizens National Bank will move into the stately 10-story Kilpatrick Building, investing in renovations as well as providing new jobs to those in the banking industry. Sales tax revenue numbers remained steady and once again prove that a well-situated local business climate and the hard-working attitude of the folks who live here translate into a stable economy.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

45

Local Entrepreneur Sees Big Success Longview continues to win accolades as a good place for

business to thrive. And this is certainly the year to celebrate small business entrepreneurs who’ve braved a risky

market to start or expand new ventures. Kyle Adams has

garnered buzz for his decision to strengthen his share of the marketplace in a service industry not known for glamour, or for that matter, much buzz. The new Kyle’s Kwik Stop

on Judson Road is a showcase in how, if you dream big and persevere through obstacles, good things happen.

“Hey, I love what you’ve done here. It’s great for the

neighborhood,” Lisha Mack calls out to Kyle as she enters the double glass doors that front not only a “convenience store attached to a gas station,” but also gives valuable

space to a local chef to offer in-store or patio dining, and brings a boutique wine shop into a marketplace that

welcomes the upscale experience. To say the community has supported the beautifully landscaped, expensively

turned-out interior, and the locally produced goat cheeses, artisan breads and to-go gourmet salads, is a financial

understatement. And Nanny Goat’s restaurant, located inside the store, is quite popular. Though the corner of

Judson Road and Pegues Place only flipped into a stylish

Like most entrepreneurs, Kyle began his business

model from the ground up

– literally sweeping floors, stocking shelves, working

the registers, and being an on-site manager for eight

years, before he expanded

from the first Kyle’s Kwik

Stop on I-20 to his fifth store on Judson Road.

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

destination this past summer, the predictions are that other neighborhoods want this very same shopping experience.

Kyle, a Longview native with a marketing degree from

Stephen F. Austin State University, didn’t begin his journey into the convenience store industry with a vision to merge upscale dining with gas purchases, but it was a natural evolution after he spent years pushing forward a new

marketplace concept that put quality food offerings in the same purchase experience for customers filling their gas tanks. Like most entrepreneurs, Kyle began his business model from the ground up – literally sweeping floors, stocking shelves, working the registers, and being an

on-site manager for eight years before he expanded from

the first Kyle’s Kwik Stop on I-20 to his fifth store on Judson Road. “It was about meeting a customer’s needs and

expectations. I saw a lot of workers pulling their trucks

into the gas lines and they were looking for a quick lunch before they moved on to the next job. Who doesn’t love a

hot burger at lunch?” he asked, as the lunch crowd entering Nanny Goat’s filled all the indoor seats and spilled out to the red umbrellas covering the outdoor patio dining.

“Once the success of that first dining and fuel merger

became apparent, I explored taking the same experience into an urban, market setting.” He grins. “I think it’s working.”

Yellow Jackets Create Buzz in Longview

Lake and on to Guthrie Park will bring a new dimension

Thanks to Sidney and AnaLee Allen, a new family student

to the quality of life that lures employers and employees

center will take root next to the Margaret Estes Library on

the mall at LeTourneau University. This $14 million, 60,000

square foot student center will add campus dining options, a bookstore, a print shop, a place to get mail from home,

and, much to the students’ delight, the ever popular “The

Hive” will be relocated to the new building. The University continues to add innovative and thoughtful support for

the almost 1,400 students who choose to make LETU and Longview their home for four years. In addition to the

bricks and mortar going up on Mobberly Avenue, LETU’s online study program was ranked number one in 2011 among Christian colleges and universities.

If You Build It, They Will Come

to the trail. Evaluations to topography are under study

and work is expected to begin on Phase 3 in 2013. Adding to Longview is the Lear Park complex, which has gained a regional reputation for outstanding facilities necessary to

host multi-league events. Hotel managers have pointed to sports tourism as a major draw for the area, but until one

sees a soccer or baseball tournament underway, it’s hard to appreciate how significant is the influence of hundreds of

out of town families descending on the city for a weekend of fun and competition. Pine Tree ISD is building its new

athletic complex in the vicinity, bringing the potential for football, track and soccer in UIL-level competition to the Lear Park Corridor. In addition to traditional sports,

non-traditional sporting events like the Great Texas Balloon Race, typically held in late July, also fill hotels, retail

outlets, and restaurants for a week or more at a time. This

The Paul G. Boorman hike and bike trail covers three

nationally known event brings up to 55 balloonists and an

observation, is one of the most popular venues in the city.

Longview, and it’s not just for the therapeutic benefits of

major traffic arteries, it’s the respite everyone seeks after a

on life. It’s about money. The 2011 race offered the largest

new connector linking U.S. Highway 80 through Towne

in our community begins when a traveler attends one

interior miles of Longview’s landscape and, based on

estimated 30,000 fans from across a three-state region to

Known for a peaceful park-like setting connecting two

drifting across treetops and getting a different perspective

busy day at work. With Phase 3 approved last October, a

purse in event history. Sometimes the job growth that’s felt

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

47

of the numerous large group events like Party in the Pines

Within the three-county metro area, job growth increased

resources and supportive community make living here an

down from years previous and is considered better than the

and sees first hand how the temperate climate, lush natural easy choice.

state average. Though mining, logging and construction remain key employment areas, tourism and service

Longview In the Ranks

industry opportunities added 300 jobs in the past year,

A report presented in Area Development Magazine

leading a new turn in local economic diversity.

gave local businesses a reason to brag. In a feature,

Homes, Homes and More Homes

Highest for Economic and Job Growth?” Longview came

New construction permits and home sales of existing

25 different economic and workforce indicators from

areas, an upturn in housing market sales gave a year-end

“100 Leading Locations for 2012: Which MSA’s Rank in at number 22 of 50 ranked cities nationally. Using

the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the U.S. Census American Community

Survey, the material reflected not only Longview expanded

metropolitan area population numbers, but gave credibility to the reason most folks attribute for enduring the national economic recession as well as we have: a diverse economy.

Just to continue the bragging rights at bit, the breakdown of data also indicated that Longview was:

• No. 4 in Mid-Sized Cities: Economic Strength Factors • No. 5 in Top 50 Mid-Sized Cities

Just for perspective, these numbers rank Longview higher than Tyler, San Angelo, DFW, Laredo, Lubbock, San Antonio, and Amarillo.

No.4

No.5 in Top 50

Mid-Sized Cities

No.5 in Top 20

Southwest Cities

No.11 in Economic Strength Indicators

AREA DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE 100 LEADING LOCATIONS FOR 2012

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

boost to the local economy. The average price for homes

selling in Longview rose to just over $160,000 last year as reported by the Longview Realtors Group Association.

Local realtors point to a good selection of homes on

the market, new schools, improved roadways, and a large variety of retail options as reasons many folks

relocated to Longview last year. There are few large

tract home settlements, but plenty of roomy established

neighborhoods. Several custom home neighborhoods dot

Longview as well as trendy condo-style living. And because areas has provided large lot living at an affordable rate.

• No. 11 in Economic Strength Indicators

in Mid-Sized Cities: Economic Strength Factors

structures lifted 24 percent from 2011. Outshining other

land prices have remained steady, expansion toward rural

• No. 5 in Top 20 Southwest Cities

48

in 2012 by 2,200 jobs. The local unemployment rate was

Not to be overshadowed, apartments are plentiful and

new rental properties have been created in several sections of the city. Big news in the versatile home market is an increased presence in senior living, assisted living and

memory care facilities. The Hamptons of Longview will

2013 Estimated Demographics

as a continuation of Hawkins Parkway. With Longview’s

Population

settle in behind Target on a new road being cut through

designation as a retirement destination, this new housing option is sure to fill a growing niche market.

Demographics The Longview Chamber of Commerce, in one of its many

services offered to prospective business developers, makes

available the details of various and extensive demographic reports. This key information is essential to business

investors considering relocation or expansion. Kelly Hall, president of The Longview Chamber of Commerce, says, “We subscribe to Claritas annually to help local business better understand the change in area demographics and

trends.” New retail and restaurants are usually the first to

inquire about the average age of consumers in a given area and, Hall explains, having updated information from an

Longview

RTA

2013 Estimate

82,287

307,439

Projected Growth (2013-2018)

5.10%

4.55%

White

61.82%

70.04%

Black/African American

22.93%

18.06%

Hispanic/Latino

19.90%

15.73%

Other

15.25%

11.90%

Average Household

$48,346

$54,581

Median Household

$35,665

$40,791

Per Capita (2012)

$22,280

$21,371

34.90

37.20

2013 Estimate

31,297

114,468

Projected Growth (2013-2018)

5.38%

4.61%

26.96%

23.16%

Race Classification

Income

Median Age (Years) Households

Associates Degree or Higher

outside source can prove important in a variety of business expansion decisions. Understanding the market makes

decisions for business owners and event planners easier

Longview’s Major Employers Company

Category

# of Staff

Good Shepherd Medical Center

Medical Services

3,000

Eastman Chemical

Chemicals

1,477

Longview ISD

Public Schools

1,239

Wal-Mart

Retail

1,207

Trinity Rail, LLC

Railway Cars

1,143

on a 300-acre industrial airpark. And, as any 80-year-old

Joy Global

Heavy Equipment

1,075

City of Longview

Government

927

Expected to be completed by June of 2014, the $3.7 million

Longview Regional Medical Center

Medical Services

763

Diagnostic Clinic of Longview

Medical Services

690

Pine Tree ISD

Public Schools

671

Gregg County

Government

575

Crosby Group / Lebus Mfg. Co.

Forged Load Binders

415

AAON Coil Products, Inc.

Heat Transfer Coils

372

Gregg Industrial Insulators

Special Trade Contractor

350

Neiman Marcus National Service Ctr.

Distribution

350

LeTourneau University

University

331

STEMCO, LLC

Truck Equipment

300

Southwest Steel Casting Co.

Steel Castings

275

Capacity of Texas

Machinery Manufacturing

270

Convergys

Telecommunications

250

TCIM

Telecommunications

250

Sysco Distribution of East Texas

Distribution

236

Flextronics

Telecommunication Equipment

235

Holt CAT

Heavy Equipment

183

the terminal to the airport. These improvements will

Genpak, LLC

Plastics & Rubber Products Mfg.

180

Norris Cylinder

Manufacturing

170

business in import/export flights as part of the Foreign

Westlake Chemical

Chemicals

161

Sales Tax Revenue

$20,263,367 (as of October, 2012)

when targeting potential customers.

East Texas Regional Air Park Begun in 1935, East Texas Regional Airpark is an active hub for privately managed jets and commercial planes located can testify, sometimes you have to have a “facelift.”

project will provide a full remodel for the terminal plus the addition of much-needed covered walkways from

enhance the efficiency of an airpark that supports area

Trade Zone status (a federally guaranteed ability to import goods for manufacturing and export a product without paying federal tariffs) and through daily American

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

49

Eagle commuter flights between Longview and Dallas.

service, will include a multi-modal component that

of Transportation, the airport and privately-associated

even in its current limited space, Longview’s Amtrak rail

According to a report issued by the Texas Department

businesses generate about $55 million toward the local

economy. Because of its rare 10,000 foot runway, the airport also has potential to serve as a hub for cargo carriers and postal corporations.

Train Travel Amtrak passenger rail service is available on the Texas Eagle through a historic downtown terminal that is

undergoing a total remodel. Planned developments are

sensitive to the unique traits and elements that make the 1939 building memorable, and modern technology and

station is the second busiest in the state of Texas and the fourth busiest station along the Texas Eagle route. The

Longview Amtrak provides passengers with connections to area cities Nacogdoches, Houston and Galveston, as

well as Shreveport, Louisiana by motorcoach. Daily trains between Chicago, Illinois and San Antonio stop each morning (Chicago-San Antonio) and each evening

(San Antonio-Chicago) in Longview. It serves about

20-50 passengers per day. Longview’s potential growth as a prominent stop along the rail system could impact the economy and enhance tourism to East Texas.

new bistro support will also make the facility a comfortable

Longview is served by two freight railroad lines. Burlington

hardworking train supporters, the depot is anticipated to

through Longview. The Union Pacific Railroad has 25 daily

respite for long distance travel. Thanks to grants and

become a hub for travelers and, in addition to AMTRAK

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includes services provided by Greyhound. Remarkably,

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

Northern Santa Fe Railroad operates two trains daily trains through Longview’s facilities.

Infrastructure Residents, commuters and visitors have several means to access the area. One Interstate freeway and two U.S. highways run

through the City of Longview, and in addition, four Texas state highways also converge in Longview. Two Texas state highway spurs serve to connect highways in Longview and are one of the components that make travel in the city so convenient.

Interstate 20 is an east/west freeway that connects Longview to Dallas, approx.

125 miles (201 km) to the west and to Shreveport, Louisiana, approx. 60 miles (97 km) to the east.

U.S. Highway 80 runs through the central district of Longview. U.S. Hwy 80 was once a coast to coast highway from Tybee Beach near Savannah, Georgia and ran continuously across the southern part of the United States to San Diego, California. Today its western terminus is Dallas, Texas, making the length only 1,032 miles (1,661 km).

U.S. Highway 259 is a 250-mile (400 km) north/south spur route connecting U.S. 59 from Nacogdoches, Texas and U.S. 59 near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border just south of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Before Interstate 20, US 259 went through the center of Longview on a route that now is designated Texas State Highway 31 and Spur 502.

Texas Highway 149 is a 33.9-mile

Texas Highway 31 runs 143.3 miles (230.6 km) east/west between Longview and Waco, Texas.

gates much of Longview from its east

(54.6 km) north/south highway connecting Longview with Carthage.

Texas Highway 300 is a short 18.62-mile (29.97 km) highway connecting Longview to U.S. 271 in Gilmer, Texas.

Texas Highway 281 is a 19.3-mile

Spur 502 connects north/south traffic between U.S. Hwy 80 in central Longview and U.S. Hwy 259 north of Longview.

Spur 63 runs north/south through Longview connecting Texas Highway 31 at its Longview terminus with Spur 502 north of Texas Loop 281.

(31.1 km) loop highway that circumnaviconnection at I-20 east of the Gregg/ Harrison county line to I-20 in Longview.

It runs northward, westward, southward and eastward around the city.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

51

GOVERNMENT & SERVICES ONLINE SERVICES

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

COMMUNITY SERVICES

• Water Account Access • Employment Applications • Activity and Facility Registration • Emergency Notification and Weather Warning System • Code of Ordinances • Email News and Updates • Videos and Photo Galleries

• Building Inspection • Engineering • Environmental Health (Food Services, Code Compliance and Animal Control) • Metropolitan Planning Organization • Planning and Zoning

• Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex • Parks and Recreation • Partners in Prevention • Longview Public Library • Housing and Community Development

FINANCIAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

PUBLIC WORKS

• Municipal Court • Water Utilities

• Water and Wastewater Treatment • Geographic Information Systems - Mapping • Sanitation and Recycling • Traffic, Streets, and Drainage

Sidney Allen District 6

Wayne Frost District 4

• City Manager’s Office • City Secretary’s Office • Human Resources • Channel 5 Television

PUBLIC SAFETY • Fire Department • Police Department

Richard Manley District 5 Gary L. Smith District 2

Jay Dean Mayor

Kasha Williams Mayor Pro Tem District 3

David Willard City Manager

CITY COUNCIL 300 West Cotton Street | Longview, Texas 75601 | Tel: (903) 237-1000

LongviewTexas.gov

John Sims District 1

44 ATHLETIC FIELDS • • • • •

PREMIER FACILITIES AND DEDICATED CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR YOUR SPORTS TOURISM EVENT.

14 Baseball 14 Softball 15 Soccer 1 Football Concession

LOCAL AMENITIES Jack Mann Splashpad

• • • • • • •

Playgrounds 4 Splash Pads 33 Parks 10.65 Miles of Trails Hotels Disc Golf Course Meeting/Banquet Facilities

TOURNAMENTS Hosting, rental, and partnership packages available.

Over 70 tournaments were scheduled in 2012.

“Thanks to the City of Longview for everything they did to ensure our tournament was a success. I heard many compliments about the fields, but even more importantly, about the Parks staff. The only complaints were “I wish we could have this type of Parks team and fields in our town.’”

- Paul Rose,

Elite Sports Vice President

LONGVIEW PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 130 E. Timpson | Longview, Texas 75601 | Tel: (903) 237-1270

Parks.LongviewTexas.gov

We are Here to Help Your company Grow and Prosper in Leading the workforce development efforts and diversifying and expanding the economy of Longview to provide the highest level of job opportunities and quality of life to Longview residents.

THree sTraTeGies of THe LonGvieW economic deveLoPmenT corPoraTion GrowTh, ExpaNSioN and proSpEriTy of our existing primary employers

DEvELopmENT of our workforce to strengthen our labor pool and match the needs of our employers

Paul Stephenson

J-w manufacturing Company

Susan Gill, CEcD

Keith Honey

president aEp/SwEpCo

aTTraCTioN and rECrUiTmENT of new primary employers

Ed Banos Joe Bob Joyce Joyce Steel Erection

Executive Director

immediate past president First Bank & Trust East Texas

Longview regional medical Center

Lester Lucy

vp/Secretary Bancorp South

Jim Kendrick

Dan Droege

Steve Metcalf

Eastman Chemical Company

Phillip Ford Julie Fowler

Kilgore College Longview

Ledco 410 North Center Street, Longview, Texas 75601 Tel: 903-753-7878 | Fax: 903-753-3646 | Toll Free: 800-952-2613 | E-mail: info@LongviewUSa.com

www.Longviewusa.com

Capacity of Texas

Retire in Longview!

Enjoy Real East Texas Living in Longview, the regional hub for cultural, medical, retail and business services located in the beauty of the Texas Lake Country.

We are pleased that others in our region recognize these traits about the Longview community: outgoing and friendly,

hard working, strong family values, laid back, casual, accepting and dependable.

In recognition of Longview’s amenities, services and opportunities, Longview was selected by the State of Texas as a certified retirement community in 2008. From housing to recreation to health care and transportation, Longview offers a great quality of life.

Discover our friendly city with small town atmosphere and low cost of living. For more information about retiring in Longview or to schedule a tour, please visit: www.RetireinLongview.com.

Paul G. Boorman Trail offers 2.85 miles for walking, jogging, and biking

Tel: (903) 237-4000 | info@RetireinLongview.com |

retireinlongview.com

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

55

速

速

LeTourneau University

SUCCESS ON LAND & IN THE

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

by Kimberly Fish This Cessna 140 was donated to LETU Aviation Department by a LeTourneau Alumni and is housed in the lobby of Abbott Aviation Center at East Texas Regional Airport.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

59

Many people think that it was dirt-moving equipment

ump ahead 67 years and the land rolling under

that brought R.G. and Evelyn LeTourneau to

those barracks now houses Le Tourneau

Longview back in 1946. But truthfully, it was an

University, one of the nation’s premiere learning

airplane. Carl Estes, Jr. was giving a good Chamber of Commerce salute to his beloved town by touring with the LeTourneaus in the air, cruising over dense

for building a legacy of bright and talented engineers recruited by top tier firms, but also for its aeronautics program. Even from the earliest days,

pines and rooftops of Longview homes, pointing

shortly after the LeTourneaus bought the barracks for the

out the perks of doing business in a place ideally

staggering sum of $1, they envisioned a facility to train

situated to expand the LeTourneau enterprise.

and house new World War II veterans in manufacturing

He might have been bragging about the proximity to national rail lines or the temperate climate, but all conversation changed when Mrs. LeTourneau tapped Estes on the shoulder and pointed out of the window

and engineering. However, they also needed a space to store their retrofitted Army A-46 planes and to train men to repair them. LeTourneau was one the nation’s first executives to cris-cross the nation for business and speaking engagements in a private plane, and he created

to rows of white Army barracks lined in formation at

an environment at Gregg County Airport (today’s East

the end of Mobberly Avenue.

Texas Regional Airport) to outfit and maintain planes for

“What’s that?” she asked, no doubt recognizing

LeTourneau Industries use.

standard Army-issued housing and service buildings.

A common misconception about LeTourneau University

“That’s Harmon General Hospital,” he probably

generations of engineering wunderkinds and computer

replied, adding that it had been a military outfit

scientists. What has come as a surprise to no one on the

treating tropical diseases and housing German POWs, but that it was decommissioned at the end of World War II. In a twist even Carl Estes Jr. didn’t see coming, it was that dusty collection of barracks that sealed the deal for R.G. LeTourneau to choose Longview.

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institutions, renowned internationally not only

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

is that the curriculum is aimed exclusively at training new

faculty and staff at LETU is that the program initially begun to train young pilots in aircraft mechanics and piloting has blossomed into a powerhouse of pilot training, Airframe and Powerplant mechanics, and Air Traffic Control programs. The university’s aeronautics program has the unique distinction of not only teaching someone how to

fly a plane, but also how to repair one – like the sudden

of his administration. “I lived in the university apartment

chaos when birds are drawn into jet engines. Among the

as much to offset the commute between Longview and

distinguished graduates of this program, and one who

Whitehouse, where my family lived while my daughters

encountered just such a bird scenario, is the Air Force

finished high school, as I did to connect with the student

colonel who piloted Air Force II for several years.

body.” Ironically, one of his first improvements as president

With Dr. Dale Lunsford’s arrival as the president of LeTourneau University five years ago came many surprising changes, not the least of which was moving the aeronautics program to one central location at East Texas Regional Airport in a facility named Abbott Aviation Center.

With near record-breaking numbers of freshmen enrolling at LeTourneau last summer, Dr. Lunsford has an inside track on knowing what LeTourneau students like and what

of a university filled with young adults was to create a new cafeteria with tastier food selections; even the president eats cafeteria food. Living among the students turned this former professor with Oklahoma roots into a savvy interpreter of engineering speak. For instance, he knows that one of the first questions an engineering or computer major is going to ask regarding the dorms concerns the computer bandwidth available. He’s happy to assure them that they’ve got everything they’re going to need right at their fingertips.

makes them happy – he lived among them for the first year

“ We’re incredibly happy to offer the students this training facility that puts them exactly where they want to be every single day,” Dr. Lunsford said during an interview last August. “At the airport.”

Dr. Lunsford has an inside track on knowing what LeTourneau students like and what makes them happy – he lived among them for the first year of his administration. One of his first improvements as president of a university was to create a new cafeteria with tastier food selections; even the president eats lunch in the cafeteria.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

61

Not long into a conversation with Dr. Lunsford one

of serving others with a heart for Christ. When she looked

understands that he has high admiration for the students

at those old Army barracks she saw potential homes for

who commit to LeTourneau University. He even credits the

veterans and their families. She saw a fresh start for a

remarkable accolades LETU has achieved over the years

generation of young people left adrift after the atrocities

to the faculty, programs, and research opportunities at

of world wars, and a place where she could encourage and

LETU that routinely inspire brilliant honor students and

train men and women in merging Biblical beatitudes with

National Merit Scholars to choose the univesity for their

the practical education they were receiving in drafting and

undergraduate foundation. Their willingness to work long

welding. She saw hope.

hours, think creatively, and train with their professors on emerging research is also a reason LETU is awarded stellar national grants in fields more frequently associated with universities three and four times its size.

Now, long after the day those barracks came down, LETU offers programs that excel in the art of teaching teachers, and also comes full circle with Evelyn LeTourneau’s original dream – the new Marriage and Family Therapy

Dr. Lunsford likes to point out that, although LETU’s

degree program. Because LeTourneau offers a variety of

reputation is strongly anchored in engineering, computer,

online courses and advanced degrees in formats easily

and aeronautic sciences, the underappreciated strength

accessible to working folks, the LETU “campus” has

of the university comes from its earliest commitment to

expanded into the Internet, as well as more tangible outlets

Christian servanthood. What R.G. LeTourneau did for the

in Dallas, Houston, Bedford, and Tyler, Texas. These

engineering world, Evelyn LeTourneau did for the concept

outstanding undergraduate and graduate level programs

The Paul and Betty Abbott Aviation Center is named in response to a generous gift from LeTourneau alumni who’ve been long supporters of the aviation program. Their gift allowed the acquisition of the 55,0000 sq.ft. facility that includes classrooms, engine shops, flying simulators, and plane storage. Located just steps from a runway at East Texas Regional Airport, this facility puts the entire aeronautics program under one roof.

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

that reach beyond traditional classrooms are an example

at LETU is that the pilots leave with a Bachelor of Science

of LeTourneau University’s farsightedness. However, they

degree, but can also take apart an engine – and put it back

lack something in total “wow” factor when compared to

together. The line of upright, wheeled tool cases in the

the Abbott Aviation facility and the programs offered under

hallways between lab facilities indicates that these pilots

the shadow of an air traffic control tower at East Texas

and mechanics take learning seriously – their toolboxes

Regional Airport.

are meticulous.

Heat rises in waves on the tarmac outside of Abbott

Though these five degree programs (14 concentrations)

Aviation, a 55,000 sq. ft. training facility that includes a

are miles ahead of many other colleges offering similar

10,000 sq. ft. hangar to the south of East Texas Regional Airport. Inside the cool, soothing lobby 265 students (39 of them female) spend the day rotating between classes with a curriculum on topics ranging from flight theory, to weather analysis (all FAA approved), to practical labs where they simulate the cockpit of a Cessna Diamond twin engine, DA-42. They can mange aircraft traffic situations on a 6-paneled control tower simulator, take apart engines, iron

programs in air traffic control, airplane mechanics, or even pilot training, the excellence in training is not cheap. Many students graduate with debt and, particularly those going into mission aviation, have to pay down that debt before they can enter their chosen field. Thankfully, the rewards of an LETU degree can include multiple job skills and lifetime certification in some areas of expertise.

out fabric wing skins for panels, or just paint fiberglass.

Not all pilots trained at LETU have their sights set on

One of the great distinctions of the aeronautics program

mission work. Many go into corporate piloting, the

The FAA approved, state-of-the-art tower simulator broadcasts varied, computer-generated, airplane traffic situations across six 52” TV screens giving surround approach simulation for students learning the art of air traffic control. The perspective is of an actual field tower. This simulation exercise sets the Air Traffic Control program at LETU apart, as it is one of the few in the United States to offer this training element.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

63

US Military, mechanical work, and air traffic control

consistently puts the students’ needs at the forefront

careers. The list of companies recruiting LETU aeronautic

of every decision. That’s a lot of love going around

graduates is a Who’s Who of the air industry. Not only

Abbott Aviation. And maybe a bit of fun too. In talking

are LeTourneau students reputed to have a serious work

with students who’d moved to LETU from as near as

ethic, high moral character, and above average intelligence,

Nacogdoches, Texas to as far away as Indonesia, one thing

they also win awards. The big ones. In 2009, a standing

potential pilots and mechanics the world over share is their

room only crowd saw LETU win the Loening Trophy – a

interest in pizza, disc golf, and Buffalo Wild Wings. The

prestigious trophy on display at the Museum of Flight and

joke among a table of six guys in an engine lab was that

awarded by the National Intercollegiate Flying Association.

they’d go anywhere the food was cheap, the sports were

The silver cup recognized LETU’s aeronautics program as

loud, and the wi-fi was free.

the all-around best flight training program in the nation (yes, even ahead of the Air Force Academy.) But in team and individual competitions LETU students win “the Majors,” including Emily Harrison Brown’s top female pilot in the nation award in 2006.

Despite the likes of Rockwall-Collins and Dynamic Aviation standing in line to scoop up LETU graduates, the students say the lure of a successful career isn’t what the LeTourneau choice is all about. They say they come because of the

meeting students and professors is discovering how closely the reality of this phenomenal space marries the dream of R. G. LeTourneau. And the growth that continues today reflects the wisdom of a continuity of smart choices.

Dr. Lunsford smiles when asked what he sees as the best indicator that LETU has a bright future – he points to the rolling green outside the main campus student facilities

faith-based instruction, high-caliber professors, support

building and gives credit to the incoming freshmen.

of the faculty, and the hands-on quality of the training.

“They’re the best and the brightest and they’re taught by

In one of those unscripted moments of candor, the faculty

professors who are leaders in their field. I’m optimistic

interviewed said they love to teach because the university

because they are.”

Mr. Fred Ritchey, Dean of the School of Aeronautical Science at LETU. Displayed in the trophy case are multiple awards recognizing the accomplishments of the program and its students.

A sample of the trophies include: • 2009 Loening Trophy, best collegiate program in the United States • 2010 National American Airlines Safety award • SAFECON Competitions: 1st place in 2010 Team Champions, 2011 Safety Award, 2012 Ground Events and 2nd place in 2012 in Flight Events Maintenance students have brought home the PAMA Olympics: Southwest Region, 1st place trophy for the past two years.

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The real beauty of touring the Abbott Aviation facility and

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

For more information and interactive videos, please visit www.letu.edu/fly.

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

65

Main Lobby and Courtyard

Main Hall

R.E. (Bob) Eitelman Conference Room

Longview Rodeo Arena and Longview Agricultural Pavilions

Longview Exhibit Building

J. R. Curtis, Jr. Memorial Garden for the Blind

Maude

Convention &

Cobb

Activity Complex The Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex encompasses 100 acres in the heart of Longview, just north of I-20, and is convenient to hotels, restaurants, clubs, shopping, and outdoor attractions such as golf courses, parks and lakes.

Longview’s historic downtown, which is only minutes away, features museums, specialty shops and dining.

No matter what your event, the personalized and efficient service of our professional staff will help make it your best!

100 Grand Boulevard P.O. Box 1952 • Longview, Texas 75606 ph 903-237-1230 • fax 903-236-7845 email: MaudeCobb@LongviewTexas.gov www.MaudeCobb.LongviewTexas.gov

IF IT’S

CROSBY IT’S QUALITY.

903-759-4424 900 Fisher Road Longview, Texas 75604

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

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AlleyFest

returns to

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U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

Arts and Events

By Kimberly Fish

This is an overview of some of the dynamic arts and entertainment venues within the Longview community.

To find specific details related to a calendar of community events or details related to performance dates, please visit www.longviewtexas.com or www.artslongview.com

s s o r y A t r ot Longview’s famous arts and entertainment festival, born in 1978 as

a celebration of art in East Texas and dubbed “AlleyFest,” will retool its focus more onto the “art” part as it enters the planning stages for the 2013 event. “We learned from last year that taking the leap and moving AlleyFest back into May instead of its usual summer date was a big step in the right direction,” said Paul Anderson with the Longview Chamber of Commerce. “Attendance improved, the vendors were happier, and we heard from the folks attending that they wanted to see, and have opportunity to buy, more art.” Having heard this for awhile, event organizers are planning a better than ever street fair—one that will still include many of the fun elements that make locals love this fair: KidsFest and AlleyRun. According to Event Director Missy Saunders, music acts will come from the East

Texas and surrounding areas in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, but most of it will be home-grown talent. “There is a wealth of talent right here in East Texas that we can draw on for musical entertainment at AlleyFest,” said Saunders. This will be a significant change as national bands have priced themselves out of reach for smaller festivals such as AlleyFest. Not to worry, assures Paul Anderson, with local music, local arts, local food, and a local good spirit, there’s no doubt that 2013’s AlleyFest will be a street fair to remember.

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73

PRCA Rodeo The Greggton Rotary Longview PRCA Rodeo is one of the hottest tickets in town. Fans say it’s one of the most popular bull-riding, calf-roping, barebackriding, saddle-bronc

Great Texas Balloon Race Seeing hot air balloons drift across the skyline creates a sense of escape, even for those whose feet are firmly planted on the ground. There’s something adventurous, sentimental, and even a bit romantic about the magic of floating on the air currents, going where the wind takes you. The Great Texas Balloon Race, founded by local dentist Dr. Bill Bussey in 1978, has grown from a local gathering of friends to an international competition known

riding, stick-horse racing, clown-dodging rodeos ever to stir up dust at the Gregg County Fair Grounds. The Rotarians say it’s just good, family fun. The Longview (Greggton) Rotary hosts this annual springtime event to the delight of rodeo fans of all ages, and, as their primary fundraiser, allows the Rotary to give $30,000-$50,000 back to the community in support of local non-profit organizations.

as the longest running hot air balloon event in Texas. This world class competition features sport and special shaped balloons and covers a three-day weekend every summer, from dawn to dusk. Dr. Bussey created the now famous “balloon glow,” and the grounded balloon light-up (a controlled firing of the gas burners that make the balloons rise) has been copied all over the world. When the hot air balloons aren’t competing in races or key grabs, there are a variety of activities to entertain audiences on the ground.

Aircraft flights, plane demonstrations, skydivers and great musical entertainment anchor the weekend. There’s always

Christmas at the Courthouse

a special “kids land,” craft vendors and fabulous food.

The Gregg County Courthouse becomes an electrical

Based at the East Texas Regional airport, details for the

theatre featuring expansive holiday light displays during

event are located at www.greattexasballonrace.com

the Christmas season. With two weekends dedicated to

Of special note: the US Nationals Balloon Race will be held

downtown family and holiday fun, Gregg County’s starring

in Longview, days priors to the Great Texas Balloon Race,

exhibit is the Christmas Parade. The Christmas Parade, a

through the summer of 2014. This exciting challenge brings

Longview Main Street Event, leads a long and impressive

in the “best of the best” competing for top prizes and rights

fleet of floats, antique cars, marching bands, and independent

to attend the International Balloon Race. Spectators are

displays along the brick streets of Methvin and Whaley. This

welcomed and many events overlap with the GTBR.

family-friendly event is a cherished local tradition.

Arts & EveNts 74

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Outdoor Markets

ArtsView Children’s Theatre

Invigorating the downtown area during the spring and

ArtsView Children’s Theatre, established in 2004, is

fall are music events known as Downtown Live! Picking

committed to a progressive theatre arts education and

the best weather-sensitive dates in the season, organizers

outreach program for area children. It provides children’s

offer local music in conjunction with an outdoor market.

programs as a way to educate tomorrow’s audiences about

Hosted in downtown’s Bank Alley, the Downtown Market

the joys of the performing and visual arts. It also nurtures

features a variety of material from arts, crafts, wines,

the development of the performing arts in our community

and food items to fresh flowers. Also much anticipated

through education, and it creates, produces, and performs

in the downtown area is the unique and family friendly

works that engage the entire family. Productions, summer

outdoor movie venue, Movies on the Plaza. This free

camps, workshops, after school classes, and seminars are

event invites everyone to Heritage Plaza to watch a big-

offered throughout the year.

screen projected movie, enjoy the ambience, purchase refreshments and savor the opportunity of enjoying a new twist on the idea of going to the movies. The Historic Downtown Farmer’s Market is a traditional farmers’ market and is specifically designed to host locally grown and organic products. The HDM plants white tents in the parking lot at High and Cotton Streets on a seasonal schedule. The Original Farmer’s Market sets up in the extensive exhibit pavilions at the fair grounds and brings in a variety of produce and specialty items, most of which are grown in local backyards. With multiple locally grown food purveyors, shoppers find great culinary treasures in a variety of locations.

East Texas Symphonic Band The East Texas Symphonic Band (ETSB), founded in 1988, is a volunteer wind symphony made up of area musicians under the direction of conductor Dr. James Snowden. Its music spans the entire gamut of symphonic wind literature with a high emphasis on outstanding local musicians as soloists, both vocal and instrumental. The season typically consists of three formal concerts at LeTourneau University’s Belcher Performing Arts Center and an informal summer outdoor “Pops in the Park” concert at Teague Park Amphitheatre.

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Longview Museum of Fine Arts The Longview Museum of Fine Arts is a contemporary art museum originally formed by the Junior League. With a 300-piece permanent collection, two side galleries house temporary or traveling exhibits which change six times a year, with members’ receptions and artist lectures the Saturday evening before the new exhibits open to the public. Docent tours are available upon request. A creative learning center next door, ArtWorks, offers classes and hands-on projects for children and adults.

Longview Ballet Theatre Longview Ballet Theatre is dedicated to enhancing our community by combining beauty, skill and vision to create innovative and inspiring performances for local audiences.

For more than 35 years, Pat George Mitchell, founder and

East Texas Music and Theatre Company

artistic director, has developed the talent of local dancers,

Gushing with great music, the East Texas Music and

several of whom have auditioned and been accepted

Theatre Company brings unique musical entertainment to

into renowned programs across the nation. LBT’s annual

Longview via several performances a year. With diverse

performances have been a marriage between company

musical genres from Broadway to symphony,

members and world class professional dancers performing

regional artists perform concerts covering

such classics as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan

opera/operetta, musical theatre, gospel

and George Balanchine’s Serenade.

and oratario.

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Party in the Pines It wouldn’t be Memorial Day weekend without an influx of bikes and bikers from across the southeast for the annual Memorial Day rally.

This day and nighttime event includes group rides, motorcycle activities, games, bands, vendors, food, beverages and a few RVs. A highlight of the rally is the Patriotic Parade through the city with up to 300 motorcycles flying American

Longview Symphony The fully professional Longview Symphony continues a more than 40 year tradition of providing classical orchestral

flags and escorted by Longview police officers. Not limited to the Piney Woods, many of the events are held at the Gregg County Fair Grounds.

music to Longview patrons. Maestro Tonu Kalam directs the orchestra’s four performances. Pre-concert educational lectures are held prior to each event and guest artists and soloists perform each year. The symphony’s guild, Ovation!, raises funds for the symphony through Bach’s Lunches, a lunchtime organ recital in various downtown churches, an Artistry and Architecture tour in April, and their Mardi Gras Celebration in February. The symphony also holds annual children’s concerts for area fourth graders. Master classes with guest artists and orchestra soloists are held for qualifying high school and college students.

Dalton Days This all-day family event recreates the most infamous bank robbery in Longview’s colorful history and also the glorious demise of Bill Dalton and his gang of thieves. A wild west show with cowboy entertainers, musical acts and a popular hands-on children’s area fill the Longview Rodeo Arena for this family-friendly gun fight.

Neal McCoy’s East Texas Angel Network Benefit Concert Longview resident and country singing star, Neal McCoy, invites his celebrity friends to an annual September concert to raise funds for children with serious illness. Always an anticipated autumn event, Neal revs up the show with fun and good times and the result gives back to his fans, but ultimately to the children close to his heart.

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LeTourneau University Performing Arts Series With an annual offering of seven diverse concert and/or performing arts events in a calendar season, LeTourneau University’s state-of-the-art S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center is home to a variety of Broadway quality productions satisfying a variety of entertainment tastes.

Landmarks of Longview Tour During September of each year, several homes and/or businesses of architectural significance are open to the public for a two-day tour benefiting the Gregg County Historical Museum. Always interesting, and a glimpse into the stories of many of the places distinctive to our local culture, the tour gives an opportunity for an easy day spent in homes that have or will impact our community’s history.

Texas Shakespeare Festival Located just a stone’s throw from the city limits is one of the nation’s premiere summer Shakespeare festivals.

Hosted by Kilgore College, this renowned summer tradition brings a variety of high caliber stage productions and gifted actors to a local platform. From The Queen’s

Multi-Cultural Festival

Tea to meet and greets with the actors, this is a fun and

Every autumn the crossroads of several international

affordable departure from ordinary entertainment.

cultures converge in Longview. Initiated to bring together various segments of the community’s population, this oneday event showcases performance groups, food specialties

Arts & EveNts

and music to reveal the similarities that blend our world.

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East Texas Outdoor EXPO Every winter outdoor enthusiasts descend on Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center for the highly anticipated East Texas Outdoor Expo. With 60,000 square feet at their disposal, exhibitors show off the latest and greatest in the field of watercrafts, recreational vehicles, fishing and camping accessories. Always a popular draw, there’s an indoor trout tank for kids to practice fishing.

Freeze Your Fanny Bike Tour This annual February bicycle tour and run takes place no matter how cold the weather. Participants willingly “freeze their fannies” in support of East Texas Lightnin,’ a local delegation of Special Olympics, and the opportunity for bragging rights when they’ve completed the Tour-de-East-Texas.

Zonta Antiques Show and Sale Every spring the Zonta service organization brings in 65 antique vendors for a three-day shopping extravaganza.

Spread over the 60,000 square feet of Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, the 39-year-old event also hosts a tearoom and its famous Pie Bar. Proceeds improve the economic, educational and health status of women at the global and local levels.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration Like many in the state, Longview celebrates great history with a great fiesta. This one, held every May at Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center, shakes the party with an East Texas marimba. In addition to the great food and music, there’s also a car show and a beauty pageant.

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Juneteenth Celebration and Dance A parade, a dance and a rodeo are among the many fun activities planned each June for this historic occasion, but the most anticipated aspect of the Emancipation Celebration is the annual Freedom 5K Fun Run, hosted by the Broughton Recreation Center.

World of Wonders WOW is Longview’s hands-on children’s educational museum. Meeting in various temporary locales, the traveling exhibit provides up close interaction with literature, science, astronomy, engineering, physics and other fun experiments, fueling the curiosity of children and inspiring a lifelong love of learning. Plans to build

Gregg County Fair The Longview Jaycees prepare a weeklong, old-fashioned

a permanent discovery center are in the works. Visit www.longviewwow.org for more details.

country fair with carnival rides, games, music, petting zoos, cotton candy, and corny dogs. Always in mid-September, the cooler temperatures bring out families and everyone enjoys the variety of good, clean fun.

ArtWalk Longview Four times a year, downtown Longview galleries and businesses stay open late, and in many cases exhibit art on the sidewalk, for an after-hours venue designed to showcase local art and artisans. ArtWalk provides an urban environment where many retail stores prop open the front door and offer special purchases to complement

Annual Kennel Club Competition

the live music and restaurant hopping. It’s family and pet-

Dog breeds from 38 different states, Mexico, and Canada

friendly fun.

compete in the two-day, two-show Longview Kennel Club License All Breed Dog Show at Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center. This exciting and well-mannered event is great entertainment for children and adults.

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Though it’s impossible to list every event, several community organizations create interesting and beneficial fundraisers throughout the year, and each one is an opportunity to support a worthy cause, mingle with neighbors, and have some good ol’ East Texas fun. Please consult the Longview Community Calendar website for a complete calendar and links to event organizers. www.LongviewTexasEvents.com

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for Women WWe e CCare are for Women 705 E. Marshall Ave., Ste. 3000 Longview, Texas 903.315.2700 www.ZeidWHC.com

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1-800-678-7274 U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

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Hours 10:00 - 4:00 Tuesday through Friday 12:00 - 4:00 Saturday Closed major holidays

Admission $2.00 for adults $1.00 for senior citizens and students No charge for museum members 214 North Fredonia Street Longview, Texas 75601

903 . 753 . 5840 www.gregghistorical.org

www.gregghistorical.org

Historical Museum w

903 • 753 • 5840

GREGG COUNTY

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Longview, Texas Shuneda Sterrett V.P. Sales & Operations: ShunedaSterrett@hahnhotelsmanagement.com Mary Fell Regional Director of Sales & Operations: MFell@hahnhotelsmanagement.com 3211 Hotel Way • Longview, Texas 75605 • 903-236-0000 • www.suburbanlongview.com U N I Q U E LY L O N G V I E W 2 0 1 3

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www.cscutting.com

h t t p : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / c s c u t t i n g c o m p a n y

444 NORTH FREDONIA

903.757.9848

Morgan Stanley Longview Branch At Morgan Stanley, we offer a full range of services to help you grow, protect and transfer your wealth.

Seated from left to right: Craig A. Parr, Second Vice President, Financial Advisor, Gene Castle, Senior Investment Management Consultant, Financial Advisor, Herman Bell, CFP®, Financial Advisor, Daniel Lynch, Branch Manager, Financial Advisor, Richard James, Senior Portfolio Manager, Financial Advisor, Dean Ogilvie, Senior Portfolio Manager, Financial Advisor, William Y. Rice III, Senior Investment Management Consultant, Financial Advisor, William Y. Rice II, First Vice President, Financial Advisor Standing from left to right: Karla Bounds, Financial Advisor, Arlee Small, Financial Advisor, Adam Graves, Financial Planning Specialist, Financial Advisor, Carl Newman, Financial Planning Specialist, Financial Advisor, Lori James, Registered Marketing Associate, Dianne Farrar Wright, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor

911 W. Loop 281, Suite 310 Longview, TX 75604 Tel: 903-241-7500 • 800-388-1208 Fax: 903-297-9438

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP,® CerTIFIed FInanCIaL PLannerTm and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. © 2012 morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. member SIPC.

NY CS 7364631 11/12

Longview

city map

To receive a more detailed map, contact the Longview Convention and Visitors Bureau at 903.753.3281 or by email at info@longviewtx.com

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GOLF COURSES

PARKS

j1 WOOD HOLLOW GOLF CLUB

SA

AKIN PARK 414 Delwood Dr.

SK

STAMPER PARK Fair St. at Boyd St.

j2 ALPINE GOLF CLUB

SB

BROUGHTON PARK 801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

SL

TEAGUE PARK American Legion Blvd.

SC

CARGILL LONG PARK E. Marshall Ave. & N. Fourth St.

SD

GUTHRIE/ROTARY PARK Glencrest & Johnston St.

5121 N. McCann Rd. • 903-663-4653

FM 2208 & Smelley Rd. • 903-753-4515

j3 ALPINE TARGET 9-HOLE – LIGHTED 2695 Alpine Rd. • 903-753-1415

j4 THE CHALLENGE AT OAK FOREST

2044 Oak Forest Country Club Dr. • 903-297-3932

h1 h2

HOSPITALS

SE

GOOD SHEPHERD MEDICAL CENTER 700 E. Marshall Ave. • 903-315-2000

HINSLEY PARK 3101 N. US Hwy. 259

SF

LONGVIEW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 2901 N. Fourth St. • 903-758-1818

INGRAM PARK 10th St. at Pine St.

SG

JULIEANNA PARK 906 Reel Rd.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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LONGVIEW HIGH SCHOOL 201 E. Tomlinson (Loop 281) FOREST PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL 1515 Lake Dr. FOSTER MIDDLE SCHOOL 410 S. Green St. JUDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL Judson Rd. at Seven Pines Rd. PINE TREE HIGH SCHOOL 1005 W. Fairmont St. PINE TREE JR. HIGH SCHOOL 2100 NW Loop 281

SH LOIS JACKSON PARK Bill Owens Pkwy. at Jenny St. SI

MCWHORTER PARK Toler Rd. at NW Loop 281

SJ

ROLLINS PARK 705 Ethyl St.

HALLSVILLE SCHOOLS 210 S. Green St. - Hallsville

1 BROUGHTON REC H CENTER 801 MLK Blvd.

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UT TYLER- LONGVIEW UNIVERSITY CENTER 3201 N. Eastman Rd. – Hwy. 259 N. KILGORE COLLEGE LONGVIEW 300 S. High St. LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY and S. E. BELCHER, JR. CHAPEL AND PERFORMANCE CENTER 2100 S. Mobberly Ave.

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SO

LONGVIEW SWIM CENTER 1001 W. Fairmont St.

SP

LEAR SPORTS COMPLEX & KIDSVIEW A UNIQUE FAMILY PLAYGROUND H.G. Mosley Pkwy. & FM 1845

SQ

PAUL BOORMAN TRAIL Hwy. 80 to Fairmont St.

SR

SPRING HILL PARK & NEAL MCCOY PLAYGROUND Fenton Rd. off George Richey Rd.

PAULA MARTIN 3 H JONES REC CENTER 1230 B S. High St.

GREEN ST. REC 2 H CENTER

(SENIOR ADULT)

814 S. Green St.

POINTS OF INTEREST

lA

AMTRAK TRAIN DEPOT Pacific & S. Mobberly Ave.

l

GREYHOUND BUS DEPOT First St. & Magrill St.

lC

EAST TEXAS REGIONAL AIRPORT TX Hwy. 322

lD

LONGVIEW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE and LONGVIEW CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 410 N. Center St.

B

HIGHER EDUCATION 1

SN WILLOW PARK 301 E. Birdsong St.

RECREATION CENTERS

PINE TREE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1701 Pine Tree Rd. SPRING HILL SCHOOLS 3101 Spring Hill Rd.

SM TIMPSON PARK 500 Timpson St.

l l

LONGVIEW MALL Loop 281 at McCann Rd. THE VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER Judson Rd. & Hollybrook Dr.

J.R. CURTIS GARDEN l • FOR THE BLIND

• MAUDE COBB

ACTIVITY CENTER

• FAIRGROUNDS & RODEO ARENA 100 Grand Blvd.

LONGVIEW TOWNE CENTER

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N East tExas REgional aiRpoRt 6 Miles South of I-20

Downtown

1 Historical l Markers are located at l 2 each number.

3 Follow the l markers on l 4 the downtown 5 map and learn l how Longview’s l 6 destiny was

shaped by these events.

l 8 l 9 l

One Hundred Acres of Heritage - 1870 Kelly Plow Company Timber - The First Industry

One Hundred Acres of Heritage

Downtown Points of Interest A Gregg County l Historical Museum

King Cotton First Baptist Church When Mule Power Moved People

7 Then Came the Railroad

l C l D l E l

B Longview Museum of Fine Arts

The Discovery Wells From Subsistence to Cash Crops

10 Banking - The Final Ingredient l 11 First United Methodist Church l

F l

Heritage Plaza Gregg County Courthouse City of Longview Offices and Public Library Longview Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Information

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Longview United Within the city limits are numerous, proactive organizations designed to help those in need. Please consult this partial list for volunteer opportunities and extend your heart and helping hands across the greater Longview area.

Boys and Girls Club of Gregg County (903) 234-9130 www.bcggregg.com

American Cancer Society (903) 234-0200

Community Connections (903) 297-2215

The American Cancer Society provides assistance by loaning medical equipment, securing medical transportation as needed, and assisting during medical treatments.

American Red Cross (903) 753-2091 www.redcrosslongview.org

The East Texas Piney Woods Chapter of the American Red Cross provides relief to victims of local disasters and helps residents prevent and prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Arc of Gregg County (903) 753-0723 www.arcofgreggco.org

The Arc of Gregg County is committed to expanding opportunities for people with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities.

Because I Care (903) 759-3349 www.bictexas.org

A volunteer recruitment group which supports the BE THE MATCH Registry for marrow donors.

Boy Scouts of America (903) 597-7201

The Boy Scouts of America – East Texas Area Council instills values in youth and enables them to make ethical choices throughout their lives.

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Crisis and Volunteer Opportunities

The Boys and Girls Club of Gregg County offers youth in Longview a positive alternative to the streets.

Buckner Children and Family Services (903) 757-9383 www.bucknerchildren.org

A Christian ministry devoted to protecting children, promoting independence, and building strong families.

A parenting resource center.

Community Healthcore (903) 758-2471 www.communityhealthcore.com

Community Healthcare serves thousands of children and adults each year for problems associated with mental health, retardation and substance abuse issues through special programs devoted to helping people lead lives of dignity and independence.

Deaf Action Center (903) 553-9655 www.dactexas.org

The Deaf Action Center is dedicated to removing the barriers that exist for deaf or hard of hearing through a series of comprehensive services.

D.O.R.S. Youth Transition Center (903) 803-0100 www.dorsytc.org

In partnership with Longview Independent School District’s LEAD Academy, D.O.R.S. Youth Transition Center can maximize its services to at-risk and homeless youth. It is the only youth transition center in Longview.

East Texas Angel Network (903) 297-9000 www.eastexasangelnetwork.com

The East Texas Angel Network provides financial assistance to families of children with life-threatening or serious illness; child must be approved before age 18.

East Texas Child Advocates (903) 753-8093

East Texas Child Advocates (ETCA) advocates for child victims of abuse and promotes child abuse prevention through special programs serving Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Rusk and Upshur counties.

East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (903) 753-7633 www.etcada.com

The East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Abuse is a United Way agency that has served the Longview community for over 40 years.

East Texas Council of Governments (903) 984-8641 wwwetcog.com East Texas Council of Governments provides services authorized by the Older Americans Act, including senior nutrition, home-delivered meals, transportation, benefit counseling, legal assistance, ombudsmen, caregiver support, emergency response system, and other services.

East Texas Food Bank (903) 597-3663 www.etexfoodbank.org

East Texas Food Bank developed a program to provide food and grocery products to member agencies that serve the needy.

East Texas Literacy Council (903) 757-9302 www.eastexasliteracycouncil.org

The East Texas Literacy Council, affiliated with ProLiteracy America, works to increase reading, writing and communication skills of Gregg County adults.

East Texas Treatment Center (903) 984-5571 www.ettctx.org

The East Texas Treatment Center is a Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) with the purpose of restoring our patients to their highest possible level of independence within the limits of their disability by providing quality therapy services.

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Friends of Partners in Prevention (903) 237-1019

Partners in Prevention is a community organization designed to interceded in the prevention of addictive substance abuse through education and mentoring campaigns.

Girl Scouts of Tejas Council (903) 526-2007 www.girlscouts.org

Girl Scouts is dedicated to building character in girls and skills for success.

Gregg County Self Advocates (903) 753-0723 www.arcofgreggco.org

Texas Advocacy provides training to its members on self-advocacy, selfdetermination, self-directed planning and activities. The Gregg County Self Advocates membership is made up of individuals dealing with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities.

Goodwill Industries (903) 593-8438 www.texasgoodwills.org

Goodwill’s philosophy is to serve anyone who needs assistance.

Hiway 80 Rescue Mission (903) 759-9875 www.hiway80mission.org

Hiway 80 Rescue Mission has offered relief to disadvantaged men through shelter, meals, and training since 1955.

Hope Haven (903) 234-2583

Hope Haven reacts to the emergency needs of women and children through shelter, hot meals and ministry.

Humane Society of Northeast Texas (903) 297-2170 www.hsntx.org

The Humane Society is dedicated to providing a safe haven for animals, inspiring awareness and compassion, and promoting the human-animal bond.

Junior Achievement of East Texas (903) 297-2202 www.longview.ja.org

Junior Achievment educates and inspires young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics to improve the quality of their lives.

Longview Child Development Center (903) 758-3861

The Longview Child Development Center provides quality, affordable childcare to income eligible families.

Longview Community Ministries (903) 753-3561 www.longviewcommunityministries.org Longview Community Ministries enables local congregations and community groups to assist persons in need through six major programs.

Longview Habitat for Humanity (903) 236-0900 www.longviewhabitat.org

Longview Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit ecumenical Christian organization that builds decent, affordable house for those eligible.

Longview Interfaith Hospitality Network (903) 234-8343

Longview Interfaith Hospitality Networks provides temporary housing, comprehensive case management and on-going supportive services for families in crisis.

Longview Wellness Pointe (903) 758-2610 www.wellnesspointe.com

Longview Wellness Pointe offers health care to income eligible participants, specializing in prenatal care, HIV resources and general care.

Newgate Mission (903) 757-6146 www.newgatemission.org

Newgate Mission offers relief and recovery to individuals in disadvantaged circumstances.

Parenting Resource Center of East Texas (903) 753-7800

Parenting Resource Center of East Texas is a primary prevention organization which provides parenting class and advocacy intervention for children.

Real Jobs for Youth (903) 757-7544 www.realjobsforyouthinc.org

Promoting inclusive employment opportunities for youth with disabilities, ages 14-29.

Salvation Army (903) 753-4511 www.salvationarmyusa.org

The Salvation Army, on a first-come, first-served basis provides food, clothing, lodging, medication, and emergency travel assistance to persons in need.

See Saw Children’s Place (903) 759-1726 www.seesawchildren.org

See Saw Children’s Place offers safe and affordable childcare for low-income families, including an after-school program.

Texas Department of Human Services (903) 753-0083 www.hhsc.state.tx.us

The Texas Department of Human Services provides Medicaid for deprived children ages 0-18 years, pregnant women and caretakers of deprived children, food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), job posting for all jobs in the East Texas area, employment, counseling, clothes, education referrals, and burial assistance for indigents.

United Way of Gregg County (903) 758-0191 www.longviewunitedway.org

The United Way of Gregg Country is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the community by raising funds and allocating resources for outreach organizations, fostering volunteerism and leadership, and encouraging collaborative efforts to create real and lasting change for the people of Longview.

Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center (903) 797-2414 www.windridgetexas.org

Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of children and adults who face mental, emotional, or physical disabilities, or debilitating life situations.

Women’s Center of East Texas/Hope’s Closet (903) 295-7846 www.wc-et.org

The Women’s Center of East Texas provides non-residential assistance to victims of domestic and sexual violence.

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education guide PUBLIC SCHOOLS

area with over 8,400 students housed on 16 different

Gladewater ISD

program for all grades, a fine arts program, and elementary,

campuses. The district maintains an outstanding athletic

(903) 845-6991 • www.gladewaterisd.com

middle and high school choir, band and orchestra. LISD,

Gladewater ISD administrators, teachers, and staff

members, in partnership with students, parents, and

community members, are dedicated to helping each student prepare for life-long learning and effective citizenship.

through its diversity and talent, provides programs to meet the needs and interests of all students to help them reach their potential.

GISD has an enrollment of 2,020 students in grades PK-12.

Pine Tree ISD

as Academically Acceptable. Gladewater High School has

Pine Tree Independent School District proudly educates

available in East Texas. GISD requires highly qualified

a tradition of excellence by providing a high-quality

individual needs of all students.

opportunities for the success of all students, equipping

Longview ISD

citizens. The district, established in 1847, currently consists

GISD and all campuses have been identified by the TEA

(903) 295-5000 • www.ptisd.org

one of the most extensive college dual-enrollment programs

students in Longview, Texas with the mission to continue

teachers and administrators dedicated to meeting the

and challenging educational environment, maximizing them to become responsible, involved, and productive

(903) 758-1728 • www.lisd.org

Longview Independent School District is the largest and

most comprehensive school district in the greater Longview

of six campuses with approximately 4,600 students. Pine

Tree ISD offers a variety of specialty courses and activities

within a comprehensive, rigorous and balanced curriculum.

Top 10 Reasons to send your child to

St. Mary’s Catholic School

10. Limited class size 9. Competitive Athletics

5. Involved and engaged parents 4. After School Enrichment

Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Track, Archery

Golf, Pottery, Dance, Guitar, Foreign Languages, Scouts, Cooking, Fencing, and After School Care

8. Academic competitions Model United Nations, Robotics, Writing, Poetry

7. Field based learning

Class trips to Houston/Galveston, Austin/San Antonio, Jefferson, Shreveport, Dallas, and Pines Camp to study Science, History, Social Studies, and Art

6. Environmental learning

Outdoor classroom, pond, gardening lab, walking paths, prayer walk, and trails

Educating the whole childspiritually and academically

3. Fine arts, PE and recess everyday Choir, Recorders/Band, Art, Drama, Musicals, and Yearbook

2. Accelerated curriculum Individualized guided reading instruction, dual credits, College Board pre-AP certified teachers 1. And the number one reason to send your children to St. Mary’s is...JESUS CHRIST!

NOW REGISTERING FOR 2013-2014 ● LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE - ALL FAITHS WELCOME 405 Hollybrook Drive ● (903) 753-1657 ● www.stmaryslgv.org

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Spring Hill ISD

The Crisman School

Spring Hill Independent School District, established in

The mission of The Crisman School (founded in 1969)

(903) 759-4404 • www.springhill.esc7.net

1887, provides education opportunities to promote a safe, challenging learning environment to foster academic excellence, citizenship, and success for all students.

Located in the northwest area of Longview, Spring Hill

ISD serves a student body of approximately 2,000 students on four campuses. Spring Hill High School was ranked

#121 in state out of 1,842 schools and #1,510 out of 22,000 nationally. The dedicated faculty creates an atmosphere in which students are taught academic skills and given opportunities to grow, excel and compete in the world.

White Oak ISD

(903) 291-2200 • www.woisd.net

is to teach bright children with learning differences to be successful academically, socially, and emotionally.

Students K-9 receive individualized instruction based on a comprehensive curriculum. Class size is limited to eight students. The specialized reading program,

Alphabet Phonics, as well as speech therapy, is available to students who qualify. Students also participate in physical education, fine arts, and computer science. Financial aid is available.

East Texas Christian School

(903) 757-7891 • www.etcs.cc

East Texas Christian School offers K-4 through 12th grade

White Oak ISD is the only Recognized School District

on its 24-acre campus and provides a course study

consistently scored above the state and national average

the Association of Christian School International (ACSI)

in Gregg and Smith counties. White Oak students have scores on college entrance exams. All campuses have

received Recognized ratings from the Texas Education Agency. White Oak Middle School and White Oak

Elementary campuses have been rated Exemplary.

Preparing students for success academically, personally,

and socially is the goal of White Oak ISD – “A Heritage of Pride, Tradition and Educational Excellence.”

PRIVATE SCHOOLS Christian Heritage School

(903) 663-4151 • www.chslongview.com

Christian Heritage School was founded upon a tradition

of Christian beliefs. Its mission is to provide excellence in

college preparatory education, working together with the home, to develop within all students the ability to reason

Biblically, while equipping them to fulfill their God-given

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(903) 758-9741 • www.crismanprep.org

consistent with the Christian faith. ETCS is a member of and accredited by the International Christian Accrediting

Association (ICAA), recognized by the TEA. The school is

affiliated with TAPPS and CSAC for athletic, fine arts, and

academic competitions. Over 40% of the qualified teaching staff hold masters degrees.

Longview Christian School

(903) 297-3501 • www.lcseagles.com

Assisting Christian families in the training of their children is the heart behind the work of Longview Christian School.

LCS is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International and is recognized by the Texas Education

Agency. It was named East Texas’ Best School in a 2004

Reader’s Choice Survey. LSC offers classes for K-12, plus

a full athletic program and fine arts and drama programs.

Longview Christian School is located at 2101 West Marshall (one block west of H.G. Mosley Parkway) in Longview.

calling in life. Christian Heritage School has a philosophy

St. Mary’s Catholic School

serve students in grades K-12. Come discover the difference

St. Mary’s Catholic School has provided students with

of learning grounded in Christian classical education. We

(903) 753-1657 • www.stmaryslgv.org

classical education can make.

quality education rooted in Christ since 1948. St. Mary’s

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offers a strong academic curriculum supplemented by

special enrichment programs and believes that formation of the human person is best rooted in the biblical

understanding of humanity. St. Mary’s provides an environment that fosters enthusiasm for lifelong learning in which each student can develop his full potential and practice respect for those of other faith traditions and cultures. The student/teacher ratio is 12:1.

Trinity School of Texas

(903) 753-0612 • www.trinityschooloftexas.com For over 50 years, Trinity School of Texas has been an independent, co-educational day school serving students two years through grade 12. At Trinity each child’s individual interests are encouraged and rewarded, laying the foundation for a lifetime of achievement. The Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools maintains accreditation. A 100% college attendance rate is reached each year, proving that these high standards provide students with success in college placement and the transition to college life.

HIGHER EDUCATION East Texas Baptist University

(800) 804-ETBU • www.etbu.edu Embracing Faith, Engaging Minds, and Empowering Leaders – this describes the student experience at East Texas Baptist University. The 100-year-old Christian university offers a challenging curriculum in more than 40 areas of study. Students who want to pursue a more intensive learning environment can participate in the

University Scholars program. Travel-study opportunities allow students to see the world while working toward their education goals. Graduate programs are offered in business, counseling, teacher education, and religion.

Jarvis Christian College

(903) 769-5700 • www.jarvis.edu Jarvis Christian College, founded in 1912 in Wood County, maintains a proud tradition of progressive leadership and accomplishments. A fully accredited, four-year, private liberal arts college for men and women, Jarvis provides great educational opportunities within the context of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Jarvis awards Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Science degrees with a variety of majors and academic concentrations, and also offers dual degree programs.

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Kilgore College

Texas State Technical College – Marshall

Kilgore College-Longview offers college courses designed

Texas State Technical College Marshall: Uniquely qualified

(903) 753-2642 • www.kilgore.edu

for transfer to a university; the innovative QUEST

program, a fast-track way for adults to earn an associate degree in two years while attending night school; and Workforce Education programs designed to prepare

students for immediate careers. The college also provides

training programs including Adult Basic Education; GED preparation; ESL classes (free of charge); Continuing Education classes to update job skills; and the Small

Business Development Center to counsel, train, and inform small business owners.

(903) 935-1010; (888) 382-8782 • www.marshall.tstc.edu

– delivering relevant, up-to-date training in state-of-the-art labs, on-site classrooms, on line, or in high school classes

throughout East Texas for careers currently in demand in the region. Those seeking two-year associate of applied

science degrees, certificate programs to upgrade their skills, or on-the job training will find what they are looking for.

Services include financial aid, scholarships, and student housing.

UT Tyler Longview University Center (903) 663-8100 • www.uttyler.edu

LeTourneau University

The University of Texas at Tyler Longview University

(903) 233-3000 • www.letu.edu

LeTourneau University has nearly 3,800 students from all

50 states and more than 25 nations and offers more than 60

undergraduate and graduate degree programs. For working adults, LeTourneau offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business and teacher certification programs at the main

campus in Longview and at sites in Austin, Bedford, Dallas, Houston, and Tyler. At LeTourneau University, Faith brings us together. Ingenuity sets us apart.

Center offers degree-completion programs and various

short courses in its two-story, 25,000 square foot facility

that houses 10 classrooms, two student study/conference rooms, computer laboratory, nursing laboratory, library,

and student commons. Students receive instruction onsite

and through distance education technology. The university

offers scholarship opportunities, including Presidential and Alumni Scholarships to outstanding community/junior college transfer students.

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A HEALTHY OBSESSION:

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FIRST CLASS MEDICAL CARE IN LONGVIEW

by Kimberly Fish

What do you get when you mix walking trails, countless fitness centers, a neo-southern diet, and two outstanding regional hospitals offering specialties in almost every field?

A community obsessed with good health. The City of Longview won a state fitness award a few years ago, and that nod from Austin shone a light on a trend growing within this corner of the state.

Longview likes to be healthy. The locals, many of whom brought their love of outdoor activities from vibrant places around the world and planted them here, have developed a core need to establish a healthy base line, and a strong desire to maintain that level. Having a community that understands that, and provides the medical services necessary to achieve good health, makes living in Longview a first class experience.

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Good Shepherd Medical Center Good Shepherd Medical Center serves the area as a 425-bed regional referral center equipped with a Level II Trauma

as a high-performing hospital, but also now as a teaching hospital as well.

Last July, Good Shepherd welcomed its inaugural class of

Center (highest level trauma care in the county), the highest

18 internal medicine residents. Working in collaboration

Primary Stroke Center, Heart Failure Center, and a Certified

Center, this three-year internal medicine residency training

the establishment of a newly developed service area,

residents throughout a traditional three-year cycle, and

Some of the surgeries offered using these advanced

and outpatient care, and other environments that train

gynecological surgery. This translates to smaller incisions,

first-class medical care both for the immediate, present

level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and is accredited as a

with the University of Texas at Tyler Health Science

Chest Pain Center. Last year, Good Shepherd announced

program will ultimately grow to include 54 medical

the Center for Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery.

offers a range of training disciplines including ER, inpatient

methods include general surgery, brain, spinal, ENT, and

outstanding internists. GSMC is on a path to sustain

less pain, and quicker recovery.

community, and also for the patients of tomorrow.

Good Shepherd serves many roles in the community care

Because the growth of Longview’s community continues

worksite wellness programs to impact healthy employees.

Good Shepherd announced plans to construct a new

network, like working with the area’s employers to design

to change the way medicine is made available to patients,

The Institute for Healthy Living not only offers cardiac

medical facility in north Longview. Early in 2013, GSMC

range of fitness classes to impact the overall health and

to be located on property near the Institute for Healthy

it’s not just patients that flourish, but staff too.

emergency needs as well as offer comprehensive outpatient

Nurses Credentialing Center, recognizes the outstanding

X-ray, and digital mammography, patients will have

and validates nurses’ contributions to medical care.

North Longview location.

rehabilitation and physical therapy services, but also a

will break ground for an outpatient and emergency center

wellness of Longview. With this commitment to care,

Living on Hawkins Parkway. This new facility will address

The Pathway to Excellence Program, awarded by American

diagnostic testing services. With MRI, CT, ultrasound,

environment Good Shepherd provides to its nursing staff

convenient access to many health care services all in one

Because Good Shepherd is often in the top tier of awards,

Good Shepherd remains committed to serving the

most recently as one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s annual list “100 Great Community Hospitals” (one of only

three in Texas to make that list), and Modern Healthcare magazine’s, “Top 100 Hospitals: 15 Top Small Health

Systems,” it has been able to develop a reputation not only

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community with quality medical care and needed health

care services that ultimately create a healthier lifestyle for those who live and work in East Texas.

Longview Regional Medical Center

parking, a new medical building for physicians, and a new

Having established a presence in the community as an

LRMC has doubled. Construction began last July and is

award-winning, innovative hospital, Longview Regional

Medical Center is about to take the stage with an extensive overhaul to its campus. Serving community health care needs since 1980, LRMC has been on a fast track to

meeting the needs of local patients – and not patients only,

main hospital entrance. It’s perfectly acceptable to say anticipated to continue throughout 2013. The primary 131-bed hospital is still fully usable for inpatient and outpatient care, and the medical buildings are still accessible despite the construction process.

because LRMC is often voted an outstanding environment

LRMC is a leader in many fields on the hospital campus,

hallmark for the LRMC experience. Recently, LRMC

Premiere Center of Excellence, daVinci robotic surgery,

hosted by the Longview News-Journal as the “Best Place

surgery. Stay in touch with the construction process via an

for nurses, as everyone strives to make patient care the

including the Heart and Vascular Institute, Vein Center – a

received recognition from the “Best of East Texas” awards

Stryker joint replacements, HALO procedures, and bariatric

to Have Your Baby,” and in 2011 as one of the

on-line update at www.longviewregional.com.

“Best Companies to Work for in Texas.” From creating an

Texas Oncology – Longview Cancer Center

excellent patient experience, to receiving recognition from the community, hospital staff continues to stay involved

in giving back. And, because first class medical care begins

Residents of Longview, and the surrounding East Texas

together to donate almost 4,000 lbs. of canned goods as

cancer care provided by Texas Oncology-Longview

with the human touch, last spring employees rallied

part of a food drive benefitting Longview Community

area, have convenient access to the most advanced

Cancer Center. The Center works with both hospitals

Ministries.

and offers medical and radiation oncology, diagnostic

Now it’s time to turn that motivation toward making the

Oncology-Longview Cancer Center benefit from

physical campus as competitive as the people who work there. The word “doubling” comes into play as many of

LRMC ‘s units will be doubling and expanding: Included in this major overhaul are more surgery operating rooms,

ICU beds, labor and delivery beds, neonatal intensive care beds, and a new onsite oncology unit with eight beds.

The hospital’s expansion also brings private care rooms, a new three-story vertical tower, newly designed campus

radiology, and gynecologic oncology. Patients of Texas leading-edge medical services and participation in

innovative research programs. In addition, support services are committed to addressing the educational, emotional, financial, and nutritional needs of patients during their cancer treatment. Texas Oncology-Longview Cancer

Center offers a state-of-the-art cancer care that is close to

home and includes PET/CT scans and mammosite therapy as part of the treatment. It hosts regular breast cancer and

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Wellness Pointe A non-profit, community clinic, Wellness Pointe continues to expand services and preventive programs offering care to the needy and underserved in Longview. Founded in 1992, Wellness Pointe offers a full-range of medical and

dental care with services ranging from prenatal, obstetrics, pediatrics, general medicine, family planning, and dental, and is a vibrant part of the local health care system.

From prenatal care to nutritional classes to help patients with weight management, Wellness Pointe covers a

comprehensive level of care. HIV is on the rise nationally, but Wellness Pointe reaches out to the hurting by

offering confidential treatment, education, intervention, and direction to government services. Its clients

overwhelmingly insist that they approve of the courteous and helpful intervention they receive at Wellness Pointe.

Wellness Pointe is another first class endeavor in the

community’s focus on achieving and maintaining good health for all its citizens. general oncology support groups. The Center treats all

Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center

breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, and lung cancer

Children and adults have a unique opportunity to

community. Longview Cancer Center offers a full range

Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center. Using a horse’s

convenience.

riders receive necessary therapeutic benefits that improve

CORE

such as Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, stroke, and

types of cancer, from the most prevalent forms such as

to any of the more than 200 forms identified by the medical

participate in equine-facilitated activities and therapies at

of first class treatment options at high levels of care and

three-dimensional movements to simulate the human gait,

The Center for Rehabilitation Excellence, CORE, has helped rehabilitate many Longview workers who have faced

job-related injuries, as well as offering physical therapy to assist patients recovering from sports injuries, common

injuries, speech therapy, and the natural results of aging.

In its concern for the ongoing recovery and general health

of the Longview community, CORE offers a program called WorkSTEPS, an analysis of the physical requirements of a

worker’s job and his ability to complete them at a specific job site, plus customizing therapy regimes for non-work

related issues. CORE assists patients on site with multiple

therapy venues, including water therapy, or can customize a format for its clients that not only returns them to work,

but also evaluates the physical demands of their job and the

necessary physical therapy programs required to keep them working safely. CORE is a comprehensive therapy center designed to restore clients to their health. Keeping the

community healthy is what makes CORE an asset to our community’s overall health care prescription.

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their cognitive and physical abilities. Folks with disabilities head injuries rely on Windridge’s seven-member teaching

staff, 50 volunteers, and 22 horses to implement therapeutic horsemanship programs. One of the most important

benefits a participant gains is self-confidence and improved realization of their abilities. Physicians, therapists,

educators, parents and spouses vouch for the improved

physical and cognitive life skills gained from riding a horse.

Parkinson’s to breast cancer to eating disorders to mental

the inside of a man.”

uniting family members with education and experiences.

As many have quoted, “The outside of a horse is good for Founded in 1988 as a non-profit organization, Windridge

is located north of Longview on 25 acres of rolling hillside.

Operating six days a week within a 38,000 sq. ft. facility, it serves approximately 110 participants weekly. Windridge

illness, friends support friends in these mentor-led chapters To help keep the public informed, various outlets like

health food stores and local gyms offer health screenings

for first line awareness to people afflicted with a variety of symptoms.

is a premiere, accredited center with the Professional

And you don’t have to have a private gym membership

and an invaluable component of progressive healthcare in

Longview’s extensive parks and recreation outlets

Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship International, East Texas.

to benefit from preventive health therapies. The City of provide a variety of sports endeavors in well-lit and

Quick Help

up-to-date facilities. For example, swim lessons and classes

Within Longview there are also several urgent care centers

non-weight-bearing, low-impact exercises provide whole

with situations that don’t require a hospital ER, or even

muscle and joint problems. But for those that love a good

clinics, the local Veterans Administration clinic continues to

hike/bike trails with an extensive linear park/trail system.

to service men and women.

courses and three public pools, exercise options don’t have

are offered at the Paula Martin Jones Center. These

with physicians and physicians’ assistants available to help

body movement and are recommended for people with

an appointment to be seen. In addition to neighborhood

brisk workout outdoors, there are more than 15 miles of

offer compassionate patient care, counseling and education

With 25 lighted public tennis courts, three public golf

Community Support Support groups exist for a variety of issues affecting

Longview residents, and are offered through the hospitals, community outreach centers, and church ministries. From

to be expensive.

Longview’s natural environment is a great resource to

assist with a healthy lifestyle, but if medical conditions

create crises or emergencies in life, it’s good to know that outstanding medical care is close at hand.

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LeTourneau Technologies is now Joy Global – a company focused on mining.

In Longview, we produce specialty grades of steel and design and build massive loaders used by miners worldwide.

2401 South High Street | Longview, Texas 75602 | 903.237.7000 | careers.joyglobal.com

Horaney ’s , Inc. Celebrates 73rd Year In 1940 Harry and Lorene Horaney opened a feed store in Downtown Longview at 207 N. Court. Horaney’s quickly became a community gathering place.

The business grew, evolving out of its rural heritage, and carrying new merchandise to keep pace with the changing society. The store began to attract homeowners as well as farmers, and Horaney’s Feed Store flourished.

Albert, Harry’s son, married Betty Barkett of Marshall in 1958, and together they worked with Harry until Harry’s death in 1977. Albert relocated the store to a larger and more modern building at 301 W. Methvin. Today it remains the same friendly store it was in 1940.

In 1996 Albert Horaney died, and as a tribute to his memory, the City of Longview changed the name of Court Street to Horaney Street. Betty, like Albert and his father Harry, has enjoyed helping many people over the years, never wanting recognition.

Today Betty Horaney continues the business with her son Ron, representing the third Horaney generation to run the store.

Customers still come downtown to browse, shop, have a cup of coffee and visit, and find a large supply of birdfeeders, birdhouses, fountains, plants, chemicals, organic products, sprayers, garden seeds, farm supplies, horse supplies, tools, cattle feeders, wire, and an endless array of other items.

Giving back to the community for all the goodness shown the family, Betty is active in many worthwhile projects in town.

It is Betty Horaney’s hope that the Horaney business will continue through her son, and one day pass to her four grandchildren, keeping the family tradition alive in Longview. “God has blessed me,” she says, “not only with my family, but with my customers and the many friends I have made throughout the years through this wonderful business.”

903-753-3661 301 W. Methvin St.

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www.horaneys.com

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Open Mon - Fri, 7- 6 pm; Sat, 7- 2:30 pm

Betty & Ron Horaney Horaney’s, Inc.

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2012

ANNUAL REPORT OUR VISION

To be recognized as an effective resource, providing relevant, innovative, and impactful programming that ensures a healthy business climate and an enhanced quality of life for Longview and Gregg County.

OUR MISSION

To engage in and promote projects with a positive economic impact on the Longview Trade Area.

OUR CORE VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Strengthen the Local Economy Promote the Community Provide Networking Opportunities Represent the Interests of Business with Government Build Community Leadership and Development Programs

OUR BRAND PROMISE

Longview offers an authentic East Texas experience for visitors, residents, and business. The people are friendly, possess a can-do attitude, and are hard working. Our healthy economic environment attracts businesses: job opportunities, strong/affordable workforce, retail, dining and manufacturing.

Dear Chamber Members, I wasn’t born in Longview. As they say, “I got here as fast as I could.” Maybe that’s why I love the story of how Longview got its name. In the 1870s Earpville was already here. Pine Tree had a U.S. Post Office. But railroad pioneers pressing westward were impressed with the vista of this new place and attached the name “Longview” to what we now recognize as our community.

Isn’t that a great legacy? We live in a place literally named in honor of the inspiration that comes from looking forward and upward. We’ve been home to forward thinking people like R.G. LeTourneau, who was one of the most prolific inventors of the last century. Today, we’re home to the U.S. Nationals balloon race. We are a place that celebrates climbing high and taking the long view!

Serving as chair of the Longview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2012 has been an honor. I’ve learned much from Anne Hugman. I’ve been inspired by Brad Tidwell. I’ve been impressed by Kelly Hall. Your Chamber is blessed with outstanding leadership. I trust history will judge that it was a year of taking the long view.

Your Chamber this year launched an Emerging Leaders Recognition program to acknowledge and encourage high ability young leaders in our community.

We began an InterCity Leadership Visit program by traveling to Chattanooga, TN and bringing back creative ideas that can shape our future. We made significant progress in developing an Entrepreneur Center from which may come future businesses and jobs for our children. We’ve remained an advocate for you in this election year – reminding political leaders that the long view demands we focus on creating new wealth for all, not redistributing wealth from one group to another.

What’s next for a community with a long view? We look ahead and decide to create our future. We dream with each other about what can be, we discipline ourselves to develop a plan, and then we work the plan with tenacity. I hope to be a part of it.

Looking ahead,

Dale Lunsford

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WHAT DOES THE CHAMBER DO? Strengthen

the local economy by researching and providing available resources to grow our local businesses.

Promote

the community by marketing Longview as a destination for new businesses, tourists, active older adults, and potential employees.

Provide

networking opportunities by organizing and hosting a myriad of seminars, events, and programs for our Chamber members.

Represent

the interests of business with government by building relationships with governmental agencies and effectively voicing the needs of area businesses.

Build

community-wide leadership by encouraging and developing a shared vision for the future of Longview and collectively influencing stakeholders to make it happen.

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Success to Significance MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2012 JANUARY

The Chamber’s Convention sales team

participated in the Texas Society of Association Executives’

Affordable Health Care Act. The Small Business task force

completed the Business Accreditation Model for a January 2013 launch date.

AUGUST

The “Taking Care of Business” marketing

annual Southwest Showcase in Austin. They also traveled

campaign was launched to increase awareness of the

in the annual Vacation and Leisure Show.

the necessary funds needed to ensure quality programs

to Katy to promote Longview as a destination community

FEBRUARY

Chamber staff, with the retail commercial

development team, attended the International Council of

Shopping Centers (ICSC) Open Air Summit in Dallas. The

Open Air Summit is the best source for high level contacts and exchange of ideas of the Open Air Shopping Center

sector. The Convention sales team traveled to Fort Worth to promote Longview as a destination community in the annual Vacation and Leisure Show.

MARCH

The Chamber hosted their third annual Salute

to Health Care to recognize outstanding professionals

in Longview’s health care industry. A new 30-second TV commercial was premiered to promote Real East Texas Living in Longview.

APRIL

The Chamber organized and led a delegation of

business and community leaders to Washington D.C.

They met with representatives and pressed issues which

are important to businesses in Longview and the East Texas region. Downtown LIVE! launched on Friday evenings to attract visitors and residents to downtown.

MAY

The Chamber’s annual Small Business Awards

Luncheon was celebrated by over 400 business and

community leaders. The 2011-2012 class of Leadership Longview graduated and received recognition and

certificates of completion. Business EXPO was held

following the luncheon and provided local businesses an

opportunity to meet other businesses and promote services and products.

JUNE

The Chamber staff, with the retail commercial team,

Chamber in the Longview area community and raised and services are provided in 2013. Staff and the

retail/commercial development team participated in the

NTCAR Commercial Real Estate Expo in Dallas to promote Longview as a destination community for new businesses.

SEPTEMBER

The Chamber’s advocacy team hosted a

21st Energy Summit with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

for members and community businesses. Over 20 business and community leaders conducted their first annual

exploratory visit to begin the framework for a future InterCity Visit.

OCTOBER

Staff, with the Chamber’s convention sales

team, traveled to Florida for the Small Meetings Market.

They showcased Longview as a destination community

for small meetings and conventions. The advocacy team and staff participated in the U.S. Chamber’s Regional

Conference to become more familiar with the potential impact of the Fiscal Cliff and The Affordable Health Care Act.

NOVEMBER

The Chamber’s retail commercial team

traveled to Dallas to promote Longview’s market at the Texas Deal Making annual conference. The Chamber

hosted two business education webinars in the areas of communication and how to grow your business.

DECEMBER

The Chamber’s first annual Emerging

Leaders Awards luncheon was hosted at Pinecrest Country Club. Three professionals under 40 years of age were

recognized for their outstanding accomplishments and

participated in ICSC RECon in Las Vegas. RECon is the

exhibiting strong leadership skills. Chamber staff and

provides opportunity to network and make deals with

Austin to prepare for the 2013 legislative session.

global convention for the shopping center industry and retail real estate professionals from around the world.

The Chamber launched its newly designed website.

JULY

The Chamber hosted a briefing for member

businesses covering the critical changes within The

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advocacy team attended legislative briefings in Dallas and

• Represented over 1,100 members

• Worked alongside roughly 49,000 employees • Responsible for roughly 79,240 referrals to member companies

MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERS

educated, and in the forefront of important issues and

IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION

The Chamber BUZZ received a facelift this year with a

• 35,000 page visits to the Longview Chamber of

expanded to a 9”X12” format. It remains a bi-monthly,

Commerce website

• 52 issues of The Chamber BUZZ delivered as electronic

events that affect their business world on a daily basis. new look and format. Starting with the May-June 2012

issue, The Longview Progress Report was redesigned and 16-page full color Chamber magazine.

newsletters to Chamber members

In July the Chamber launched a newly designed website

the Chamber and its divisions and events have nearly

Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Downtown

• The Chamber inherited one of the first Facebook Pages

divisions and activities of the Chamber.

• 4,822 comments on the six primary Facebook Pages for

which combined three websites: Chamber of Commerce,

5,000 “Likes”

Development. The site provides information for all the

created for Longview. Longview, Texas Community

Information Center has a following of over 8,200 and is open to any and all who wish to contribute

• 583 members in the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group

Three additional e-newsletters are published quarterly by the Chamber: The CVB LongView is published monthly, Main Street News, and The Leader.

The Chamber continues its efforts to engage members

INFLUENCE AND ACCESS AT A NEW HIGH – YOUR VOICE FOR BUSINESS

media platforms, electronic newsletters, and email

• Kelly Hall serves on the U.S. Chamber’s Committee

and the community through its websites, social

communication. These social media outlets allow

the Chamber to remain on the cutting edge of digital communications.

Social media sites, LongviewVotes.com, and

MyChamberApp, are additional examples of using

electronic means. The Chamber continues its commitment to the printed word to keep its membership informed,

of 100, Transportation/Infrastructure Committee, as

well as the American Chamber of Commerce Executives,

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Texas Association of Business, and the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives Board of Directors

• Chamber Board member Tim Vaughn serves on the Texas Association of Business

• Chamber Board Jeremy DuMond serves on the Texas Association of Manufacturing board of directors.

• Chamber member Richard Manley serves on the U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Committee

awarding a $40,000 facade grant to the Gregg County Historical Museum.

DOWNTOWN LIVE! Downtown LIVE! was launched as a new endeavor in 2012 to promote the downtown area by featuring some of East

Texas’ finest musicians as well as providing a marketplace for local vendors.

The Longview Chamber of Commerce provides the avenue to access local, state and national leadership through its annual State of the City address, Elected Officials

Reception, Candidate’s Forum, Gregg County Days in Austin, and the Washington D.C. Fly In.

BUSINESS EDUCATION BOOSTS BOTTOM LINE • 100 trainings

• 800 participants

• 145 member business categories represented • 9 Member2member orientation sessions • 12 Business Development Programs • 6 Technology Series Workshops

• 4 Women’s Leadership Council Programs Since 2005, the Business Education Series has provided more than 1,000 business people with valuable insight, education, and tools of the trade to help their business

increase productivity and profits. In 2012 some of the most

popular seminars were in the areas of customer service and social media.

The Business Education Series expanded in 2012 with

• Continued MOVIES ON THE PLAZA as a fun-filled event for the whole family

• Christmas at the Courthouse – Partnered with Gregg

County to present two exciting weekends of holiday fun for kids of all ages

• Produced the annual Christmas Parade with the

assistance and volunteers of Longview AMBUCS

CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

the addition of technology webinars as well as women’s

• Attended Southwest Showcase in Austin promoting

Bureau Hospitality Training expanded from two to three

meetings

leadership series. The Longview Convention and Visitors hands-on tours highlighting great places to visit in the

Longview area. The Chamber is committed to providing Chamber members with up-to-date and cutting edge information that will assist them in boosting their bottom lines.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

our local vineyards and wineries to attract small market • Attended travel shows in Katy and Fort Worth as well as

the Texas Travel Industry Association’s Travel Counselors Conference in Waco

• Participated in Tourism Week in May for Waskom and Texarkana Travel Information Centers

• Attended the State Fair of Texas to promote Longview in the Texas Historic Commission’s Booth

MAIN STREET/DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT

• Attended Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta as part of the Team

One Hundred Acres of Heritage Main Street continues its

• Attended the Small Market Meetings Conference in

efforts as a strong advocate for progress and beautification in downtown Longview. In 2012, new directional signs were installed which direct motorists to downtown

Heritage Plaza, Lear Park, and other destinations. This is the first step of a master plan to add wayfinding signage throughout Longview. Additionally, successes include

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Texas booth

Jacksonville, Florida

• Hosted 3 Real East Texas Friendly Hospitality Training Tours

• Provided services to over 37 groups with 3,300

Welcome Bags and meeting services, resulting in 2,788 room nights

• Mailed 17,459 Longview Visitors Guides to potential

December as well as recognizing three outstanding leaders

Information Centers

spring for their contributions to the healthcare community.

visitors and distributed 15,000 brochures to Texas Visitor • Newly remodeled and enlarged Visitors Center had more

than 476 people request tourist information during the 2012

year, an increase of approximately 1,107% over last year

LEADERSHIP LONGVIEW IDENTIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT

in our community at our annual Salute to Healthcare in the

KEY STRATEGIC ISSUES UPDATE • MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT • BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Developing leaders continues to be a core value of the

• COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

organization. This is accomplished through the Chamber’s

• BUSINESS ADVOCACY

rigorous Leadership Longview program (est. 1981).

Graduates can continue their leadership development by

2012 PROGRESS REPORT ON KEY STRATEGIC ISSUES

participating in the Leadership Longview Alumni Network.

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE The Longview Chamber of Commerce launched its first Leadership Institute in 2012. Because our organization believes that leadership development is the key to the

growth of not only our Chamber, but our community as a

whole, this important institute was established to provide

ongoing training in the area of leadership development for our emerging leaders.

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT • The Chamber sustained ongoing, consistent membership recruitment year-round and added 135 new members in 2012, conducted 32 ribbon cuttings, hosted four

membership luncheons: Salute to Healthcare, Small

Business Awards and Leadership Longview Graduation, State of the City, and Emerging Leaders Luncheon, as well as two Business Advocacy Luncheons.

• The Chamber continued to enhance the Longview

EMERGING LEADERS AWARDS

Progress Report and The Chamber BUZZ, as well as

In 2012 the Chamber recognized three outstanding young

technology and online capabilities through its new

leaders under 40 at the first Emerging Leaders Luncheon in

other member communications through utilization of website. These communication tools create broader

Attendees enjoy a visit to Enoch’s Stomp Vineyard and Winery during a 2012 Hospitality Tour.

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L E ADE R SHIP LON GVI EW CLASS OF 2012 awareness of the Chamber’s goals and results, increase

• Recognized community leaders at the Salute to

membership.

• Conducted an InterCity Visit

participation in programs, and add value to the

• The Chamber continued to publish the annual Chamber

Healthcare and Emerging Leaders events

Resource Guide & Directory with Uniquely Longview

as well as maintaining an effective membership-based website.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT • Continued the Retail Commercial Contract with Longview Economic Development Corporation

• Continued to assist existing businesses by providing connections to resources that will help them in a challenging economic environment

• Coordinated and hosted the largest Business EXPO

and recognized our member businesses in the following

categories: Small Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of

the Year, Minority Business of the Year, Family-Owned Business of the Year, and Tourism Partner of the Year

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT • Hosted the annual Leadership Longview program

• Continued to increase participation and support of the Leadership Longview Alumni Network

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Participants gather for the first exploratory InterCity Visit to Chattanooga Tennessee.

RETAIL DEVELOPMENT • Seventy-eight restaurant contacts were made from 8/29/2011 to 8/17/2012

• Created television commercial Real East Texas focusing on Shop & Dine in Longview

• Created and maintained The Business Chronicles blog to showcase local small business owners on a weekly

basis with an emphasis on I Shop Longview

• Created web page on longviewchamber.com specifically for commercial/retail development

• Conducted community retail survey

Department to update all aerial maps

KEY INITIATIVES ACHIEVED IN 2012

• Hotel/Convention Center Feasibility Study

• Approved formation of the Longview Business Political

BUSINESS ADVOCACY

• Secured a site to open the Entrepreneur Center

• Coordinated with the City of Longview Geographic • ICSC Texas Deal Making Show and RECon trade shows

2012 CHAMBER ADVOCACY AND POLICY RESULTS

Action Committee

• Hosted an exploratory InterCity Visit to Chattanooga • Updated building by adding Visitors Center

• Updated the public policies and formed the 2012

• Introduced Technology and Women’s Leadership series

• LongviewVotes.com is an online advocacy tool that

• Started the Leadership Institute

the Chamber is tracking on their behalf and send direct

Model – launch 2013

legislative agenda

• Produced the first Emerging Leaders Recognition Awards

provides members the opportunity to view legislation

• Developed the framework for a Business Accreditation

messages to their elected representatives to influence

• Redesigned the Chamber’s website

policy and legislation. Nearly 150 direct messages were sent to elected officials by Chamber members

• Chamber staff and Chamber volunteers attended the U.S. Chamber Regional Governmental Conferences • The Chamber hosted its annual Elected Officials Reception

• The East Texas Coalition (Longview, Kilgore, Gladewater and Tyler) continues to serve as a collective voice in Austin with over 100 local leaders representing Longview

• The bi-annual Washington, D.C. Fly In serves as a

collective voice in Washington with over 40 leaders representing Longview

• Facilitated discussion and workshops on CNG/LNG and

interest from those businesses who own fleets

www.longviewlistens.com

conducted CNG/LNG Survey to determine level of • The Chamber’s President now serves on the

U.S. Chamber’s Committee of 100 as a representative of our area and state providing a local voice in national policy setting

• Designed and are preparing to launch • Opened RFP for a convention center and hotel

• Produced a brochure “How to Start a Business”

• Worked with energy specialist to bring three new CNG fueling stations to Longview (opening 2013)

The East Texas Coalition experiences the inner workings of state government during the biannual visit to Austin.

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AWARDS

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Manufacturer of the Year Trinity Rail

Entrepreneur of the Year Tammy Cromer-Campbell, TCC Photography & Gallery

Dr. Sam Mack Lifetime Achievement Award Dr. John Kirk

Chairman’s Award David McWhorter

Minority Small Business Champion of the Year LaFama Foods

Health Care Volunteer of the Year Della and Frank McBride

Ambassador of the Year Cynde Bell

Family-Owned Business of the Year The Charles Tomberlain Insurance Agency

Emerging Leaders Jennifer Ware

Large Business of the Year ABC Auto Parts

Tourism Partner of the Year Mary Ramos

Emerging Leaders Cliff Hale

Small Business of the Year Hudson Printing & Graphic Design

Health Care Professional Sue Haywood

Emerging Leaders Michael Tubb

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AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS 2010-2012 National Main Street City 2012 Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives – 2nd Place Brochure 2012

The Chamber Twitters and Other Social Networking

Texas Festival & Events Assoc.

– 1st Place Marketing Awards AlleyFest 2012

The Chamber of Commerce continues to embrace technology to remain relevant to Chamber members, community leaders, and volunteers.

In addition to regularly updating the website, the Chamber is also engaged in the social media networking sites Facebook, Word Press, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

American Chamber of Commerce Executives – 12th place in Membership Sales 2012

Staying Connected

Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives – 2nd Place Map 2012 Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives – 2nd Place Magazine Directory 2012 Texas Festival & Events Assoc.

– 1st Place Marketing Awards Outdoor Expo 2012

5 Star Accreditation – U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2011 American Chamber of Commerce Executives – Chamber of the Year Finalist 2011 American Chamber of Commerce Executives – 9th place in Membership Sales 2011

LINKEDIN The Longview Chamber of Commerce 100 Acres of Heritage Main Street

National Main Street City 2011 Texas Festival & Events Association – Best Single Newspaper Display Ad 2011 Texas Festival & Events Association – Best Printed Materials 2011 Texas Festival & Events Association – Best Outdoor Billboard 2011

FACEBOOK FAN PAGES Longview Chamber of Commerce Main Street Convention & Visitors Bureau

Texas Festival & Events Association – Best Hat 2011 Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives – 1st Place Newsletter Award 2011 Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives – 2nd Place Social Media Award 2011 Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives – 3rd Place Website 2011

TWITTER www.twitter.com/LongviewChamber www.twitter.com/longviewtexas

www.twitter.com/visitlongviewtx

American Chamber of Commerce Executives – Honorable Mention for Branding Campaign 2010 Texas Festivals & Events Assoc.

– 1st Place Marketing Award for Best Event Invitation 2010

YOUTUBE www.youtube.com/LongviewChamber

Texas Festivals & Events Assoc.

– 1st Place Marketing Award for Best Event Program 2010 Texas Festivals & Events Assoc.

– 1st Place Marketing Award for Best TV Promotion 2010 Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives – 1st Place Marketing Award 2010

WORD PRESS www.businessinlongview.com

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THE MOST RESPECTED HEALTHCARE IN EAST TEXAS HAS A NEW NAME

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