December 26 2010
By Jeff Walker / Features Editor
San Marcos / Some of the following 10 people are recognizable public figures, some are just everyday residents in and around San Marcos. But they all inspired us in one way or another.
Here’s a look at the Neighbors section’s top 10 local personalities in 2010.
Eric Chase
How do you deal with utter disappointment?
Eric Chase shrugged it off, dusted off his shoes and went to work.
Nobody defined the concept of turning a bitter takedown into triumph better than Chase. After he was rejected in a try out for the NBC reality show “The Biggest Loser,” the Kyle resident took matters in his own hands and lost more than 100 pounds and inspires others with his daily blog about weight loss.
“I was so angry and ticked off that NBC didn’t pick me, I decided I’m going to lose weight. I’m going to be the biggest loser in Kyle,” Chase said. “In spite of (NBC), I’m going to do this on my own, and I’m going to push myself harder than I ever have. Nobody is going to tell me ‘no’ ever again in my life.”
Roy Coleman
Roy Coleman takes a lot of pleasure in giving local youth a voice: An Anointed voice, at that.
The local choir director formed the youth Gospel group Anointed Voice in late 2008 as a way of recruiting local youth to perform. The group meets and rehearses weekly, followed by a bible study. The group continues to become more and more tight knit.
“My nephew came up to me in December of 2008 and said ‘hey uncle, are we still going to get that community choir started?’” Coleman said. “And so we did, and kids just started signing up and we’ve been making music…. These kids are not only completely gifted singing wise, but some write poetry, some play different musical instruments. And we try to incorporate all that in the group.”
Joe Daubendeck
Joe Daubendeck never forgets a face.
The San Marcos man has created more than 200 plaques of complete strangers over a 40-year period. And they’re all given to his subjects at no charge — assuming he can track them down.
Daubendeck works hard to perfectly replicate the facial features of his the people he meets, sometimes spending several months and several hundred dollars. All he takes with him is the satisfaction of offering a keepsake that families can hold on to for generations.
After a feature story on Daubendeck ran in August, a subject of his from eight years ago was able to contact Daubendeck and receive his bronze sculpture.
“My life has been filled with interesting people. I don’t search them out, it’s just been that way,” Daubendeck said. “I see a face that I think is interesting, beautiful character faces is what I call it, and then I ask if I can take a photo, working off of that. I’ve only been turned down twice.”
Barri and Bill Hamilton
Bill and Barri Hamilton of Martindale completed restoration of the historic Martindale Schoolhouse this year.
The couple spent seven years transforming the historic 100-year-old schoolhouse — including the former library and cafeteria — into their home and an adjoining bed and breakfast.
For more information on the Martindale Schoolhouse Bed and Breakfast located at 105 Lockhart Street, call the Hamiltons at (512) 357-6655 or e-mail info@martindaleschool.com.
Terri Hendrix
When Terri Hendrix released her newest album “Cry Til You Laugh” earlier this year, she did what long-time Hendrix fans have come to expect from her music: And that’s strictly the unexpected.
The San Marcos singer/songwriter continues to do things her own way by releasing a jazz-heavy album that features some of the work of local musician Ike Eichenberg.
“Cry Til You Laugh,” released earlier this summer, is a fitting title: The album covers a wide range of moods and a lot of musical ground, from the heavy and dark (”Berlin Wall”) to the down-right hilarious (”Whatachoice”).
And, yet again, it’s 100 percent Hendrix at her best.
Melba Holberg
At 92 years young, Melba Holberg is still strumming — and singing and dancing — strong.
The Horizon Bay Retirement Center resident proves that youth is a relevant term by performing regularly with her singing group “Paulani Pickers,” her dancing group “The Paulani Dancers” and various other bands she performs with regularly.
Holberg is just as likely to do the hula as she is to strum an old country tune: she even teaches the chair hula for fellow residents who are less agile than herself.
But her message is simple: Just stay as active as you can, for as long as you can.
“I just try to keep moving. I tell everybody I don’t want my motor run down because I could never start it again,” Holberg said.
Marie and Ron Jager
A December feature on the history of Sights & Sounds reminded San Marcans just how strong a presence Marie and Ron Jager have had around town for so long. The two were on the front lines starting what has become the most popular local festival all year long.
But Marie and Ron Jager, who run the Price Seniors Center, remain figures just as important in San Marcos as ever before.
The couple began renovations on the old First Christian Church Building in 1999, and since groups of all types have met there on a regular basis. The Price Center has become a San Marcos staple thanks to their diligent efforts.
“We’ve been doing this for the benefit of the broader San Marcos community,” Ron said back when renovations were going strong several years ago. “People get the impression that this is a stereotypical senior citizens center where a bunch of old people sit around and stare at each other. That’s not what this is.”
And the Jagers this month began construction on an elevator at the Price Center, a project they’ve been raising money for.
Jill Pankey
Her paintings are bright and vibrant and larger than life. Her subjects are just about as down-to-earth as it gets.
Artist and Texas State professor Jill Pankey celebrates every-day life with vigor, spunk, and about the brightest color of paints one could imagine.
As a painter, she’s also drawn to the female figure: And not the glamorous perception of women, but real women. She paints women of all shapes and sizes dancing and laughing and celebrating life. She wishes that women wouldn’t be so consumed with halting the aging process.
“I want to paint real women doing real things, not necessarily pretty,” Pankey said. “I’ve been raised not to think of age as a big deal.”
Andrew Sansom
Few people, if anyone, can match Andrew Sansom’s enthusiasm for the wildlife and aquatic wonder surrounding the Aquarena Center.
The director of the River Systems Institute at Texas State University’s Aquarena Center, featured this spring in Discover magazine, remains one of the state’s leading conservationists. Sansom is a former director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Nature Conservancy and founded The Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas.
Sansom also is a past recipient of the Chevron Conservation Award, The Chuck Yeager Award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Pugsley Medal from the National Park Foundation, and the Seton Award from the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
But his enthusiasm remains almost child-like.
“I pinch myself,” he admits with a sly grin inside his office, which looks over Spring Lake. “I come here every single day and still can’t believe it, how beautiful it is.”
Max Vasquez
Max Vasquez, 63, was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes eight years ago and since then he hasn’t stopped moving.
He rides with a group called the Red Riders, which raises money for diabetes research.
“We are all the people with diabetes,” Vasquez said. “We tell people, ‘I’ve got diabetes and I’m out here riding, why can’t you join me?’”
The director of Engineering at Embassy Suites rides up and down the IH-35 corridor regularly in races from San Antonio to Austin and rides from Kyle to New Braunfels and back every Saturday.
Vasquez can also be seen running and walking for various health-related events in Central Texas.
“Let’s just say I’m very people oriented,” he said. “There’s not very many people who can extend their hand out and help you, and we need to help each other progress and get better in life.”
But they all inspired us all in one way or another.
Source link: San Marcos Record
