Always-giving Galloway named Citizen of the Year
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One of Beeville funeral home director John Galloway’s proudest moments was when he was awarded the only Boone & Crockett record for a deer killed in Bee County.
But the fourth-generation Bee Countian was honored Friday night for the other contributions — many, many other contributions – to Bee County and its people.
Galloway was chosen as the Bee County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year at Friday night’s banquet.
A graduate of A.C. Jones High School and Texas A&M University, Galloway has volunteered countless hours of his time and energy to helping various charitable events, civic clubs, youth groups and other public services, including a 10-year stint on the Beeville City Council.
“He still has fond memories of coaching Little League and is still remembered by now-grown players,” said Diana Braly, who presented the award.
Galloway has been an active leader in Boy Scouts, United Way, Bee County Chamber of Commerce, has been named outstanding Kiwanian and is a member of the Rotary Club.
In 1970, he was talked into running for the City Council, He won, and eventually served as mayor for 10 years, she said.
He became a Master Gardener, and “enjoyed it so much that he organized the Junior Master Gardeners and taught third- and fourth-grade youngsters at St. Mary’s and R.A. Hall (Elementary School) and Skidmore schools,” Braly said.
Galloway has served as an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and helped landscape its parking lot.
As a youngster, he showed steers for the FFA at the Bee County Junior Livestock & Homemakers Show. His shorthorn steer won first place at the San Antonio Livestock Show one year.
He is a Lone Star Farmer and has earned his American Farmer’s Degree.
“His desire to see deserving students rewarded led to his forming the Bids for Kids at the Bee County Junior Livestock & Homemakers Show,” Braly said. “Along with the generosity of other community members, he sees that children who place with their animals but do not win the champion or reserve grand champion prizes are still rewarded with the sale of their animals.”
Galloway is presently a director of the First National Bank of Beeville, and serves as a governor’s appointee to the Nueces River Authority.
While he has received many honors over the course of his life, one of his proudest was when he was awarded the only Boone & Crockett record for a deer killed in Bee County.
He passed his love of hunting and fishing on to his three children and 12 grandchildren.
“He supported me with his strong arms and reassuring smile as my Mardi Gras king, and gave that same strong support to me and to many of you in this audience as we have faced some of hardest times we have had to make in our lifetimes,” she said. “His compassion, dedication, respect and genuine love and ministry with each and every family with whom he comes in contact have endeared him as an individual and to us as an individual and as a community.”
Debby Park was presented the Buzzin’ Blazer of the Year award for the second time in two years for her tireless efforts as a chamber ambassador.
“These are the folks that get out there and promote the chamber, sell those memberships” said Chamber President Pam Priour Stuart.
The award is based on a points system, with points being awarded each time an ambassador attends a Chamber ribbon-cutting or other event, signs up a new member or promotes the chamber in a variety of other ways.
Park is co-owner and co-broker of Park-Breidenbach Properties in Beeville.
“Wow, thank you. Awesome,” she said upon accepting the plaque.
The chamber’s Volunteer of the Year award went to Dewayne “Bobo” Bowman, who donated his time and energy to help the chamber over the past 12 months and longer, said Joe B. Montez, who introduced the award winner.
“(Bowman) has been very much involved in the business affairs and economic development of this community and has committed countless numbers of hours toward this endeavor,” Montez said.
Bowman served as director and past president of the Bee County Chamber of Commerce, past director of the Bee Development Corp. — the predecessor of the Bee Development Authority — and served on the board of directors of a local bank, a past president of the Navy League, director of the Bee County Western Week, served as Mardi Gras king, served on the board of directors of St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church and Faith Lutheran Church and the Beeville Country Club.
“(Bowman) has been involved in functions that directly affect children of this community, the elderly, poor and underprivileged,” Montez said, adding that Bowman served as president and board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Beeville.
Bowman also founded and hosted for 16 years the Bee County Thanksgiving Dinner for the Elderly and Underprivileged.
He also served as past ambassador and senior coordinator for the Bee County Area Go Texan Scholarship Committee, which has raised thousands of dollars for college scholarships for students in the Bee County area.
Bowman shared the award with other Go Texan committee members Mike Scotten, Warren Hardy, Cindy Urban, Josh Perkins, Wayne Fricke, Steven Scotten, Reagan Scott, Ken Harvey, Chris King, Stephen Ball, Bobby Urban, John Hensley Jr., Andrew Auzston, Todd Schendel, Colt Campbell and Ernie Perez.
Marco Garcia, business manager for 3-G Electric Co. in Beeville, was selected as the Young Business Person of the Year.
It’s the first time the award has been presented and it is specifically designed to recognize a business person 30 years or younger who exhibits an entrepreneurial spirit, engaged in a successful business, and actively participating or implementing volunteer programs.
Sam Garza presented the award.
“Since moving to Beeville almost two years ago, this young man has infiltrated the Beeville mix, professionally and as a volunteer,” she said.
She said Garcia, 20, manages his family’s growing business.
“In addition to maintaining the grueling hours a family business, and his family, which includes two young children, demand, he devotes significant energy and time to major charitable community causes,” Garza said.
In addition to that, she said, Garcia is a volunteer firefighter.
Also, he and his family helped ensure the Toys for Bee Kids would live on.
“As the operational and driving force behind the program, he orchestrated Santa’s grand arrival on a Beeville fire engine and, more importantly, ensured that every child waiting in line received a gift,” she said.
Furthermore, in the very near future, Garcia is developing a campaign that calls for business owners to help clean up the community, Garza said.
International Bank of Commerce was named the chamber’s Corporate Citizen of the Year.
IBC Board Chairman Renato Ramirez accepted the award on behalf of the bank.
“When this business first came to Beeville, it gave the Bee County Chamber of Commerce $1,000 to just say hello,” said Kyle Mansker, who presented the award.
In addition, IBC has helped sponsor the Bee County Western Week and rodeo parade, Beeville Art Association, Little League opening day, Bee County Teachers Breakfast, Boys & Girls Club of Beeville, donated computers to various entities, donated money to Coastal Bend College and the American Legion, Fiesta Bee County, Bee County Junior Livestock & Homemakers Show, golf tournaments and charitable causes.
IBC opened a new banking center on Houston Highway last year and one in downtown. The bank plans to open an outlet inside the H-E-B Food Store in the near future.
La Amistad Adult Day Care & Activity Center was selected as the chamber’s Small Business of the Year.
La Amistad’s staff are known for providing free meals each Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The staff served turkey, dressing and all the trimmings for 250 people during Thanksgiving in 2008, and served a traditional Christmas dinner to more than 350 the following month. They made sure Santa Claus had a gift for all who came, said Penny Salazar, a close friend of the owners, Jose and Felipita Bastida.
But the fourth-generation Bee Countian was honored Friday night for the other contributions — many, many other contributions – to Bee County and its people.
Galloway was chosen as the Bee County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year at Friday night’s banquet.
A graduate of A.C. Jones High School and Texas A&M University, Galloway has volunteered countless hours of his time and energy to helping various charitable events, civic clubs, youth groups and other public services, including a 10-year stint on the Beeville City Council.
“He still has fond memories of coaching Little League and is still remembered by now-grown players,” said Diana Braly, who presented the award.
Galloway has been an active leader in Boy Scouts, United Way, Bee County Chamber of Commerce, has been named outstanding Kiwanian and is a member of the Rotary Club.
In 1970, he was talked into running for the City Council, He won, and eventually served as mayor for 10 years, she said.
He became a Master Gardener, and “enjoyed it so much that he organized the Junior Master Gardeners and taught third- and fourth-grade youngsters at St. Mary’s and R.A. Hall (Elementary School) and Skidmore schools,” Braly said.
Galloway has served as an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and helped landscape its parking lot.
As a youngster, he showed steers for the FFA at the Bee County Junior Livestock & Homemakers Show. His shorthorn steer won first place at the San Antonio Livestock Show one year.
He is a Lone Star Farmer and has earned his American Farmer’s Degree.
“His desire to see deserving students rewarded led to his forming the Bids for Kids at the Bee County Junior Livestock & Homemakers Show,” Braly said. “Along with the generosity of other community members, he sees that children who place with their animals but do not win the champion or reserve grand champion prizes are still rewarded with the sale of their animals.”
Galloway is presently a director of the First National Bank of Beeville, and serves as a governor’s appointee to the Nueces River Authority.
While he has received many honors over the course of his life, one of his proudest was when he was awarded the only Boone & Crockett record for a deer killed in Bee County.
He passed his love of hunting and fishing on to his three children and 12 grandchildren.
“He supported me with his strong arms and reassuring smile as my Mardi Gras king, and gave that same strong support to me and to many of you in this audience as we have faced some of hardest times we have had to make in our lifetimes,” she said. “His compassion, dedication, respect and genuine love and ministry with each and every family with whom he comes in contact have endeared him as an individual and to us as an individual and as a community.”
Debby Park was presented the Buzzin’ Blazer of the Year award for the second time in two years for her tireless efforts as a chamber ambassador.
“These are the folks that get out there and promote the chamber, sell those memberships” said Chamber President Pam Priour Stuart.
The award is based on a points system, with points being awarded each time an ambassador attends a Chamber ribbon-cutting or other event, signs up a new member or promotes the chamber in a variety of other ways.
Park is co-owner and co-broker of Park-Breidenbach Properties in Beeville.
“Wow, thank you. Awesome,” she said upon accepting the plaque.
The chamber’s Volunteer of the Year award went to Dewayne “Bobo” Bowman, who donated his time and energy to help the chamber over the past 12 months and longer, said Joe B. Montez, who introduced the award winner.
“(Bowman) has been very much involved in the business affairs and economic development of this community and has committed countless numbers of hours toward this endeavor,” Montez said.
Bowman served as director and past president of the Bee County Chamber of Commerce, past director of the Bee Development Corp. — the predecessor of the Bee Development Authority — and served on the board of directors of a local bank, a past president of the Navy League, director of the Bee County Western Week, served as Mardi Gras king, served on the board of directors of St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church and Faith Lutheran Church and the Beeville Country Club.
“(Bowman) has been involved in functions that directly affect children of this community, the elderly, poor and underprivileged,” Montez said, adding that Bowman served as president and board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Beeville.
Bowman also founded and hosted for 16 years the Bee County Thanksgiving Dinner for the Elderly and Underprivileged.
He also served as past ambassador and senior coordinator for the Bee County Area Go Texan Scholarship Committee, which has raised thousands of dollars for college scholarships for students in the Bee County area.
Bowman shared the award with other Go Texan committee members Mike Scotten, Warren Hardy, Cindy Urban, Josh Perkins, Wayne Fricke, Steven Scotten, Reagan Scott, Ken Harvey, Chris King, Stephen Ball, Bobby Urban, John Hensley Jr., Andrew Auzston, Todd Schendel, Colt Campbell and Ernie Perez.
Marco Garcia, business manager for 3-G Electric Co. in Beeville, was selected as the Young Business Person of the Year.
It’s the first time the award has been presented and it is specifically designed to recognize a business person 30 years or younger who exhibits an entrepreneurial spirit, engaged in a successful business, and actively participating or implementing volunteer programs.
Sam Garza presented the award.
“Since moving to Beeville almost two years ago, this young man has infiltrated the Beeville mix, professionally and as a volunteer,” she said.
She said Garcia, 20, manages his family’s growing business.
“In addition to maintaining the grueling hours a family business, and his family, which includes two young children, demand, he devotes significant energy and time to major charitable community causes,” Garza said.
In addition to that, she said, Garcia is a volunteer firefighter.
Also, he and his family helped ensure the Toys for Bee Kids would live on.
“As the operational and driving force behind the program, he orchestrated Santa’s grand arrival on a Beeville fire engine and, more importantly, ensured that every child waiting in line received a gift,” she said.
Furthermore, in the very near future, Garcia is developing a campaign that calls for business owners to help clean up the community, Garza said.
International Bank of Commerce was named the chamber’s Corporate Citizen of the Year.
IBC Board Chairman Renato Ramirez accepted the award on behalf of the bank.
“When this business first came to Beeville, it gave the Bee County Chamber of Commerce $1,000 to just say hello,” said Kyle Mansker, who presented the award.
In addition, IBC has helped sponsor the Bee County Western Week and rodeo parade, Beeville Art Association, Little League opening day, Bee County Teachers Breakfast, Boys & Girls Club of Beeville, donated computers to various entities, donated money to Coastal Bend College and the American Legion, Fiesta Bee County, Bee County Junior Livestock & Homemakers Show, golf tournaments and charitable causes.
IBC opened a new banking center on Houston Highway last year and one in downtown. The bank plans to open an outlet inside the H-E-B Food Store in the near future.
La Amistad Adult Day Care & Activity Center was selected as the chamber’s Small Business of the Year.
La Amistad’s staff are known for providing free meals each Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The staff served turkey, dressing and all the trimmings for 250 people during Thanksgiving in 2008, and served a traditional Christmas dinner to more than 350 the following month. They made sure Santa Claus had a gift for all who came, said Penny Salazar, a close friend of the owners, Jose and Felipita Bastida.
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