Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year
Congratulations on your nomination
Forrest is the founder of the Brighter Futures Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health and raising suicide awareness through engagement in sports and community activities.
Lead Coach of the Greater San Antonio First Tee at Starcke Park teaching core values and promoting good citizenship
Volunteer Head Coach for Seguin Parks and Rec Youth Volleyball League
Volunteer Lead Coach for Seguin Parks and Rec Youth Golf Clinics
Active and Supportive of all the local athletes including the SISD middle and high school golf teams.
Co-Chair Seguin Class of 2004 - 20 Year High School Reunion
2024 Leadership Seguin “Giant Letter Project” Sponsor
2024 Guadalupe County Rising Star
In cooperation with the Seguin Independent School District he has adopted Patlan Elementary and provided donations of school supplies, snacks, beverages and Thanksgiving turkeys for students.
Actively involved in local community fundraisers including the Seguin Area Community Foundation, Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club golf tournaments.
And lets not forget local HVAC business owner, husband, father and friend.
AWARD HONOREES
Nurturing
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Revitalizing
AROUND TOWN
Submitted
Photo by Victoria Gaytan
Vol. 11, No. 9
Seguin magazine is published twelve times a year by the Seguin Gazette.
Publisher
Elizabeth Engelhardt
Magazine Editor
Desiree Gerland
Contributors
Nolan Alexander
Felicia Frazar
Victoria Gaytan
Alex Lowe
Dalondo Moultrie
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The February issue of Seguin Magazine is always a special one—it’s our annual Citizen of the Year and VISION Awards edition. Each year, we invite the community to nominate individuals who go above and beyond to make Seguin and Guadalupe County better places to live.
The recipients of these awards rarely seek recognition for their efforts. They perform incredible acts of kindness and service simply because it’s in their nature to help. That’s where we come in: to ensure these hometown heroes receive the recognition they so richly deserve.
Within this issue, you’ll find inspiring stories of local citizens from all walks of life who are making a difference in our community. While this is just a small glimpse of the many incredible people among us, it highlights the spirit of generosity and dedication that make Seguin such a wonderful place.
You may or may not recognize some of these faces, but once you read their stories and learn about their contributions, you might feel a spark of connection—or perhaps even inspiration. I encourage each of you to find your own way to give back to the community. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture; even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.
And now, without further ado, I’m proud to present the 2025 Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year and VISION Award winners. Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you for making Seguin the best place to be!
Elizabeth Engelhardt
Publisher
elizabeth.engelhardt@seguingazette.com
Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year Ernest �ervantes & David �irkland
Barbecue with a Big Heart Fuels Positivity in Seguin
SStory by Dalondo Moultrie
Photos by Victoria Gaytan
till in their first handful of years running a restaurant, owners of Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin have consistently won awards and praise from within and outside the community.
However, one elusive prize eluded co-owners Ernest Servantes and David Kirkland for years, the duo said.
“When we opened the restaurant, me and Dave said the only award we want is Citizen of the Year,” Servantes said. “At the end of the day, it was all about Seguin. It wasn’t all about these accolades. Of course, the accolades are a blessing, but it’s all about Seguin.”
The pair’s shared dream finally came true, as they’ve earned the Seguin Gazette Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year Award.
Being a small-town guy, Kirkland said he never set his sights on achievements like the James Beard Award nominations and finalist announcements or being presented a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award, all of which the restaurant owners did within five years of opening the establishment.
Coming from the barbecue competition realm, to be named along prior-year Citizen of the Year and VISION Award winners seemed almost far-fetched but enticing, Kirkland said. To be among the people and organizations even nominated for such an award — all of whom “are amazing and do so much” — is an honor in itself, he said.
But when the men learned they were on this year’s list, Kirkland said he could barely believe it, and he told his partner as much.
“The other day when we heard about this, (Servantes) said, ‘Oh, my gosh, you got the award you were talking about,’” Kirkland said. “I’m kind of beside myself about it. It’s something you never think you would get.”
While he may have never thought they’d win it, this year’s Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year Award recipients are very deserving, members of the selection committee decided. Kirkland, Servantes and their company give back to the community in various ways.
From donating to Seguin Little League to helping with the Guadalupe County Youth Livestock and Homemakers Show and supporting several other local nonprofit and charitable organizations, Burnt Bean and its owners entrench themselves in the community.
At the same time, they bring positive attention to Seguin that draws visitors from across the globe in a way the city hasn’t seen before but benefits from tremendously.
“I think we’re drawing people to Seguin that’ve never been to Seguin. You couldn’t correlate Seguin with barbecue, but now you can,” Servantes said. “It’s one of the destinations in the country. It’s something we worked hard for, but our vision wasn’t that. Our
vision was to make really good barbecue and see where it goes.”
An estimated 75% of Burnt Bean’s patrons come from out of town, Kirkland said. Those visitors bring with them a positive vibe and take home good feelings and great stories about the town, he said. It adds to a positivity that seeps into the soil and spreads throughout the city.
“The positivity comes from food,” Kirkland said. “I will say that until I’m blue in the face.”
He feels the positivity when guests enter the restaurant and talk about the lengths to which they traveled to eat barbecue in Seguin, Servantes said. They’re not visiting Burnt Bean as an afterthought as they pass through the town en route to some other place, he said. The restaurant and the town are the destination.
For that, he takes pride, as should other Seguin residents, Sevantes said. That’s part of the goal, he said.
“At the end of the day, we want to create an image for Seguin to be proud,” Servantes said. “Seguin’s like our parents. We want Seguin to be proud.”
Once occasional competitors on the barbecue cook-off circuit, Kirkland and Servantes met when Kirkland’s brother introduced the two. They became fast friends and Servantes even began to mentor Kirkland, who said he was a lesser-experienced cook at the time.
A partnership eventually heated up, and once the smoke cleared, the pair was in business operating one of the higher-achieving barbecue restaurants in a state full of barbecue restaurants. The restaurant, the food and the partners cooked up a recipe for success that brings them honor as well as bringing honor to the place they call home.
For all of it, they are the Seguin Gazette’s 2025 Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year Award recipients.
“It’s probably the biggest award I’ve ever gotten,” Servantes said. “This one’s going on the wall of the house.”
Forrest Fletcher VISION AWARD
Nurturing Brighter Futures Through Community Service and Suicide Awareness
Story
Recognizing voids within the Seguin community and their ability to help, one Seguin man and his family extended a helping hand.
Forrest Fletcher — owner of Factory A/C Direct in Seguin — found there were areas in Seguin that needed help and that he had the expertise to make a change, especially with young adults. This sparked the idea of getting involved right away and his wife Amber Fletcher was right there every step of the way, Forrest said.
“Basically, what (Amber) and I have done this last year is just looking for voids and opportunities to be a good person, making sure we are good Seguin citizens,” he said. “We have been blessed in our life to pay it forward and wanted to find a way to help.”
And that is why Forrest has earned one of the Seguin Gazette’s Volunteers in Service In our Neighborhoods (VISION) Award.
by Nolan Alexander
Photos by Felicia Frazar - The Seguin Gazette and Courtesy of Forrest Fletcher
Forrest is equipped with the knowledge and first-hand experiences to help make the Seguin community a better place. One area close to the heart is suicide and how to prevent it.
Suicide and its effects are tragic but very real, especially in the younger community, Forrest said. Something needed to be done, and doing nothing was not an option, he said.
“Brighter Futures is a non-profit that we founded this last year,” he said. “I lost my cousin to suicide and witnessed the immediate aftermath as well. It made an impact on my life. I got to a point in my career to do something about suicide and prevention. We are actively in talks with therapists and other community members to bring awareness to suicide.”
For the younger generation, bullying and especially cyberbullying are core reasons for students’ decaying mental health, Forrest said. Identifying the problem is a crucial first step, but prevention and awareness are key parts in putting an end to it, he said.
“Bullying has been at the forefront lately. Back in the day, they taught you if you avoid the bully, you avoid the problem,” the VISION award winner said. “Can’t really run from the bully anymore with social media. Additional stress these kids are under is due to accountability.”
Another program to which Forrest donates his time and efforts is Seguin’s First Tee Program. Golf is something anyone can do, but instilling it in the youth can maybe help spark a career, Forrest said. But, it’s not all about swinging a club; it’s about helping kids be better human beings and good citizens, he said.
“Thanks to Gabby Rangel, she moved up to a higher position within First Tee and hired me as an elite coach,” he said. “I am an avid golfer, and I love when kids are learning golf. We have about 30 participants any given session. We hope to teach core values to these kids and promote good citizenship.”
Although it is a blessing to have the ability to make a difference, it was not always this way, Forrest said. Hard work, determination and the belief that all that would pay off someday was the driving force as a kid, he said.
“I think for me, I grew up in a single-mom household with two brothers so I understand what it’s like to struggle. I understand that real world things happen,” he said. “Life isn’t a fairy tale and people go through hardships and I understand that coming from that background, so I worked hard to better myself. I wanted to have the opportunity to help others. I want to make sure I do my part.”
It goes without saying that he does all of this not for any award or hardware, but just to make a difference in a place that means so much, Forrest said. There are a lot of people within Seguin that truly want to see it be great and the award winner is just a cog in the wheel, he said.
“It’s hard, right, because when you do things for people or the community, you don’t do it for recognition. I do it because it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “I’m sure there are other people who were recognized and definitely deserving. What I would like to see is maybe I inspire someone else to do something for someone. If we work together, we can make Seguin the best community it can be.”
VISION AWARD Glenda �oreno
A Lifetime of Empowering Seguin’s Youth Through Tireless Community Service
Story by Felicia Frazar
Glenda Moreno’s career and life of service to her community have always revolved around children.
She spent almost four decades in public education and then another several years working with children at a local church, which she continues to do today.
Moreno’s path to education stemmed from her mother, who was an educator for 45 years.
“I watched the twinkle in her eyes when she would talk about her kids and the excitement in her heart when she worked with them or when they graduated, and they came back, and they remembered her and named her as their best,” Moreno said. “Just being at the grocery store and her students coming up and, I thought, you know, I think I would like to do that one day.”
Moreno headed to Southwest Texas University — currently known as Texas State University — to study home economics. She eventually made the switch to a major in education.
Her first bout of student teaching landed her in Seguin ISD under the watchful eye of Mildred Powers, Sue Kauffus and Gladys Perryman.
Photos by Felicia Frazar - The Seguin Gazette and Courtesy of Glenda Moreno
“I know that math is important and I know that English is important and science, but I saw what they were doing with kids, teaching them the general basics of life,” she said. “So, I thought this is it. I know this is where I belong.”
After graduating from college, Moreno went back home to begin her career in education. Not long after, she received a call from the principal at Joe F. Saegert to join the Seguin ISD family.
“I told him I would really be interested,” she said. “My husband and I were just going to get married in August, and I would really be interested in moving to this area. He said, ‘Okay, you got a job.’ And that was the extent of my interview.”
In 1973, she began her tenure at Seguin ISD, where she worked at Saegert for 12 years before making the move to Seguin High School for the next eight years. Frustration with leadership at the high school and guidance from her husband prompted Moreno to take her education to the next level.
Moreno went back to school and earned her master’s to take on leadership roles.
“In 1993, in the summer when I graduated in May, I got interviewed for an assistant principal position and ended up at Briesemeister Middle School and stayed there for 15 years,” she said.
In her last year as an educator, Moreno’s campus received top marks from the state.
“After that, you know, I reached 36 years, and AJB had received a recognized status at that time… and I thought, okay, life is changing in the education worl,d and I think maybe I've done my due,” she said. “So, I elected to retire and retired June 30, 2008.”
However, her venture into retirement didn’t last long, as the priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church sought out Moreno to continue educating with a little coaxing from the man above.
“Our priest at Our Lady, Father David, called in and said, ‘Have I got a job for you now that you're retired.’ I went, "No, I don't want a job. I'm
retired.’ To which he replied, ‘I mean, if you take a part-time job, Glenda, God would be so happy.’ I said, ‘What? What can I say?’ I said, yes.”
She offered to stay for 10 years, serving as the director of religious education. After that, Moreno opted to stay and assist with the senior’s scholarship committee, serving as the chairperson.
Once her stint at the church was up, Moreno headed back into the public education sector, but this time helping to lead on a larger level as a school board member.
“That had always been a dream of mine also. That was the time when all of that was going on with (former Superintendent) Stetson Roane,” she said.
She served one four-year term. Moreno also serves as the secretary for the Seguin Sports Booster Club and as a director for Communities in Schools and served on the boards for MHMR, Seguin Activity Center and Teatro de Artes de Juan Seguin. Moreno has worked on multiple bond campaigns, as well as served on the financial council and pastoral council at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
“Everything I do or am part of is related to children,” she said.
She is also very active in helping the Salvation Army, particularly its annual Red Kettle Campaign, alongside her husband, Gilbert.
Glenda is the proud mother of three sons — Renee, Carlos and Daniel — mother-in-law to their wives, and she has six grandchildren who keep her busy.
It’s her dedication to the area’s youth and commitment to the community that has earned Moreno a VISION Award from the Seguin Gazette. VISION stands for Volunteers In Service In Our Neighborhoods, and Moreno is everything that it embodies.
“What an honor. I’m speechless,” she said. “Gilbert and I have always done stuff in our community, not for the recognition. We do it from our heart. Kids are my love. I’m so humbled.”
VISION AWARD Wayne Windle
Revitalizing Seguin with Passion, Purpose and Community Spirit
Wayne Windle comes from a family with strong connections to the history and development of Seguin. He has lived in Seguin for the past 11 years but spent many of his childhood summers here with his grandparents. Windle has contributed to the development of Seguin in his work as a real estate professional. The face of downtown Seguin is brighter for his passion and efforts in bringing business to downtown and revitalization.
“I work with Edwards Commercial Real Estate,” said Windle. “I’ve been in the real estate business for maybe 40 years. My family goes back generations. My grandmother was Virginia Woods, the schoolteacher and school board member for many years and a founding member of the Conservation Society. I helped her and my great aunt sell the property which is now the Walmart so that was my first real exposure to commercial real estate in Seguin.”
Not only is Windle a mover and shaker in commercial real estate, he has also served on the Seguin Zoning Board of Adjustments as a member and as board president. Currently, he serves on the city’s Planning and
Zoning Commission.
“I was on the zoning board of adjustment for a long time. I think it was one of the longest members they ever had because I started as an alternate and then I completed a term as a full member,” Windle said. “I've been a full member I don't know how many years and I became the chairman.”
His tenure on the board was set to end when COVID-19 invaded Seguin and the nation. Then, members told him instead of leaving the board, he would remain its chairman, Windle said. So he served a couple years through the pandemic and then an additional year or two, he said.
“(The zoning board of adjustment) are there when people need to do something outside of the current zoning rules or what would be allowed,” he said. “Sometimes people had to redo things on their property that they were very unhappy about but they didn't conform and they appealed to us to give them some relief but we didn't do it because we felt like it would damage the whole neighborhood and set a bad precedent. So, a lot of time we were avoiding bad precedents that would affect neighborhoods on a bigger scale
Story by Alex Lowe
Photos by Felicia Frazar - The Seguin Gazette and courtesy of Wayne Windle
and ruin the conformity in nature and of the area. So, there were some of those but there are also some where we granted the variance because it made sense and it was not really an adverse thing to a neighborhood.”
Windle also serves as president of the Seguin Area Community Foundation and is on the board of the Seguin Conservation Society, which his grandparents created.
“At the Seguin Area Community Foundation, we've given to almost 30 charitable causes in the area, and I think that we've given away more than $200,000 in a little bit more or a little bit less than two years. It's gone to a variety of causes. At one point, it went to six nonprofits or volunteer Fire departments in the county,” he said. “During COVID, they were unable to have fundraisers to maintain their equipment and uniforms and stations. So, they came to us and we gave all of them grants. We've helped with the medical foundation and we've given to all the school system foundations. We’ve given to the Heritage Museum, Meals on Wheels and community council food banks.”
As a board member of the Seguin Conservation Society, Windle takes great pride in the role he played in preserving one of Seguin’s most historic buildings.
“Marty Keil and some of the members got my wife Mary Jane involved when we first moved down here. I was aware of the history of the First Church and some of the other buildings,” he said. “My grandfather had helped a little bit with the reconstruction and remodeling of them. I'm a descendant of a woman that was married there. It was my grandmother’s great-grandmother that was married in the First Church, so it was very near and dear to her when she and the Conservation Society preserved it and moved it to its current site.”
The church now sits in the Heritage Village. It was a multi-denominational church, and pastors from different Christian denominations delivered sermons. Ministers of different denominations preached there and that's why it was called First Church instead of First Baptist Church or First Methodist or something like that, Wayne said.
Beyond his official duties in promoting the preservation and growth of Seguin, Wayne plays a role in fostering the arts and culture of the community. While his wife acts on the stage, Wayne’s involvement isincludes set design and even the occasional on-stage appearance.
“Well, it would take a very special circumstance to get me onto the stage,” Wayne said. “My contributions come more in the form of set construction and sound systems. I have worked on many sets, and I have done the sound effects for many shows. I enjoy that, working on the sets, and being part of the cast and team, so to speak.”
The Windle family is central to Seguin’s history. His mother, Janice Woods Windle, is a well-known author whose published works have been adapted for stage and television.
“She wrote the book ‘True Women,’ which is about several historical figures in Seguin and San Marcos primarily, and it was later made into a miniseries with Angelina Jolie and Powers Boothe and a number of notable actors,” Wayne said. “It was highly regarded, I think, by most people,” he said. “She wrote about a lot of my grandmother’s research. She also wrote ‘Will’s War,’ which was about German immigrants in World War I and was written primarily about my great-grandfather, who grew up in Seguin. My son has converted that book into a play, and he is going to New York to see if he can get a producer to help him produce it on a bigger platform.”
Windle remains one of Seguin’s biggest advocates and sees a bright future for the community.
“I just love living here. I'm excited about the Wells Fargo project downtown. I’m excited about other new businesses that I know are moving down there,” he said. “I'm aware of some buildings that will get remodeled and continue to make the downtown area shine. It’s vibrant and it's a good place to do business. I've worked with a lot of cities all along the border and certainly Austin and San Antonio and things are very business friendly in this city. It also has such historical relevance to Texas, and it is a great place to raise a family.”
It’s Wayne’s love of the community and willingness to help preserve it that has earned him one of the Seguin Gazette’s VISION Awards.
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EVENT CALENDAR
9th Annual Fiber Show - Seguin Art League: 10 am - 5 pm
The Ninth Annual Fiber Show "Culture Keepers: the Craft Artists" will be held everyday through February 15. Visitors will experience an array of works—from woven textiles and quilted masterpieces to felted sculptures and innovative mixed-media pieces. This show offers an inspiring glimpse into how traditional techniques continue to evolve and thrive in the modern art world.
Location: Seguin Art League Building, 104 S. Austin St.
Annual Regional Job Fair - SEDC: Sixth – 10 am - 2 pm
The Seguin Economic Development Corporation, with regional partners, is hosting their Annual Regional Winter Job Fair. This event gives you direct access to employers who are seeking motivated individuals to fill a wide range of positions, whether you’re launching a new career, returning to the workforce, or looking to advance your professional path.
Location: Seguin Events Complex, 950 S. Austin St.
Pre-Superbowl Las Vegas Bash: eighth – 6 - 10 pm
Seguin Sunrise Rotary Club invites you to a wonderful night of food, fun, and a variety of classic Las Vegas style games that will keep us all entertained through the evening, a raffle, and our highly anticipated silent auction. More importantly it serves as a fantastic way to raise funds for our Seguin and Navarro Students along with our surrounding Community.
Location: The Big Red Barn, 390 Cordova Road
2025 Showcase Seguin: thirteenth – 5 - 8 pm
The Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for the 2025 Business Showcase, which will highlight local businesses and organizations. Every year the Business Showcase Committee selects a theme. The theme for the 2025 Business Showcase will be "Wild West Business Round-Up." Exhibitors are encouraged to set up a booth to go along with the theme to provide plenty of fun for visitors.
Location: Seguin Events Complex, 950 S. Austin St.
Third Thursday: twentieth – 4 - 8 pm
Businesses and shops in downtown Seguin are open with sales, events, snacks and fun! Each month features a different, exciting theme. Shop Seguin. Shop online or in store.
Location: Central Park, 201 S. Austin St.
Mardi Gras - SEDC: twenty-seventh – 6 - 10 pm
Laissez les bons temps rouler with a night of "New Orleans-style" fun and "Seguin-style" giving to benefit the students & teachers of the Seguin ISD!
Location: Seguin Events Complex, 950 S. Austin St.
