Honoring our Hometown Heroes has been a tradition in our community since 1999. Keep your eyes peeled for 2018’s Hometown Heroes!
2018 Hometown Heroes
Junior League of The Woodlands, Inc.
Junior League of The Woodlands, Inc. is an organization of women who are committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The organization’s purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Originally founded on April 14, 1983 as Junior Service League of […]
Entergy Texas, Inc.
Entergy Texas, Inc. believes that no one should have to choose between food or medicine and electricity, even though many elderly and disabled individuals face these choices every day. Through Entergy’s The Power to Care program, funds are raised through donations and matched, up to $500,000 annually, by shareholder contributions. Through grants to […]
Mr. Peter Huntsman and Mrs. Brynn Ballard Huntsman
Brynn and Peter Huntsman came to The Woodlands nearly 20 years ago, carrying with them a family legacy of service first. Not only did they choose to raise their eight children here, but they chose to make The Woodlands home to their Huntsman Corporate Headquarters. Since joining our community, both their family and […]
Patti Rivela
A resident of The Woodlands for 20 years, Patti Rivela is very active in Montgomery County Youth Services’ Yes to Youth program, having served on its board for six years, and as chairs of their gala and several Ladies Night Out events. As a frequent volunteer for their preteen and teen emergency shelter, […]
Dr. Joel Reed
After returning from serving as a physician in the Korean War, Dr. Joel Reed and his wife, Jeanne, settled in Houston, where he established a private medical practice in the Texas Medical Center, focusing on internal medicine and pulmonary disease. During this time, Dr. Reed served as president of the Harris County Medical […]
Steve Leakey
About twenty years ago, Steve Leakey and his wife, Ann, left Dallas to retire in The Woodlands, Texas, a then up-and-coming small town. As a former international technology sales executive, Steve was never one to stay idle for long. He jumped with both feet into his new hometown village association, leading them through […]
Robert Heineman
With a degree in architecture from Rice University, Robert Heineman began on The Woodlands’ project as an intern for The Mitchell Energy and Development Company. Building a community from scratch is no small feat. The early years were fraught with uncertainty and fiscal challenges, but Robert was steadfast in his commitment to Mitchell’s […]What is a Hometown Hero?
Honoring our Hometown Heroes has been a tradition in our community since 1999. The Hometown Heroes are composed of residents, businesses/institutions, and non-profit organizations that serve as outstanding role models for volunteerism and dedication to The Woodlands community. Each year a new class is inducted into the Hometown Hero Hall of Fame. A Hometown Hero is chosen based on the following criteria.
- Positive role model
- History of volunteerism
- Sacrificing personal gain to achieve noble goals
- Special awards and recognition
- Brought positive recognition to The Woodlands
- Embodies the values of The Woodlands community i.e., family values, the importance of education, the arts and culture, environmental consciousness
- Economic contributions to the community
- Leadership and courage
- Consistent dedication and commitment to worthy causes
- Representative of the diversity within the community
- Spiritual leadership
- Dedication to public service
- Must be a current resident of The Woodlands, or business/institutions based in The Woodlands
1999
Kevin Brady
Donald Braun
Reverend W. D. Broadway
Tom Cox
Joel Deretchin
Robert W. “Rob” Eissler
Jack & Lorna Felton
Ann Friend
Roger Galatas
Reverend Don Gebert
Peggy Hausman
The Irons Family
(Gerald, Myrna, Gerald Jr., Jarrett & Grant)
Dr. Joel Kerschenbaum
Peter “Pete” Lampros
Dr. Jack Lesch
Millie Maglio
Julie Martineau
Mary Matteson Parrish
Jean “Candy” Pew
Leonard “Len” Schroeder
Walter “Corky” Shaw II
Coulson Tough
Christina West
Robert “Bob” Williams
Weldon Willig
2000
William “Bill” Bootz
Leland Dushkin
David Gibbs
Nick DeSimone
Dr. Ann Snyder
2001
Pat Brown
Karen Booren
Dan Green
Tim Holifield
Gail Van Zanten
2002
William C. “Bill” Leigh
Lynda Scott Everett
Michael Richmond
Shelby Marie Robin
Mark Swick
Rosa Dye
2003
Phillip Barker, II
Tom D. Boak, Jr.
Scott Frezza
CJ Haynes
Alan Struble
2004
Nancy Battle
Sharon Leigh
George P. & Cynthia Mitchell
Bruce Tough
Senator Tommy Williams
Boni’s Dance & Performing Arts Studio
Memorial Hermann The Woodlands
2005
Nelda Blair
Walter Cooke
Bev Earl
George Holtin
Kenny Speight
South Montgomery County
Woodlands Chamber of Commerce
2006
Edie Connelly
Jeff Early
Dan Hauser
Lon Larsen
Bruce Withers
Woodforest National Bank
2007
Dr. David Gottlieb
John Haynes
Robert “Bob” Kinnear
Dr. Edmund “Ed” Robb
Lone Star College – Montgomery
2008
Ed Chance
Jacque Everson
Dr. Daniel T. Hannon
Barbara Holland
The Woodlands Development Company
2009
Jude Compofelice
Heather Montgomery
Steve Sanders
Ted Washington
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
2010
Barry Blanton
Greg and Linda Freede
George Lindahl
Karen West
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
2011
Jim Blair
Candi Glenn
Robert and Kim Marling
Lloyd Matthews
South Montgomery County YMCA
2012
John Hennigan
Missy Herndon
Vicki Richmond
David Vogt
St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital
2013
Keith Brumfield
Shelli Moran
Gil Staley
Susan Vreeland-Wendt
CB&I
2014
Dr. Austin Lane
Brenda Mizell
Jeff Shipley
Bret Strong
Huntsman Corporation
Dr. Vance LeCrone
2015
Ally Seder
Linda Nelson
Lisa Koetting
Mario M. Coll, III
Waste Connections
2016
Bruce Cunningham
Bob Hibbetts
Kelly Hull
Debbie Sukin
STRIKE
2017
Rob Johnson
Amy Lecocq
Bob Milner
Melissa Young
Cassidy Joined for Hope
The Woodlands Christian Academy
We invite the Hometown Hero Alumni to join us as we honor the newest class of Hometown Hero recipients at The Woodlands 2018 Celebration of Excellence Gala! To show our appreciation of the good work our Hometown Hero Alumni continue to do, we have a special discount on select sponsorships and tickets. If you are an alumni, please fill out the below form or contact development@woodlandsinterfaith.org for a discount code to use here.
The Celebration of Excellence Giving Circle is an opportunity for individuals and businesses to make a donation in honor and/or in memory of a Hometown Hero, Five Who Share Recipient, or Honorary Chair as a way to pay tribute to their incredible commitments to serving our community. Donations to the Celebration of Excellence Giving Circle will go directly to help individuals and families in crisis through financial assistance for rent, mortgage, utilities, gasoline, prescription drug assistance, emergency shelter, food, clothing, senior programs and offers counseling, job training, and child care. Interfaith of The Woodlands exists to build a more loving and caring community through service—a mission that is also the essence of our Hometown Heroes—the individuals, businesses, and non-profits who have devoted their time, talents, and treasures to make The Woodlands the loving and caring community we know and love!
Donations made to the Celebration of Excellence Giving Circle will be recognized on The Woodlands Celebration of Excellence website and in the event’s printed program. A note will be sent to the honoree designated recognizing that a gift has been made in their honor and/or memory. Donations to the Celebration of Excellence Giving Circle are fully tax-deductible.
Thank you to our generous Hometown Hero Giving Circle Donors!
- Carol and Richard Stromatt