DON’T DO MILD - Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative · PDF filenow being heard by the...

M A R C H 2 0 1 2B L U E B O N N E T E L E C T R I C C O O P E R A T I V E E D I T I O N

Roy Spence Shines a Light On the Gospel of Purpose—And Makes Believers of Us All

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T E X A S E L E C T R I C C O O P E R A T I V E S B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S : Rick Haile, Chair, McGregor; Ron Hughes, Vice Chair,Sinton; Darryl Schriver, Secretary-Treasurer, Merkel; Randy Mahannah, Perryton; Billy Marricle, Bellville; Melody Pinnell,Crockett; Mark Stubbs, Greenville

P R E S I D E N T / C E O : Mike Williams, Austin

S T R AT E G I C C O M M U N I C AT I O N S A D V I S O RY C O M M I T T E E : William “Buff” Whitten, Chair, Eldorado; Bryan Lightfoot,Vice Chair, Bartlett; Roy Griffin, Edna; Stan McClendon, Wellington; Gary Nietsche, La Grange; Anne Vaden, Argyle; LarryWarren, San Augustine

C O M M U N I C A T I O N S S T A F F : Martin Bevins, Sales Director; Carol Moczygemba, Executive Editor; Camille Wheeler, AssociateEditor; Suzi Sands, Art Director; Karen Nejtek, Production Manager; Ashley Clary-Carpenter, Field Editor; Andy Doughty,Production Designer; Sandra Forston, Communications Assistant; Suzanne Haberman, Staff Writer; Kevin Hargis, Food Editor;Ellen Stader, Proofreader; Israel Perez, Editorial Intern

F E A T U R E S

D E P A R T M E N T S

March 2012

Don’t Do MildBy Camille WheelerPhotos by Will van Overbeek

Follow your passion. Be kind to all. Fessup when you mess up. Globe-trottingadvertising guru Roy Spence—“ReverendRoy”—preaches these principles and the gospel of his favorite word: purpose. It’s a message with a magnetic appeal now being heard by the nation’s electric cooperative leaders.

Social CallBy Sheryl Smith-RodgersPhotos by Will van Overbeek

Square dancing’s circle of laughter, loveand friendship brings novices and expertsalike into the fold.

V O L U M E 6 8 N U M B E R 9

C O V E R P H O T O Roy Spence by Will van Overbeek

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Texas Co-op Power is published by your

electric cooperative to enhance the qual-

ity of life of its member-customers in an

educational and entertaining format.

Footnotes by Martha Deeringer The Lone Ranger 3 5

Recipe Roundup Pasta: A Saucy Experience 3 6

Focus on Texas Wild Animals 3 9

Around Texas Local Events Listings 4 0

Hit the Road by Kaye Northcott Clark Gardens 4 2

TexasCoopPower.comThe following March stories are available on our website.

Texas USA by Suzanne HabermanPaint By Numbers: Buckholts Mural

Observations by Kaye NorthcottThrifting: What’s Yours is Mine

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O N L I N E

TEXAS CO-OP POWER (USPS 540-560) is published monthly by Texas Electric Cooperatives (TEC). Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, TX and at additional offices. TEC is the statewide association representing76 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s website is TexasCoopPower.com. Call (512) 454-0311 or email [email protected]. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE is $3.96 per year for individual members ofsubscribing cooperatives. If you are not a member of a subscribing cooperative, you can purchase an annual subscription at the nonmember rate of $7.50. Individual copies and back issues are available for $3each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Co-op Power (USPS 540-560), 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. Please enclose label from this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing old addressand key numbers. ADVERTISING: Advertisers interested in buying display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in our 30 sister publications in other states, contact Martin Bevins at (512) 486-6249.Advertisements in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. The publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any manner any product or company included in this publication. Product satisfaction and deliveryresponsibility lie solely with the advertiser. Direct questions or comments about advertising to Martin Bevins, sales director.

© Copyright 2012 Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Reproduction of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited without writtenpermission. Willie Wiredhand © Copyright 2012 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

The speaker, OrbyLedbetter, spoke about his 19 months as a prisoner ofwar during World War II. The remembrances that heshared spoke volumes aboutwhat this great soldierendured. (Our 8-year-old

grandson could tell us thenext day some of the thingshe remembered from thespeech.)

KARRY K. MATSONFayette Electric Cooperative

SHINING A LIGHT I am an elderly widow with anequally ancient dog. After

DIM VIEW OF LIGHTINGThe “Illuminated Thinking” storyin the January 2012 issue dis-cussed the use of incandescentlightbulbs vs. the newer, moreenergy-efficient bulbs.

Incandescent bulbs give offheat, which is very importantduring winter for people whohave water wells. The use ofjust one traditional 60-wattbulb in a pump house that sup-plies water to our home or in themiddle of our ranch to livestockis very important. Broken pipesand frozen pumps are expensiveto replace. A 60-watt bulb givesoff enough heat to prevent thisand is a very cheap and safealternative to any heat sourcethat I know of. I guess the costof going green is going to costus a lot more money than thesilly new bulbs will save inenergy. I'll send you the bill.

JOHNNY TAYLORPedernales Electric Cooperative

Editor’s note: We received anumber of letters about the“Illuminated Thinking” articlein the Power Connections sec-tion. Texas Co-op Power pub-lishes such articles as aconsumer service to educateour readers about industrychanges that may directlyaffect them. To read more letters on this topic, go toTexasCoopPower.com.

A VERY SPECIAL THEME PARKI really enjoyed the article onthe San Antonio theme park,Morgan’s Wonderland, for chil-

Thanksgiving, we went to myplace in Crockett County. Itwas late when I arrived, and Ihad no power. A benevolentneighbor called SouthwestTexas Electric Cooperative forme and told them he couldguide them to my place, whichis extremely remote. The dogand I settled in and went to bedwith a flashlight. I expected theservice to arrive the next day. Iwas amazed when they arriveda few hours later that night.

The two young men wereconscientious, professionaland determined that “no cus-tomer would be left cold in the dark.” The co-op and itsemployees will forever enjoy my esteem and gratitude!

LUCILLE MCDAVID-NEUSESouthwest Texas Electric Cooperative

POWERtalkLetters from Texas Co-op Power Readers

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!ONLINE: TexasCoopPower.com/shareEMAIL: [email protected]: Editor, Texas Co-op Power, 1122Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701Please include your town and electric co-op.Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

dren and adults with specialneeds [“The Wonder of It All,”January 2012]. I quickly sentthe magazine to my niece inDripping Springs and told herit would be an ideal place totake her daughter, who hascerebral palsy.

BARBARA SCHROEDERFayette Electric Cooperative

SALUTE TO A SOLDIERAfter reading the article“Sunday Best” [December2011], I wanted to share anexperience from one of thosepainted Catholic churches.On November 6, my husbandand I attended the annualVeterans Day memorial serv-ice held on the grounds of St.Mary’s Church in Praha.

GET MORE TCP at TexasCoopPower.com

Find more letters in the March Table of Contents.

Sign up for our E-Newsletter for monthly updates,

prize drawings and more!

Building Hope, Building HomesI enjoyed your articles about the Bastrop County fires [“Up From the Ashes,” January2012]. I live in Comanche County. I volunteered with Texas Baptist Men, a disaster-

relief organization based in Dallas, from Octoberthrough December, helping clean up homesites inthe aftermath of the wildfires. My church also wentdown a couple of times to help.

We have met some great folks while workingthere. After meeting a local pastor there, mychurch, along with some other area churches incoordination with the Heart of Texas BaptistNetwork, has made a commitment to constructhomes for some of the victims who had no insur-ance. One of the families we are helping is the

McClintock family referenced in your article. The weekend after your magazine cameout, we started the foundation and are well under way with the home.

Charles Carroll, Comanche Electric Cooperative

Anthony McClintock, left, his grandmother, PeggyMcClintock, and his mother, Brandy McClintock,lost everything in the Bastrop County wildfire.

4 T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R M a r c h 2 0 1 2

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2012I N T E R N AT I O N A L Y E A R O F

C O O P E R A T I V E S

WHO KNEW?

Everyone loves a good story. A well-told talecan evoke awe, laughter, tears, praise and

understanding. For 27 years, Denton—north of Dallas—has been

home to the TEXAS STORYTELLING FESTIVAL,known as the largest event of its kind in the Southwest.

Sponsored by the Tejas Storytelling Association, the festival isscheduled for March 8-11 in the Denton Civic Center and willfeature NPR commentator and storyteller Kevin Kling, Celtic

harpist and storyteller Patrick Ball, bilingual storytellerMaryAnn Blue and storyteller and musician Kim Lehman.

Attendees can compete for championship-level billing: biggest liar in the state of Texas.For more information, visit www.tejasstorytelling.com or call (940) 382-7014.

Find hundreds of happenings all across the state at TexasCoopPower.com.

I L L U S T R A T I O N S B Y E D D P A T T O N

SPUR CAPITAL OF TEXASLloyd Mitchell was not youreveryday hobbyist. TheGatesville High School multi-sport coach amassed a hugespur collection—upwards of10,000 pairs and singles—over77 years. Upon his death in1991, his collection wasdonated to the Coryell Museumand Historical Center inGatesville and is thought to bethe largest spur collection inthe world. This distinctionprompted the Legislature in2001 to designate Gatesvillethe Spur Capital of Texas.

P H O T O B Y C H R I S C A R S O N ( P R O P E R T Y O F G U A D A L U P E V A L L E Y E L E C T R I C C O O P E R A T I V E )

POWERconnectionsPeople, Places and Events in Texas

Lubbock-based Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, founded in1953, is the largest U.S. handler of cotton—growing, warehousing andmarketing cotton and making denim and jeans. The co-op marketsabout one-third of the nation’s cotton, grown by 15,000 members inTexas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas. It can annually produceenough 68-inch-wide denim to stretch from New York to California.

BY ASHLEY CLARY-CARPENTERCatherine Ozer is somewhat of a celebrity in La Vernia. Dubbed the“Solar Lady” by her neighbors, the Guadalupe Valley ElectricCooperative member oversaw the installation of a 5.25-kilowattsolar photovoltaic system in April 2010 that covered most of the roofof her 2,400-square-foot home.

“We believe it’s important to conserve energy wherever we can,”Ozer says. She and her husband, Phil, caught the energy-efficiencybug in 2007 when they retired to Hawaii—whichhas one of the nation’s highest electric rates.

The Ozers’ typical monthly utility bill inHawaii? A whopping $750 to $800. “In a veryshort time, we had to learn a very efficient wayto live,” she says. After their Hawaii home wasdestroyed by fire in February 2009, theOzers—who were familiar with the San Antonioarea—relocated to La Vernia. Shortly there-after, Catherine Ozer discovered GVEC’senergy-efficiency programs and rebates.

GVEC’s rebates are easy to obtain: Aftermaking an energy-efficient purchase that meets

CO-OP PEOPLE Meet the Solar Lady: GVEC Member Catherine Ozer

rebate criteria, a member fills out an online form and submits receiptsand any required supporting paperwork. A bill credit is issued forrebates under $1,500, and a check is mailed for higher amounts,usually within weeks of submitting the correct documentation.

The Ozers paid $29,292 for the combined purchase and installa-tion of their PV-5250 solar system. That’s a hefty up-front cost, butthey recouped $15,000 with an $8,000 rebate from GVEC and a$7,000 federal renewable energy tax credit.

The couple has also installed a solar waterheater and a programmable thermostat. After ahome energy audit by GVEC, the Ozers doubledtheir attic insulation.

And Catherine Ozer’s not done: “I have acheck-off list,” she laughs. “I don’t think peo-ple realize how these little things can makesuch a difference.” She should know: Her aver-age monthly electric bill is now $50, down from$200. She’s more than the “Solar Lady.” She’sa shining star.

Ashley Clary-Carpenter, field editor

Let the sun shine in: Catherine Ozer lightsup when extolling the merits of her home’ssolar photovoltaic system.

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On December 18, 1965, dark storm clouds rolled in overCollege Station’s Kyle Field. At kickoff, a cold, pouringrain drove home the dilemma facing the undefeatedBrownwood Lions: how to stop—or, more realistically,

try to contain—Bridge City’s star running back Steve Worsterin the Class 3A state championship high school football game.

Brownwood Coach Gordon Wood knew well the frighten-ing scouting report: Worster, a 6-foot, 210-pound brute of aback with blazing 10.5-second speed in the 100-yard dash, wasso strong that it sometimes took three defenders to bring himdown. Worster was, Wood simply stated, a vicious runner.

Tension on the Brownwood sideline heightened as BridgeCity won the coin toss and elected to receive. The call waspredictable: On the first play from scrimmage, Worster, whohad rushed for 1,293 yards and scored 22 touchdowns thatseason, took the handoff and headed around right end. Butwhat happened next became the stuff of lore.

A 160-pound lightning bolt named Roy Spence came flyingin from his defensive back position, delivering a crushing hit atthe knees that thundered across the stadium. Worster wasdown, in the mud, and he and the Cardinals, for all practicalpurposes, never got back up. As Wood described in his 2001autobiography—Coach of the Century, as told to author JohnCarver—Spence’s “punishing blow set the tone … many timesmaroon-clad players swarmed into Bridge City’s backfield togang-tackle Worster before he reached the line of scrimmage.”

The Lions held Worster, a future University of Texas All-American fullback, to 87 yards en route to a 14-0 win, givingWood his fourth of an eventual nine career state high schoolfootball titles.

Almost half a century has passed since a skinny corner-back waylaid one of the greatest running backs in state ofTexas football history. But the legend continues. Roy Spence,per a mantra passed down from his father, does not do any-thing mild. Oh, no, no, no. This is a guy who’s never beenafraid to tackle anything, or anyone.

‘Force of Nature’

Roll the game film, please. In 1971, Spence and five fel-low University of Texas graduates co-foundedGSD&M, an Austin-based advertising firm. They hadno clients and virtually no money. Spence couldn’t

afford an apartment and slept on a mattress under the arttable at the agency’s first headquarters—a tiny, one-roomoffice space that he and his partners rented for $85 a month.

Royism 1: ‘We try to marry the doers and the dreamers.’ Royism 2: ‘Fess up when you mess up.’

B Y C A M I L L E W H E E L E R • P H O T O S B Y W I L L VA N O V E R B E E K

DON’T DO MILD.ROY SPENCE—‘REVEREND ROY’—SHINES A LIGHT ON THE GOSPELOF PURPOSE, MAKING BELIEVERSOF US ALL.

From perfectingRoyito’s Hot Sauce

to consulting withnational electric

co-op leaders, RoySpence is always

cooking on allburners.


Royism 3: ‘Failing is when you hurt somebody or lie to somebody.’ Royism 4: ‘Kiss change on the lips.’

Spence bathed in the swimming pool at the health clubnext door and kept his shaving kit out in plain sight. PartnerJudy Trabulsi worried constantly that with such evidence,they’d get kicked out because the business lease she signedstated quite clearly: no permanent residents. Of course, thestaff was pretty much there all the time anyway, workingseven days a week in a standard attire of jeans, shorts, san-dals and tie-dyed shirts. Spence often met clients with hislong hair pulled back in a ponytail.

Now here it is 2012, and time has wonderfully flown forSpence, the man known as “Reverend Roy,” who’s fond ofsaying: “Sometimes, you have to jump off the building andbuild the wings on the way down.” He’s leapt, all right—again and again—proving that parachutes, in some cases,might be overrated.

The 63-year-old Spence—who helped handle quarterbackduties for Brownwood—is still calling the signals. But now,as chairman of GSD&M Idea City, an internationallyrenowned marketing and advertising firm, his huddle holdssome of the biggest-name players in the world: SouthwestAirlines. Goodyear. The U.S. Air Force. The PGA Tour. Andhe has helped grow such high-profile brands as BMW andWalmart in guiding an agency that regularly oversees multi-million-dollar accounts.

But the 5-foot-10-inch Spence, the little guy who could onthe football field, has not forgotten his West Texas roots.Fiercely proud of his rural upbringing, he’s a champion forthe entrepreneurial underdogs: the small-business operatorswho fall under a concept he calls “Stand Tall For Small.” It’sa principle based on community and the undergirding ofTexas that draws its strength from its rural vitality—frommember-owned electric cooperatives putting people first, tofarmers, ranchers and small-business owners.

Build from this base, Spence says, and you’ll see a rebirthof the American entrepreneurial dream.

It’s a philosophy that matches the tenacity of Spence, whosays of his famous tackle 47 years ago: “I was fast and had nofear.” So the challenge for followers is to keep up withSpence, a rebel who once stood on a table at a party, tequilabottle in hand, and shouted: “We ride at dawn like the break-ing wind! Who’s with me?”

Well, Southwest Airlines founder Herb Kelleher, for one,who paints a picture of what Spence, as a storm, would do tohelpless boats on the water. “He’s such a force of nature,” saysthe 80-year-old Kelleher, who’s no floating lily pad himselfas Southwest’s raucously funny, chain-smoking chairmanemeritus. “He reminds me of a typhoon crossing the ChinaSea and driving sampans and junks before it.”

No doubt about it: Spence, named “Adman of theCentury” by Texas Monthly in 1999, sets the bar high. As aglobe-trotting advertising, consulting and motivationalspeaking guru, Spence works with a diverse group of clients,ranging from the Clinton Global Initiative, to Fortune 500company executives, to corporate CEOs in Portugal, a coun-try staggering under the weight of a financial crisis.

He visits frequently with former President Bill Clinton;and in the wakes of the 2004 Asian tsunami, hurricanesKatrina (2005) and Ike (2008) and the 2010 Haiti earth-

quake, he helped create relief-effort public service announce-ments with Clinton and former Presidents George H.W. Bushand George W. Bush.

Spence’s light shines far and wide, and it’s little wonderthat so many leaders from across a broad spectrum—includ-ing, recently, Texas Electric Cooperatives President/CEOMike Williams—have jumped onboard with Reverend Roy,the golden-maned visionary with the Midas touch preachingthe gospel of his favorite word: purpose.

Simply put, Spence writes in his latest book—It’s NotWhat You Sell, It’s What You Stand For: Why EveryExtraordinary Business Is Driven By Purpose (PenguinGroup, 2009, co-authored with Haley Rushing)—purpose is adefinitive statement about the difference you’re trying tomake in the world. Find and unleash your purpose, and you’llmake money, often beyond your wildest dreams. But far moreimportant, you’ll enrich the lives of others.

It’s a message with a magnetic appeal, attracting such cor-porate icons as Kelleher, an early convert who seized uponSpence’s creativity during the early 1980s when manyAmericans could not afford to fly commercially. One day,Spence said to Kelleher: “You know what you’re doing?You’re democratizing the skies.” Kelleher loved it, and theline stuck—as have legions of loyal Southwest customers.

That message of purpose resonates with Williams as well,who keeps a copy of Spence’s book on his desk. Williams, atthe helm of TEC, a statewide association that oversees theinterests of 76 electric co-ops and publishes this magazine,has taken on a new leadership role as chairman of the 21stCentury Electric Cooperatives Committee. The 13-membernational group is tasked with determining how to ensurethat electric cooperatives and the communities they serveremain sustainable and successful in the 21st century.

Williams says the challenge for co-ops is not to answer the “what”and “how,” but to start with the “why—our real purpose.” And whatbetter person to bring into this crucial conversation, he says,than Spence, a friend whom Williams invited to deliver thekeynote speech at the committee’s inaugural meeting inJanuary in Los Angeles (see “Shining a Light on Electric Co-ops’ Dynamic Roles,” Page 12).

“Roy and his team are uniquely qualified to facilitate adiscussion about purpose,” Williams says. “He understandselectric cooperative values because he grew up with them.Just like these co-ops, he is the real deal.”

Ideas: ‘He Shoots ’Em Out Like a Fountain in Rome’

Many complex layers make up Roy Spence, a man pro-foundly influenced by family and experience whoserves as keeper of his father’s flame: “Don’t DoMild,” a motto for life and the trademarked slogan

for Royito’s Hot Sauce, made from his dad’s recipe. The hotsauce, which bears Spence’s childhood nickname, serves asco-sponsor of an annual $5,000 award that goes to an entre-preneur following his or her passion and demonstrating apurpose beyond making money (see “I Want to Change theWorld,” Page 10).

Spence, whose mother, the late Ruth Griffin Spence, was hishigh school civics teacher, considers the world his classroom.

1 0 T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R M a r c h 2 0 1 2

Royism 5: ‘Sometimes, you have to jump off the building and build the wings on the way down.’

And his three children—his “next-generation dreamers”—arefollowing in his footsteps. Shay Spence, a senior at TulaneUniversity, is working on a business plan with his dad tointroduce the Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse movie fran-chise to Washington, D.C.

His oldest daughter, 32-year-old Courtney Spence, is theexecutive director of Austin-based Students of the World, anorganization she founded in 1999 that focuses on humanitar-ian work.

And 28-year-old Ashley Spence Clauer is openingWanderlust Yoga in Austin. Her spontaneously creativedad—who else?—came up with the studio’s motto: “BreatheIn, Rock Out.”

Spence’s passion—there’s really no way to exaggerate the

spark he brings into a room—burns like a lightbulb over hishead. As ideas go, “He shoots ’em out like a fountain inRome,” Kelleher says.

Let’s flash back to 1990, when GSD&M waged an all-outadvertising war against its Dallas-based archrival, TheRichards Group, to keep the prized Southwest Airlinesaccount it had first captured in 1981. Heading into the finalshowdown, Spence gambled by spending at least $100,000on shooting and editing 15 new commercials, ditching thesafer and less expensive storyboard pitch.

On the morning of the final presentation, per Spence’sarrangement, two chartered buses carrying GSD&M employeesarrived at Southwest’s Dallas headquarters. That afternoon,immediately following their pitch, Spence and partners

‘I WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD’B Y C A M I L L E W H E E L E R

In 2010, Roy Spence launched his Royito’s Hot Sauce brand froman Airstream trailer to drive home a salient belief:

“Entrepreneurship,” he says, “is the miracle of America.” Certainly,Spence, who oversees one of the world’s most successful adver-tising agencies, Austin-based GSD&M Idea City, didn’t need tostart selling hot sauce for the money. Rather, he’s making a point:Anybody can start a business from a trailer, or a kitchen or a boothat a farmer’s market.

But for the miracle to happen, young—and young at heart, Spencequickly adds—entrepreneurs need help, he says. That’s why he part-nered with RISE, an Austin-based nonprofit program dedicated toinspiring and empowering entrepreneurs, to create the $5,000Royito’s “Don’t Do Mild” RISE Award. Last year’s inaugural winner,Erine Gray of Austin, created a website called Aunt Bertha(www.auntbertha.com) that organizes information for many of thestate’s assistance programs—education, employment, food, healthand housing—and other charitable programs and puts it in one place.

The site provides free, one-stop shopping for human-serviceinformation: Just type in your ZIP code, and Aunt Bertha, a fictional,motherly character, will find services in your area, from foodpantries to literacy and education programs. And Aunt Bertha greetseach user. A 79045 search, for example—the ZIP code for Hereford,headquarters of Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative—yielded thisresponse: “Great news, Sugar! There are 52 programs in your area.”

No more looking for a needle in a haystack, says Gray, a 36-year-old computer programmer who has long been frustrated withwhat he calls the inefficient administration of some large, human-service organizations that get bogged down in bureaucracy. “Itsounds clichéd,” says Gray, who earned a master’s degree from theLBJ School of Public Affairs, “but I want to change the world.”

That sounds a lot like something Spence would say. Save for thechile pequin peppers—Spence uses serranos instead, in addition tofresh tomatoes, lemon juice and salt—Royito’s Hot Sauce follows hisfather’s recipe. But most significant, Spence says, the hot sauce is

made in honor of the late Roy Milam Spence Sr., who taught his sonto be kind, keep it simple and never do anything mild.

Oh, and keep sprouting those ideas, such as the “Dream It, BuildIt” TV show that Spence is pitching to network executives. Spence,as host, would introduce fledging entrepreneurs, “dreamers,” fromacross America, who would tell their stories and be paired withmentors, such as Southwest Airlines founder and ChairmanEmeritus Herb Kelleher. The mentors would guide them on the roadto success.

The idea, Spence says, is to nurture the flame of entrepreneur-ship. But don’t expect anything like “The Apprentice,” a show onwhich Donald Trump gives contestants a cold-hearted boot. “Thatidea is somebody has to get hurt to lift somebody up,” Spence says.“I’m not in that business.”

On TexasCoopPower.comRead more about Aunt Bertha.

Passing the torch: Roy Spenceserves up his own brand of entre-preneurial mentoring, as Royito’s‘Don’t Do Mild’ RISE Award winnerErine Gray can attest.

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Trabulsi and Tim McClure and Creative Director WallyWilliams escorted Kelleher to a balcony overlooking nearly200 GSD&M employees gathered below, all wearing T-shirtsthat read “Together We Stand.”

Tears rolled down Kelleher’s cheeks as the group startedto sing “Stand By Me.”

‘She Was Pushing Me’

Spend just a little time with Reverend Roy, and you’ll likelywalk away thinking, “Well, maybe I really could (fill in theblank) write that book, start that business, travel to Paris,grow a garden, get fit, learn to play the drums …”

He’s a man of equal parts humility and confidence who’sconcerned by what he calls cultural hug gaps and thank-yougaps, believes fervently in owning his mistakes—“You gottafess up when you mess up”—and fair competition: “It’s notwinning at any cost, but if you’re going to play, you play to win.”

He’s a dream of a boss who brings flowers to five keywomen on his staff every Monday morning. And he bringshis 11-year-old black Labrador retriever, Miss Ellie, to work,where she romps with Trabulsi’s dog, a sheltie named Luca.

And Spence, fair warning, is a hugger of the bear-hug vari-ety: no weak, sideways, arm-around-the-shoulder stuff goingon here. He dedicates his newest book—The 10 EssentialHugs of Life, still in draft form and not scheduled for publi-cation—to his father, Roy Milam Spence Sr., who died in2009 at the age of 95. Spence credits his father, a World WarII veteran and charismatic salesman, with teaching him theart of conversation and how to love people.

Spence Sr. grew up in the border town of Eagle Pass,learning to speak Spanish before English. As a boy, Roysometimes accompanied his dad on visits back to Eagle Passand Piedras Negras, Mexico, just across the Rio Grande. The6-foot-5-inch “Big Roy,” as he was known, was a popular per-sonality in the marketplaces where he hugged everyone hemet. And every time “Little Roy” heard his father say “Este esmi hijo, Royito”—“This is my son …”—the boy got his shareof hugs, too.

But Spence, the youngest of three children, cites nogreater influence than his oldest sister, Susan, who was bornwith spina bifida, a birth defect in which the backbone andspinal canal do not close before birth.

As children, Roy and his other sister, Mary GordonSpence—now an Austin-based writer, humorist andspeaker—pushed Susan everywhere in her wheelchair. Roytied Susan’s wheelchair to his bike to haul her to school, andhe and Mary Gordon fashioned a seatbelt to keep her fromfalling out.

As an adult, Susan attended a junior college and livedindependently in San Antonio. She died in 1992 at the age of47—living almost half a century longer than the two weeksdoctors gave her. “For 30 years, I pushed her, but actually shewas pushing me,” says her little brother, who makes a livingat pulling others toward their hopes and dreams.

For his personal journeys, Spence relies on a pedometer—his “curiosity meter.” If he hasn’t logged 10,000 to 12,000steps a day (five to six miles), he’s sat behind his desk too longand not talked to enough people.

“I used to think if I didn’t know where I was going, I’d never be lost,”Spence says. “And then I realized if I didn’t know where I was going, I’dnever be found. You find yourself getting lost in the service of others.”

Camille Wheeler, associate editor

On TexasCoopPower.comPeople always ask: Where’s the “T” in GSD&M’s name? Partner JudyTrabulsi just laughs: She’s happy as the ampersand who helps hold itall together. Competition and one-upmanship, Trabulsi notes, typicallybreak up partnerships. Not so with this in-tune ad firm. Who knows?The Beatles might’ve stayed together with such a harmonious attitude.

SHINING A LIGHT On Electric Co-ops’ Dynamic Roles

Texas Electric Cooperatives President/CEO Mike Williams, chairof the 21st Century Electric Cooperatives Committee, quicklyseized upon the opportunity to engage internationally renownedconsultant and speaker Roy Spence in a conversation aboutelectric co-ops. Williams says Spence’s energy and vision canonly elevate a discussion animated by co-ops’ historic roots andfuture challenges.

It is important, Williams says, to shine a light on the rich her-itage of electric co-ops. “Over 75 years ago, we brought light tovast areas of the country that other utilities did not want toserve,” he says. “The reality is we brought more than light—webrought a quality of life to small towns and rural areas. As impor-tant as that was then, maintaining that quality of life may be evenmore critical today. And electric cooperatives are uniquely posi-tioned to fill that role.”

Historically, Williams says, co-ops have shown resilience ineconomic downturns, thanks to an ownership structure that“generally is more stable over time compared to other businessmodels because it is less prone to investor turnover, speculativeswings or predatory takeover.”

It’s a resiliency born of seeking the greater good, Spence toldthe committee during its inaugural meeting in January. Drawing anappreciative “Yeah!” from at least one committee member, Spencequoted an oft-cited Tennessee farmer from the early 1940s: “Thegreatest thing on Earth is to have the love of God in your heart, andthe next greatest thing is to have electricity in your house.”

To keep that sentiment alive, Spence told the 13-membergroup, which met in Los Angeles, electric co-ops must keep put-ting customers first. “If you’re not fanatically focused on improv-ing people’s lives, people don’t have time for you,” he said.

Co-ops, Spence said, “democratized the American dream.”But to turn past tense into a present-tense purpose—includingsparking rural economic and manufacturing growth as success-ful, nonprofit business models—Spence says co-ops must grabhold of what he terms a “holistic flywheel”: a new movementcalled conscious capitalism that equally regards business per-formance and the quality of people’s lives.

Co-ops, through their heritage, know how to do that, Spencesaid: “You turned the lights on in the past—you need to shine alight on the future.”

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SOCIAL CALLS q u a re D a n c i n g ’ s C i rc l e o f La u g h t e r , Lo v e a n d Fr i e n d s h i p B r i n g s A l l — Ev e n S c o f f e r s — I n t o t h e Fo l d

B Y S H E R Y L S M I T H - R O D G E R S • P H O T O S B Y W I L L VA N O V E R B E E K

Flashing a smile as bright as the gold lamé trim onhis partner’s blue dress, Jon Steffens (center) and

Deretha Starnes effortlessly twirl during thePresident’s Meeting and Dance last fall in

Georgetown. The annual dance, presented by TheTexas State Federation of Square and Round

Dancers, was well represented by other members ofthe federation’s executive committee, including (at

left) Steffens’ wife, Veronica, and Wayne Daniels.

No fancy signs or neon lights mark thecinder-block building at the end ofLocust Street in San Angelo. Only alone twirling couple, silhouetted indark green paint on an outside wall,hints that we’ve found the right place—the Promenade Squares clubhouse,where members square dance everyThursday night.

Inside the wood-paneled hall, wefind a dozen or so people millingaround two long tables at one end of thedance floor. A few who’ve alreadyclaimed folding chairs are chatting. Oneman is seated by the refreshment tablethat’s piled with snacks and salads.

Right away, a gray-haired lady, outfit-ted in a black ruffled skirt and blousetrimmed with gold lamé, greets uswarmly. After brief introductions,Patricia Cain, 82, who’s square dancedsince 1989, unabashedly shares herenthusiasm for the fast-moving pastime.“If you don’t dance, you’ll dry up!” sheinsists good-naturedly. “We have lots offun. We’ve become family, too, because ifanyone’s missing, we know it.” She grins,then warns, “If you don’t laugh whileyou’re here, you’re in trouble!”

At the other end of thehall, caller John Geen, 78,holding a microphone on asmall stage, readies for theevening. His wife, Nora, 78,staffs the registration table.For the past half of their 60-year marriage, they’ve squaredanced. Onstage, John turnson a vintage record player andannounces the evening’s firsttip (see glossary at right). In notime, men in Western shirtsand ladies in swishy skirts andpetticoats stroll to the floor andform two large squares. Themusic starts. Smiling andlaughing, cheering and clap-ping at times, everyone twirlsand bobs in time to John’s lilt-ing voice.

“We shall gather by the river… four hands together, veer tothe left, my friend … Go alle-mande, now veer to the right,Ferris wheel you go … Yes, weshall gather at the river …”

As the two-hour danceunfolds, I sneak peeks at my hus-band, James. He came along onlyso I wouldn’t travel alone. “Square

dancing isn’t cool,” he’d scoffed severaltimes, wrinkling his nose. I wonderwhat he thinks now.

DANCE ACROSS TEXASToday, roughly 6,000 Texans squaredance regularly, according to The TexasState Federation of Square and RoundDancers, which is composed of 131square dance clubs with nearly 4,000total members. Geographically, theorganization splits the state into 15 dis-tricts (the Texas State CampingSquares is statewide). Two more dis-tricts stand alone as regional associa-tions. The North Texas Square andRound Dance Association, whichincludes the Dallas-Fort WorthMetroplex, has 34 clubs and more than1,600 square dancers. The WesternersSquare and Round Dance Association,which encompasses the Abilene area,includes five clubs with more than 80square dancers.

Generally, dancers belong to a localclub and pay annual dues. At weeklydances, they may give donations (in lieuof a cover charge), which pay for build-ing expenses and caller

TOP: Amarillo’s Meagan Rutledge, spin-ning the night away in Georgetown, saysshe’s met people from all over the worldthrough square dancing. The 14-year-old plans to eventually apply for a TexasTeen Scholarship from The Texas StateFederation of Square and RoundDancers. BOTTOM: Pat Kotal traveledfrom his home in Birmingham,Alabama, to call the 2011 President’sMeeting and Dance in Georgetown.Callers serve as square-dance conduc-tors by selecting the music, announc-ing the accompanying steps andkeeping people moving in what is a funcardio—and cognitive—workout.

BASIC LINGO

Angel—An experienced dancer who attends

lessons and helps new dancers

Caller—Person who chooses the music and calls

out steps to match it

Cuer—Person who directs dancers through a

round dance

Dancing levels—Mainstream, plus, A-1

(advanced), A-2 (advanced), C-1 (challenge)

Home position—Your position within the square

at the beginning of a tip

Knothead—Anyone who travels more than 100

miles to dance

Mainstream—Beginning level of square dancing;

68 callsPatter call—First session of a tip in which caller

calls with music in background

Plus—Level above mainstream with about 30

more callsSinging call—Second session of a tip in which a

caller mixes calls with singing lyrics

Square—Consists of four couples

Square ware—Preferred square-dancing attire

Square your sets—Caller is asking dancers to

return to their home positions

Taw—Caller’s partner, usually a spouse

Tip—Square dance session that consists of a

patter call and a singing call

Yellow rock—A friendly hug

M a r c h 2 0 1 2 T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R 1 5


fees. (Note: Some clubs also host rounddancing, another kind of folk dance inwhich a cuer calls out steps while cou-ples dance counter-clockwise in onecircle.) Clubs host dances on regulardays of the month (such as everyThursday or first and third Fridays) atchurches, recreation centers, seniorcenters, schools and even restaurants.Some own their own dance halls.Callers play a variety of music genres,including country and western, hymns,folk songs and even rock ’n’ roll.

Many square dancers wear tradi-tional dance attire: guys in Western-style shirts with long sleeves (so galsdon’t have to hang onto hairy, sweatyarms) and ladies in ruffled skirts withflouncy petticoats and frilly petti-pants. Some square dancers wearwhatever they want. Weather permit-ting, they may even show up in shortsand flip-flops. Also, nearly every clubhas its own pin-on badge, whichmembers wear as a name tag. Like acharm bracelet, members attach theirown commemorative dangles to thebadge.

LEARNING BASICS IN SAN MARCOSAt the Dunbar Recreation Center inSan Marcos, I’ve barely stepped out ofmy vehicle when Ted Zahorski, 66,flags me down. He and his wife, Nancy,58, are regulars at the Thursday nightdances hosted by the Wheel-N-Dealsclub. Grinning ear to ear, he ushers meinto the main hall, where other mem-bers are gathering. Most are dressed incasual attire, like jeans and skirts. Afew men are in shorts and sandals.While I sign the registry, several folksamble by. Some give me quick hugs.“Hey, welcome!” they exclaim.

“This is better than church!” I sput-ter, surprised at the extra-friendlyatmosphere.

But no time to visit. The music’sstarting, and tonight, lessons run forthe first 1 1/2 hours. “C’mon,” urgesMilton Vaverek, 77, who’s squaredanced since World War II. “You’rehere to dance, right?” Sure, I nod as hegrabs my hand and leads me to thefloor. Everyone in my square makesintroductions. Then caller Chet Miles,up front with a microphone, clicks adigital music track on his computerand begins calling: “Circle to the right,circle to the left, promenade home!

Dancers, swing your partner, joinhands, circle left, now allemande …”

Oops, I mess up an allemande, adance movement, by grabbing Milton’shand instead of his forearm. “You’redoing great,” he grins. Gee, no wonderbeginner square dance lessons can runas long as 10 weeks. Basic “main-stream” calls tally up to 68. Addanother 30 or so calls, and dancersreach the “plus” level. Two “advanced”levels add 32 more calls. “Challenge”levels add even more calls! Undoubt-edly, square dancing provides both car-dio and cognitive workouts.

The lessons end. Now mainstreamand plus dancers will enjoy the lasthour on the floor. “My wife and Istarted dancing a year ago,” says EdWedig, 65, who’s taking a breather.“Now we know hundreds of people, andI’ve lost 25 pounds! We belong to theFunDancers in Schertz, but we like tovisit other clubs.”

Ernest Williams, 74, is also visiting.He belongs to the Cliff Dwellers inDuncanville and has square danced for15 years. “For the most part, it’s realforgiving,” he tells me. “It’s OK if youmake mistakes. Nobody cares.”

That’s exactly what Ted Zahorskisays. “Square dancing is more aboutgetting into the right position andknowing your right hand from yourleft,” he explains. “It doesn’t matter if Itake one step or five.”

PRESIDENT’S DANCEThree times a year, state square danc-ing federation officers and membersgather in various cities to discuss busi-ness and plan the annual state festival,which last year drew 900 dancers.(This year, Wichita Falls will host thefederation’s 50th annual festival, set forJune 7-10.) They also dance! At thePresident’s Meeting and Dance, heldlast October in Georgetown, I metsquare dancers of all ages. At thesegalas, everyone wears fancy squaredancing attire.

Outfitted in a floral dress with a ruf-fled skirt and petticoat, 14-year-oldMeagan Rutledge of Amarillo shylytells me that in a few years she’ll applyfor one of the federation’s annual TexasTeen Scholarships. In 2010, the organ-ization awarded $1,500 scholarships to10 high school seniors who’ve square orround danced at least two years. They

TOP: Danny Kingsley is an active member andpast president of the Texas Association ofSingle Square Dancers. The red and whitebadges on Kingsley’s shirt chronicle his roleswith the Lubbock Area Square and RoundDance Federation. BOTTOM: Austin’s LiseWaring and her 10-year-old daughter Martha(facing camera) wear matching, resplendentlyred outfits to an October dance in Georgetown.‘It’s hard to say what I like most about squaredancing because I’ve been at it so long,’ saysMartha, who took lessons between the first andsecond grades.

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must also belong to a club affiliatedwith the federation.

“I’ve gone to the clubs with my par-ents ever since I can remember,” sharesMeagan, who belongs to the TexasTwisters. “I’ve met people from all overthe globe. I’ve found it to be really fun.I want to get my friends interested!”

I’d like to meet another youngsquare dancer, but at the momentAustin dancer Lise Waring can’t findher 10-year-old daughter Martha.“There’s a whole lot of chaperones hereso I don’t worry about her,” Lise says.“Our whole family dances. Martha tooklessons between first and second grade.Oh, here she is!”

Sounding very grown up, Marthapatiently answers questions. “It’s hardto say what I like most about squaredancing because I’ve been at it so long,”she says. “I went with Mother toMonday dances, and I find it quiteinteresting. Since then, I’ve learned todo mainstream and plus.”

Like Martha, K.O. Jeanes, 51, acaller and square dancer from Conroe,inherited the pastime from his parents.“Most callers call for the love of it,” hesays. “It’s tough to make a living fromcalling because of the costs involved,such as computers, music and otherequipment. Most callers love to squaredance, too.

“Square dancing is a great familyactivity because there’s no smoking andno drinking,” he continues. “It’s justgood old-fashioned fun with good peo-ple. Unfortunately, parents nowadaysare too busy to square dance. But whenthe nest is empty, they’ll show up again.

“We need George Strait to squaredance, then we’d be fine,” he quips, ref-erencing the enormously popular coun-try and western singer.

Like on the frontier, square dancersstill find true love on the dance floor.Nora Creed, 60, publicity director forthe state square dancing federation,met fiancé Robert MacLaren, 72, atLone Star Solos, a Dallas club. The twoplan to marry this spring in Mesquite.

Mike and Dana Goggin, who belongto Shirts ’n’ Skirts in Round Rock, metas teenagers at a Houston club. “Myparents square danced,” recalls Mike,57. “When I was 16, I was told to takeone lesson, and after that, it was mychoice. But after that one lesson, I washooked! Soon after that, I met my wife.

We’ve been married 40 years.” After the dance ends, federation

Secretary Theresa Keane briefly voicesa concern echoed by many squaredancers: Their numbers are shrinking.“If we can get people in here, they’llfind out it’s fun,” she says. “As an asso-ciation, we’re trying to figure out howto do that.”

SAN ANGELO SQUARESBack at the Promenade Squares hall,mainstream and plus dancers twirlacross the floor. From the sidelines,James and I watch and visit. Inbetween tips, we try some line dancing.Later, James hits it off with DonnieDunagan, 77, the voice of young Bambiin the 1942 Disney classic. His wife,Dana, 59, sewed her colorful cottonoutfit sporting cupcake designs withmatching petticoats. “I rehab vintageattire and turn it into new,” she says.“Very rarely do I part with money!”

Seated against the wall, Linda Wirth,71, can’t dance because of a leg injurysustained last June. But that hasn’tstopped her from showing up everyThursday since. “These people are morethan my friends. They’re my family,” shesays.

Seated by the refreshments, CharlieGrohman, 78, has danced more than 25years. His wife died in 2000, and since2004, he’s partnered with JoNellBurden, 71. “Charlie was my angelwhen I took lessons,” she says. “Squaredancing is such fun! Plus, we meet suchlovely people. That’s why they callsquare dancing ‘friendship set tomusic.’ ”

Alas, the evening’s last tip ends, andeveryone hugs. It’s time to go home.“What?” James exclaims, both sur-prised and disappointed. “The dance isover? Already? We just got here!” Hey,no need to ask my husband if he likessquare dancing now. The big smile onhis face says it all.

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers, frequent con-tributor

On TexasCoopPower.comLearn more aboutmodern square dancing, whichevolved from a meltingpot of folk culturesand traditions.

TOP: Take up square dancing, and someonejust might lift you off your feet. Such was thecase for 60-year-old Nora Creed, who metfiancé Robert MacLaren, 72, at a Dallas square-dancing club. The two, shown here stealing akiss between dances in Georgetown, havespring wedding plans. BOTTOM: Ted Zahorskiof Canyon Lake and Evelyn Templeman ofKingsland keep things moving in San Marcos.Square dancing, Zahorski explains, is mostlyabout being in the right position. ‘It doesn’t mat-ter if I take one step or five,’ he says.

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On a cold Sunday afternoon, a young woman reads a letter from her mother and

tries to hold back tears. She’s in the parlor of the Katy House, a bed and breakfast in Smithville, and the cozy room is fi lled with local residents. Her mother had been a bank teller in the town some 30 years earlier but disappeared after a man robbed the

bank. Answers to the mystery of what happened to the teller will be revealed through this and other scenes being fi lmed for the movie “Th e Teller and the Truth.” Th e visiting daughter is played by Helena Bianca, a model from California, but everyone else in the scene is a real Smithville citizen. Some have been extras before. Th ey know

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VOTE BY PROXYANNUAL MEETING

TOLL ROAD GROWTHPLANS POPPING UP

WOOD WORKERS NATIVE FURNITURE

FEATURESInside

Continued on the next page

Sarah Beal photo

Bright lights,

A picture-perfect ambiance makes Smithville the repeated setting for Hollywood hometowns.Story by Ed Crowell

ONLIN

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Follow uson Twitter!Like us on Facebook!

Read the Bluebonnet Blog at blog.bluebonnetelectric.com

The Board of Directors will meet at 9 a.m. March 20 at Bluebonnet’s headquarters, 650 Texas 21 East, Bastrop. Find the agenda at www.bluebonnetelectric.coop on March 15. Click on Board Agenda under the myCooperative tab.

Bluebonnet awards scholarships to service-area graduates. Deadline: March 20. Details at www. bluebonnetelectric.coop. Click on Scholarships link under Need to Know.

BEC Mar 2012 TCP FIN.indd 17 2/8/12 2:47 PM

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the drill because their small town is oft en abuzz with movie making.

“Hope Floats,” starring Sandra Bullock and a big, old house at the end of Olive Street, started cameras rolling in the late 1990s. “Th e Tree of Life,” nominated for best picture, director and cinematography in this year’s Academy Awards, was extensively shot in 2008 at a house three blocks away on Burleson Street.

Th e latter movie received the Palme d’Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Director Terrence Malick, a previous Oscar nominee, is an Austin resident.

Smithville eagerly touts itself for fi lming locations and loves being in the movies. In May, it will stage its fi rst Reel Film Expo, off ering an inside view of the range of jobs performed on movie sets.

Andrew Shapter, the Austinite who wrote and directs “Th e Teller and the Truth,” has been working on his fi lm for fi ve years and plans to release it in 2013. Some footage is drawn from his world travels with a camera, but he settled on Smithville as the main setting aft er scouting other small towns in Texas and New Mexico.

“Smithville has given me time to fi lm my way,” said Shapter, whose small budget means shooting a day or two at a time when crew members, actors and extras are available. “Th e people here are patient and very helpful.

“You can tell they really enjoy being part of fi lmmaking any way they can. Th ey’ve bent over backwards for me and they’ve adopted the story of Francis.”

Francis Wetherbee is the missing teller in Shapter’s love story that involves a Vietnam veteran who drift s into town. She is played by Leilani Galvan, whose haunting eyes

caught the attention of the fi lmmaker when he and his wife were served by her at a juice bar in Austin.

At least 20 Smithville residents have been shot for scenes at the Katy House and at other locations around town. A local historical researcher, David Herrington, was draft ed to play himself.

“Th at’s why he’s so believable. I gave him the rundown about Francis at lunch and then I fi lmed him and he gave a great performance sitting in a rickety, noisy chair and just talking about her on his own,” said Shapter, who is using some documentary-style interview techniques honed on two previous fi lms (“Before the Music Dies” and “Happiness Is”).

Smithville has long competed with other towns around Texas for movies and commercials, including nearby Bastrop. Th e enthusiasm of Smithville has resulted in a steady lineup of productions, especially since 2008. Th at year the town, with about 5,000 residents today, got the fi rst Film Friendly Community designation by the Texas Film Commission and created its own music and fi lm commission to assist location scouts and fi lm crews.

Skeeter Sewart retired to Smithville aft er a long career in police work in Florida. He is now chairman of the local fi lm commission, promoting the town’s helpfulness with

Continued from previous page

20 T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R M a r c h 2 0 1 2 B L U E B O N N E T E L E C T R I C C O O P E R A T I V E E D I T I O N

ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE: A scene from ‘The Teller and the Truth,’ a low-budget fi lm shooting in Smithville. Director-writer Andrew Shapter, left, cinematographer Tanner Furgeson, center, and actress Helena Bianca create a letter-reading scene in the parlor of the Katy House B&B.

BELOW: Dozens of dogs and their owners answered a casting call for ‘The Tree of Life’ fi lming in Smithville. Director Terrence Malick wanted a family dog without professional training. Thus Dexter, a rescue dog owned by Teri and Ted Krueger of Smithville, became a celebrity. The family takes a turn in the spotlight under the movie’s namesake tree.

Sarah Beal photo

Smithville’s Reel Film Expo 2012Smithville’s inaugural event

to spotlight fi lmmaking jobs is scheduled for May 3-5. Grips,

camera operators, makeup artists, sound techs, extras, stunt

people and more will demonstrate what they do at various town

locations. Movies made in Smithville also will be shown. Many of the events will be free. Go to www.smithvilletx.org for more information as it becomes available.

late 1990s. “Th e Tree of Life,” nominated for best picture, director and

Smithville’s Reel

Smithville’s inaugural event to spotlight fi lmmaking jobs is

scheduled for May 3-5. Grips, camera operators, makeup

artists, sound techs, extras, stunt people and more will demonstrate

what they do at various town


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ABOVE: The big house at the end of Olive Street is where Sandra Bullock’s character came home in ‘Hope Floats.’ The 1998 film launched Smithville’s quest, led by chamber of commerce president Adena Lewis, to attract filmmakers.

LEFT: The ‘Tree of Life’ tree was moved from a ranch near town to the yard of the house where most filming took place. Bluebonnet crews lifted 28 power lines for the tree’s passage. Filming there took three months in 2008. The movie won the Cannes Film Festival’s top award and is nominated for best picture at this year’s Academy Awards.

Downtown saw some action, in the form of an out-of-control dump truck, during 2010 filming for the yet-to-be-released movie ‘Doonby.’ Part of the scene included actor John Schneider saving a child in the truck’s path. Capturing the crash were line producer Alan Ray (foreground), with director Peter Mackenzie and cinematographer Peter Field.

Sarah Beal photos

Denis McGinness photo

productions and its diversity of locations. “We’ve got everything but a beach,” he said, noting the residential, downtown and rural features available.

To experience what it’s like to make a film, Sewart and his fellow commissioners are trying to produce their own. They’ve got a title (“Falling Off Horses”) and a story (a New York attorney loses his job and moves to Smithville to start over). They’re working on financing and casting.

A role likely will be offered to Adena Lewis, president of the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce and a dynamo on behalf of big and small film shoots in town. She joined Sewart as an extra in the Katy House parlor scene but prefers to help productions behind the cameras. Lewis brought a cooler full of refreshments to

the “Teller” shoot. She knocks on doors to let residents know when filmmakers will be in their neighborhood. She’s testified at the Legislature on the value of the state incentives program to lure productions to Texas.

She can tick off the economic benefits Smithville sees when film crews come to town: security jobs for off-duty police officers, local shopping for gifts, business for grocery and drug stores, some restaurant catering, and B&B and house rentals.

“I can watch sales tax revenues increase

when movies are being made in town. It’s like having X number of tourists because they buy everything they need. Sometimes they leave behind things like entire house renovations,” she said.

Although major productions might use few local extras and bring in outside caterers and crews, Lewis said $750,000 was spent in Smithville for the lengthy “Tree of Life” shoot. Most of that was to rent 30 houses for scenes and to house cast and crew.

Lewis said the town's interaction with stars depends on circumstances. "It seems like everyone in Smithville has an autograph from John Schneider (‘Doonby’). But hardly anyone saw Brad Pitt (“Tree of Life”) because his family rented a house out of town with all their kids and had that going on."

Pitt said that filming on Smithville’s streets

Continued on the next page

Skeeter Sewart is chairman of the local film commission.


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was among the best he had experienced in giving him privacy, Lewis said.

An example of how townfolk lend fi lmmakers a hand happened last summer when Russell Athletic was shooting a commercial for its sportswear at the high school football stadium and on city streets. It was more than 100 degrees when one of the directors said she wished she could have snow cones for everyone.

Th e police chief overheard and in short order a snow cone trailer used for fundraisers showed up on set.

A new brochure by the Smithville commission maps the locations of past productions and lists a history of 21 feature fi lms and four commercials shot since “Hope Floats.” Th e romantic drama was released just as Bullock was becoming a Hollywood sensation. In it, she played a chastened former cheerleader moving back to her small hometown named Smithville.

Several scenes took place at Jimmy Trousdale’s early 1900s house with a round front porch. He cheerfully abides tourists, who easily fi nd the house on the brochure map. “Most people are very respectful and just drive by or take a photo. I can tell by the traffi c when the movie has been on TV recently,” said Trousdale.

Th e town’s appeal is well known at the Texas Film Commission, a division of the governor’s offi ce that entices productions as an economic benefi t to the state. “Smithville is an unbelievably beautiful and quaint town that, ever since ‘Hope Floats’ in the 1990s, has become a bit of a mecca for productions,” said commission director Evan Fitzmaurice. “Th e main interest is the town’s proximity to

Austin for a crew base, but it also has great locations to shoot Anywhere, USA, with a certain look and feel of the houses.”

While Fitzmaurice notes that many other Texas towns attract fi lmmakers, Smithville has the advantage of qualifying as an incentives bonus location, he said. Th e bonus is available to productions outside a 30-mile radius from a metropolitan area (in Austin, as measured from City Hall). Th at helps off set travel costs for crews and their trucks commuting from a major city.

Th e primary incentives program, drawn from a $30 million fund in the current state budget, reimburses up to 17.5 percent of

production spending in Texas or up to 29.25 percent of wages paid to Texas residents. Film and television projects must spend at least $250,000 in the state to apply for incentives, so low-budget productions such as Shapter’s are not eligible.

Every production has diff erent needs and makes a diff erent impact, Lewis said. “But the common response from residents is, ‘What can I do to help?’ It’s a pride in showing off your town for a movie.”

So whether it’s a big-budget fi lm starring Brad Pitt or a shoestring work-in-progress such as Shapter’s, it’s certain Smithville is in the movie biz for the long haul. n


The city’s fi lmography (and release years) includes:

•“Hope Floats” (1998) — Director Forest Whitaker loved long shots up the tree-lined street where Sandra Bullock’s big house stood

•“The Breakdance Kid” (2004) — Mockumentary sendup of ‘80s, screened by Austin Film Festival

•“Artois the Goat” (2008) — Outdoor scenes in search of perfect goat cheese were shot at Luecke Ranch and Buescher State Park

•“Firefl ies in the Garden” (2008) — Family tragedy with landscapes around Smithville and house in Bastrop

•“The Tree of Life” (2011) — Metaphoric tree in yard where a 1950s family grew up was moved into town with help from Bluebonnet linemen; still growing in side yard on Burleson Street

•“Natural Selection” (2011) — Journey by actress Rachael Harris to fi nd biological son includes scene at Riverbend Park on Colorado River

•“Five Time Champion” (2011) — Elementary and high school campus settings used in coming-of-age tale; debut fi lm of writer/director Berndt Mader

•“Beneath the Darkness (2011) — Hero turned killer Dennis Quaid (actor’s band performed for toy-drive benefi t while fi lming) stars with school scenes and Main Street parade

•“Under the Western Sun” (2011) — Pocket’s Grille owner Troy Streuer appeared in story of billionaire father; includes a wedding and shootout around Main Street

•“Bernie” (release pending) — Jack Black murders Shirley MacLaine as directed by Richard Linklater; shot in Bastrop, inside Smithville banks and Zimmerhanzel’s BBQ

•“Doonby” (release pending) — Katy House B&B rented rooms for crew as John Schneider played drift er musician causing trouble all over town

Roll Smithville’s CreditsRoll Smithville’s Credits

‘The Tree of Life’ is the highest profi le movie made in Smithville. The lyrical fi lm centers on the strains and joys of a 1950s Texas family. Brad Pitt plays the stern father of three boys, Jessica Chastain his gentle, soft-spoken wife.

Continued from previous page

Fox Searchlight photos


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PROXY VOTING

ANNUAL MEETING

election

For information about the magazine, contact editor Janet Wilson at 512-332-7967 or email [email protected].

Members to vote on board seats

NEWSMEMBER SERVICE

Q:What is the wholesale cost

that appears on my bill?

A: Your bill shows your kilowatt

hour (kWh) charge in two categories. Th e wholesale power cost shows the amount that goes directly to our electric providers, the LCRA and CPS Energy. Th e Bluebonnet charge shows the amount that stays at Bluebonnet to maintain our lines, provide offi ce support and deliver reliable service to our members.

— Melba Zingelmann,member service

representative

QA&

Co-op members will vote to fi ll three of 11 seats on Bluebonnet’s Board of Directors at the annual meeting May 8.

Four of the six candidates were nominated on Jan. 9 by Bluebonnet’s Committee on Nominations, which is comprised of co-op members appointed by the board.

Th e other two were nominated by petition, which required at least 50 signatures from Bluebonnet members. Board candidates can also be nominated from the fl oor during the annual meeting.

Th e four candidates named by the nominations committee are incumbent Richard Schmidt of Caldwell County, incumbent Suanna Tumlinson of Travis County, George Kehler of Lee County and Richard “Dick” Peterson of Travis County. Th e two candidates nominated by petition are incumbent James Kershaw and Michael H. Arant, both of Bastrop County.

Th is year’s nominating committee members are Lisa Alexander, Calvin Berger, John Giesenschlag, the Rev. Mitchell Keppler, Gerald Krause, Mrs. Avis Munson, David

Schulz, Stanley Sommer, Peggy Smith, Gene Sampson, Jr. and Lori Sellers.

Bluebonnet directors are elected at-large for three-year terms. Th ose not up for election this year are Byron Balke, Roderick Emanuel, Ben Flencher, Russell Jurk, Robert Mikeska, Ken Mutscher, Milton Shaw and Lyle Wolz.

In addition to board elections, Bluebonnet’s annual meeting agenda includes a state of the co-op report and discussion of plans for the future led by General Manager Mark Rose and Chief Operating Offi cer Matt Bentke.

Th ere will be light refreshments and drawings for door prizes. Members can also take part in demonstrations of the Net Energy Market, a feature on the co-op’s website where members can track the amount of electricity they use, learn how much their power costs and get advice about reducing consumption.

Last year, 274 Bluebonnet members attended the meeting. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m., and the meeting starts at 2:30 p.m. at Sons of Hermann Hall, 1031 CR 223, Giddings. Questions? Call 800-842-7708.

If you can’t attend Bluebonnet’s annual meeting May 8, you can still vote to elect members to the co-op’s board of

directors “by proxy.”A proxy form will be mailed in March to

all co-op members from Election Services Corp., a New York-based, independent third party retained to conduct Bluebonnet board elections. Proxy forms will also be available March 2–May 1 at Bluebonnet’s member service centers in Bastrop, Brenham, Giddings, Lockhart and Manor.

Six candidates are on the ballot to fi ll three seats on Bluebonnet’s 11-member board.

On the proxy form, you can select your candidates and request that the proxy committee cast your vote, or you can name another Bluebonnet member who will be at

the meeting to vote in your stead.If you prefer, either of your assigned

proxies — the committee or the co-op member you’ve named — can make the

selection of candidates for you at their discretion.

Th e proxy committee is made up of all current Bluebonnet board members who are not up for election or who have chosen not to run again.

Aft er receiving the proxy form, a member must mail it to Election Services in the accompanying self-addressed, postage-paid envelope.

Th e proxy must be postmarked by May 1 or dropped off at one of Bluebonnet’s member service centers by 5:30 p.m., May 1, 2012.

Representatives from Election Services will be at the meeting to count ballots cast that day. Th is is the fourth year Bluebonnet has hired Election Services to assist with the cooperative’s election.

Make your voice heard, even if you miss the meeting


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Sometime in November, the last stretch of Texas 130 will open, giving drivers an unbroken, no-stoplight, 91-mile route from Georgetown to I-10 near Seguin.

That same month, sleek racecars will scream around

the 3.4-mile Circuit of the Americas track near Elroy, in Austin’s inaugural Formula 1 event.

More will be happening along the Texas 130 toll road corridor this year: WalMart is expanding its presence in the area, opening a new superstore in Lockhart and starting construction on others in Manor and Elgin.

About 40 percent of the toll road — 38.5 miles — runs through Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s territory.

“Texas 130 has been and will continue to be a catalyst for economic growth and devel-opment of all kinds in Central Texas,” said Mark Rose, Bluebonnet’s general manager.

Taurus of Texas will start road and utilities work on Whisper Valley, a major planned mixed-use development south of Manor and east of Texas 130, and the companion Indian Hills project on the west side of the toll road — 2,300 acres in all.

A number of developers long have had ambitious plans for subdivisions and other projects along Texas 130, seeing the corridor as a prime area for growth in Central Texas. But the economic downturn, a slow new-home market, and continuing challenges in finding financing have slowed or put many projects on hold.

Taurus would not have been able to go ahead on its projects had it not landed $40 million in financing in November through City of Austin tax-exempt public improve-ment district bonds, said Douglas Gilliland, president of Taurus of Texas GP LLC.

“The PID bonds were key to our con-struction financing,” Gilliland said, explain-


Growth begins to pop up as toll road nears completion

THE TEXAS TRANSFORMATION 130

At the Circuit of the Americas, work continues on both the track and the main — or paddock — building. The facility will host the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix Formula 1 race in November. This building sits across the track from the primary grandstands.

Sarah Beal photo

By Kathy Warbelow

ing why his company turned to a previously unused mechanism. “Conventional bank financing was not available for a project of this scope.”

The long-term plans call for 8,000 homes, 3.8 million square feet of commercial space and 600 acres of open space. Work on the first homes could start late next year or early 2014.

WalMart’s decision to expand in the area confirms Taurus’ bullish view on the toll-road corridor, Gilliland said.

“We believe many retail and corporate users are looking at the corridor as the next primary growth region, and WalMart’s an-nouncement is just the beginning of a trend of commercial and retail users coming to the area,” he said. Other developers say the Circuit of the Americas, the Formula 1 race track complex under construction west of Elroy, also will help.

Former Buda Mayor John Trube said the F1 complex could boost his discussions with gas station developers looking at Cen-terpoint at Lockhart, a proposed 275-acre mixed-use development on both sides of Texas 130 along Texas 142 in Lockhart.

Trube and his business partner, J.P. New-man, bought the land well before the Texas

130 route was finalized or anyone had heard about Formula 1 coming to the area.

“Fortunately, Texas 130 goes right down the middle” of the property, Trube said. And via Texas 130, it’s only a few minutes to the racetrack.

Trube said he expects to sign a deal with the developer of an initial travel-services retailer — such as a gas station or fast food outlet — and work could start this summer. Further development is down the road, but “we can afford to be patient,” Trube said.

Construction on the 1,000-acre Circuit of the Americas complex slowed late last year because of a snag in contract negotiations with international Formula One Manage-ment CEO Bernie Ecclestone.

But a deal was reached in early December, and work has accelerated on the track, the main grandstands, the media center and the central building, which will hold conces-sion areas.

Spokesman Russ Rhea said crews are working six days a week and construction is on schedule to host the F1 U.S. Grand Prix race in November.

Longtime Manor-area developer Pete Dwyer said he has a few things cooking in some projects: a sale in the works for the site


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Development dots Texas 130

12 3

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41-mile portion of Texas 130 still under construction

Bluebonnetservice area

Bluebonnetservice area

(Area detailed)

TRANSFORMATION 130

of a 40,000-square-foot urgent medical care center in ShadowGlen, his long-planned residential project, and some commercial leases in Las Entradas , a planned mixed-use project on U.S. 290 west of Manor.

Meanwhile, two years of work on Texas 130 will end in November, when the final 41-mile stretch opens.

SH 130 Concession Co., the toll-road’s private developer, will have spent $1.35 bil-

lion on that stretch, from Mustang Ridge to I-10 near Seguin, said Victoria Miller, director of corporate affairs. The company is building and will operate the road under an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation.

Tolls have not yet been determined, but Miller said the completion of that part of the highway will give drivers a “superior alterna-tive” to Interstate 35, one of the state’s most

congested roads.“It will also continue to be a major driver,

so to speak, in our region’s economic devel-opment for years to come,” Rose said. “Blue-bonnet is committed to working with de-velopers, regional planners, elected officials and community leaders to foster sustainable growth.” n

The first of two stories about planned growth along or near Texas 130.

Map by Erin Willey and Joe Stafford

1. ShadowGlenLongtime master-planned community in Manor; proposed sale of site for 40,000-square-foot urgent care center

2. Las EntradasLeases signed for 2 of 5 retail sites, first phase of planned 200-acre mixed-use project

3, 4 and 9: WalMart supercentersTwo 150,000-square-foot stores scheduled to open in 2013 in Manor, at U.S. 290 and FM 973, and Elgin, U.S. 290 and Saratoga Springs Boulevard. Third store to open at 1904 Colorado St. this year in Lockhart, replacing an older, smaller store.

5 and 6: Indian Hills and Whisper Valley: 2,300 acre mixed-use projects; work on first homes could start late next year; Whisper Valley: east of Texas 130, about 3 miles south of Manor. Indian Hills: west of Texas 130, north of FM 969.

7. Circuit of the Americas: Construction on 1,000-acre complex north of FM 812, south and west of Elroy Road and 1 mile east of Texas 130 on schedule for inaugural Formula 1 race in November; other motor sports races scheduled for 2013.

8. Centerpoint at LockhartSmall commercial development could break ground this year on a planned 271-acre mixed use project; land on both sides of Texas 130, north and south of Texas 142.


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When Dr. Cullen Dauchy tore down an old family barn,

he reused much of the wood to build a new one. Then he hauled leftover pieces a few miles down the road to Native Furniture Works in Martindale, where owner and furniture maker James Robertson fashioned the longleaf yellow pine into an entertainment center, a table and other new pieces.

“You can’t buy lumber like this anymore,” said Dauchy, a semi-retired veterinarian. “It had a beautiful patina. I told James what I wanted and he designed it. They also framed some flags for me and a couple of shadow boxes (that display) military uniforms and pictures of my family.”

Although Native Furniture Works specializes in custom dining tables, Robertson and his small crew of master carpenters also create handcrafted furnishings, accessories and kitchen cabinets, all of which can be customized with tile, hand carving, accents and chair fabric.

Robertson, along with his wife and partner Deborah, also run an outlet store at the same location, 17050 San Marcos Highway, just five miles east of San Marcos.

“We’re a true factory outlet store,” Deborah Robertson said. “I run the retail front-end of the store and the guys in the back make the furniture. We have 2,500 square feet with floor samples. And since we do custom order, the options are endless. Usually people come in the showroom and look around and that gets their wheels turning.”

Although the Robertsons buy a variety of lumber types from local sawmills and suppliers, they also have a signature wood: spalted pecan, which James calls “majestic.”

When dead pecan trees are harvested after they’ve already started decaying, it creates “a gorgeous warm wood,” he said.

It’s not uncommon for Native Furniture Works to repurpose wood with sentimental value (such as Dr. Dauchy’s barn). Deborah

said they once used wood from a “wedding tree,” a site where several members of one family had been married.

“It got struck by lightning,” she said. “We built them furniture out of the (lumber from) the wedding tree.”

Using old wood is a challenge, however.“We do that quite a bit but it’s problematic,”

James said. “It’s so hard on the equipment. (The wood) is usually old and dirty and painted. Sometimes it’s lead paint. And there are nails all in it and termite holes. But it’s absolutely gorgeous wood.”

The furniture maker began his career building plant stands and magazine racks that sold for $35 at craft shows, and he said, “I was selling them just as fast as I could go get them out of my van.”

Eventually Robertson opened — and closed — several stores in Central Texas, including Desert Moon in Austin. Fire destroyed the shop in 2000, though, and a “recession wiped out profitability,” he said.

He opened Native Furniture Works in an old seed warehouse in Martindale in 2003.

Prices can vary dramatically based on the complexity of the project, but a coffee table will generally start at about $500 and higher, depending on size, wood type, details, etc.

A six-piece bedroom set can run between $4,000 and $5,000, although they’ve cost as much as $10,000 and “the sky’s the limit,” Deborah said.

The Robertsons’ bestseller is a pine “Lone Star” dining set with a tile top that seats six, for about $2,800. Smaller pieces, such as a shadowbox similar to that built for Dr. Dauchy, could cost about $200.

Most orders can be completed in four to six weeks.

“People enjoy going back and watching what we’re doing,” he said. “We’re not a huge operation. We don’t make tons of money, but it’s going OK. My son (James Eugene Robertson) and I make tables and chairs.”

Employee Dan Clermont, who once worked on movie sets including “The Alamo,” “makes the crazy things,” Robertson said. Employee Paul MacDonell “builds cabinets, vanities, case goods.”

The furniture, James said, “has a lifetime warranty.”

Learn more about the business at www.nativefurnitureworks.com or call 512-357-2100. n

One in a series of stories about some of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s commercial members.


Deborah and James Robertson, owners of Native Furniture Works, specialize in custom-made furniture. Their favorite wood: spalted pecan, which James calls 'majestic.'

By Carrie Alexander

Sarah Beal photo

profileAt Native Furniture Works, old lumber gets a burnished new life

T he wood masters



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If you are among the millions of Texans with a few silverstrands in their hair, the call of “Hi, yo, Silver—awaaaay!”may transport you to a long-ago living room furnished witha black-and-white television, where a masked man gallopsacross the screen bringing desperados to justice. Fans of theLone Ranger can relive those glorious days of yesteryear atthe Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco.

In 2009, the executor of the Dolores Taylor estate inMontana contacted the museum with an offer too good torefuse. Taylor’s lifelong obsession with the Lone Rangerresulted in a 1,000-item collection of Lone Ranger memora-bilia featuring such sought-after pieces as official LoneRanger boots and an original mask worn by Clayton Moore,the TV actor who portrayed the Lone Ranger. Taylor, aHarvard and Stanford Fellow and surgical pathologist,began collecting Lone Ranger items when she was 9, and theestate offered the valuable collection to the museum as a gift.

“This collection is like a Christmas present,” says ByronJohnson, the museum’s director. “We’re designing a new exhibitto display more of the items for Lone Ranger fans everywhere.”

Created by writer Fran Striker in 1933, the Lone Rangercame to life on radio. George Trendle, owner of WXYZ Radioin Detroit, wanted a Western adventure series, and Strikerbrainstormed a scenario in which six Texas Rangers, two ofthem brothers, were ambushed by the fictional ButchCavendish Gang. Five died, but the sixth—the youngerbrother—was critically wounded and snatched from the jawsof death by a passing Indian who nursed him back to health.Now the “lone ranger,” the lawman donned a black maskmade from his dead brother’s vest so the Cavendish gangwouldn’t recognize him. He set out to seek justice andanonymously righted wrongs wherever he went.

Striker, a New Yorker who also penned The Green Hornetand Sergeant Preston of the Yukon radio series (both laterbecame TV shows), had absolutely no first-hand experiencewith cowboys or Indians. Historical accuracy took a back seatto the strict moral code established for the character. To thechagrin of history buffs, and indicative of the insensitivity ofthe times to Native Americans, Tonto, the Lone Ranger’s side-kick, spoke in an embarrassingly inaccurate dialect, usingsuch phrases as “get-um up, Scout” and “you betchum.”

The Lone Ranger became one of the most popular heroes ofthe 20th century, enduring through 2,596 radio shows, 18 novels,221 television episodes and several feature movies. His whitehorse, black mask and silver bullets were known by some in earlyradio as “shiny things for the mind,” which helped listeners visu-alize the action. More than 60 percent of listeners were adults,

and more than 20million Americanswere tuning in tothe popular radioshow three times aweek by 1939.

An upright man,the Lone Rangerlived by an ethicalcode not unlike themedieval code ofchivalry. He mod-eled racial and reli-gious tolerance andspoke in grammat-ically correct sen-tences. He nevertook off his mask,never smoked, swore or drank alcohol, and never shot to killexcept when he brought down his brother’s murderer. Hiswild, white stallion, Silver, whom he rescued from the attackof a rampaging buffalo bull, carried him faithfully throughcountless scrapes with thieves and cutthroats.

In 1949, the Lone Ranger made a seamless transition totelevision, galloping across American TV screens to the rous-ing strains of the “William Tell Overture” (also the radioshow’s theme music). Starring Moore in the title role and JaySilverheels as Tonto, the show offered audiences an upliftinghero who triumphed over adversity. A deep friendship devel-oped between Moore and Silverheels, a stuntman and formerprofessional lacrosse player. The pair joked about chasescenes in which Silver quickly outdistanced Tonto’s pintohorse, Scout, a rental horse from a movie supply company. “Icould run faster than Scout,” Silverheels quipped.

Two white steeds actually played the part of Silver: Onewas used for still advertising photos and another for actionshots. And Moore got an extra $50 each time Silver rearedup on his hind legs for the camera, so you can bet it wasMoore in the saddle and not a stunt double.

Striker often infused episodes with real characters fromhistory. Buffalo Bill, Calamity Jane and Teddy Roosevelthelped anchor stories of a fanciful hero to the real world.And the legend continues: A Lone Ranger movie starringJohnny Depp as Tonto is slated for release in May 2013. TheLone Ranger rides again, kemo sabe—faithful friend.

Martha Deeringer, frequent contributor

B Y M A R T H A D E E R I N G E R

F O O T N O T E S I N T E X A S H I S T O R Y


The Lone Ranger

CO

RB

ISThe Lone Ranger and Tonto


B Y K E V I N H A R G I S It’s formed into strands, spirals and stars, splashed with arainbow of colors. It makes for an easy, filling, inexpensive meal. The averageAmerican eats about 20 pounds of it annually, surveys have found. And pasta, afriend once quipped, is the perfect sauce delivery vehicle.

Whether you buy dried or refrigerated noodles or make your own, a good saucecan turn an ordinary pasta dinner into something delicious.

Sauces and pestos come in as many varieties as the pastas on which they areserved. You can go with a plain marinara from a jar if you’re pressed for time orspend hours assembling elaborate concoctions incorporating meat and vegetables.It all depends on your tastes and level of commitment.

Pestos, usually a blend of flavorful herbs, oil, garlic and cheese, not only workon pastas, but are also perfect for meats and grilled veggies.

If pasta’s your pick to pair with a sauce, here are some simple tips to make themeal better:

• Use plenty of water. To cook properly, noodles need room to move around. Ifyour pasta sinks to the bottom of the pot when you add it, you don’t have enoughwater. The noodles will end up cooking in too high a concentration of their ownstarch and become gloppy.

• Before you add pasta, salt the water. Don’t use much: A teaspoon or less willdo. It won’t add appreciably to the sodium count of your meal, but it will make thepasta much more flavorful.

• Allow water to come to a full, rolling boil before adding pasta gradually.Ideally, the water won’t stop boiling as pasta is added.

• To check for doneness, fish a couple of pieces of pasta out with tongs or aspoon and cut into it. There should be a small, pale dot of starch in the center, andthe noodle should be elastic. Al dente pasta will have a whiter dot on the insideand be firmer to the cut.

• When it’s done, drain pasta thor-oughly in a colander, but don’t rinseaway the starch on the outside. Thatstarch helps the sauce adhere to thenoodles. Also, don’t leave the pasta inthe colander; it will stick together.Either serve it immediately or stir it intoa sauce that’s hot but not still cooking.

This recipe, featuring farfalle (bow-tie pasta) is wonderful warm but canalso be served cold. It can be a meal onits own but goes well with bread or agreen salad.

L I M E C H I C K E N A N D PA S TA S A L A D W I T H C I L A N T R O P E S TO Juice of 2 limes 1 cup olive oil, divided 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon paprika 1 tablespoon brown sugar Salt 4 boneless chicken breast halves 1 large bunch cilantro, roughly chopped 2 heaping tablespoons chopped walnuts 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 3 cloves garlic 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese4 to 8 ounces farfalle (bow-tie pasta) 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, optionalCombine lime juice, 1/4 cup olive oil,cayenne, paprika, brown sugar and saltto taste in glass bowl. Add chicken, coverwith plastic wrap and refrigerate 2hours, turning once after an hour.Meanwhile, combine cilantro, walnuts,ginger, garlic, remaining oil and salt totaste in food processor and process to asmooth paste. Stir in Parmesan. Whenready to cook, remove chicken frommarinade and discard marinade. Setchicken aside. Cook pasta to al dentestage. While pasta is cooking, grill orbroil chicken until done, about 10 min-utes. Slice chicken into short strips.Drain pasta and combine it and chicken,both still warm, with pesto. Toss untilwell coated. Top with chopped grape orcherry tomatoes, if desired.

Servings: 6. Serving size: 1/6 of dish. Per serving: 638 calories, 33 g protein, 40.7 g fat, 29.7 g carbohy-drates, 1.6 g dietary fiber, 205 mg sodium, 1.2 g sug-ars, 81 mg cholesterol

R E C I P E R O U N D U P

A Saucy Experience

Lime Chicken and Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto

P H O T O B Y R I C K P A T R I C K


R E C I P E R O U N D U P

C A N N E L L I N I P E S TO PA S TA S A U C E 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup basil leaves 1/4 cup parsley leaves 1/4 cup lightly toasted peanuts 4 large garlic cloves, smashed 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 pound linguine or angel-hair pasta Chicken stock, optional 6 strips thick-cut bacon, fried crispPut beans, basil, parsley, peanuts, garlic,1/4 cup cheese, salt, oil and vinegar intobowl of food processor and process untilsmooth. Scrape into saucepan and puton low heat. Cook pasta according topackage directions. If sauce is too thick,thin with water used to cook pasta orchicken stock. Divide pasta among fourplates, spoon equal amounts of sauceover each serving, crumble 1 1/2 slicesbacon over each plate, and top eachserving with 2 tablespoons Parmesan.

Servings: 4. Serving size: 1/4 pound pasta with sauce.Per serving: 882 calories, 32.8 g protein, 29.4 g fat,121.8 g carbohydrates, 20.2 g dietary fiber, 1,740 mgsodium, 2.2 g sugars, 29 mg cholesterol

FA S T TO M ATO / M U S H R O O M S A U C E W I T H P E A N U T P E S TO 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 8 ounces sliced portabella mushrooms 1 clove fresh garlic, grated Kosher salt Red pepper flakes, optional 1 can (14 ounces) diced no-salt-added tomatoes, drained 1/2 cup Peanut Pesto 1 can (28 ounces) crushed no-salt- added tomatoes6 to 8 sprigs fresh rosemary and oreganoHeat olive oil in deep-sided skillet overmedium heat. Add the sliced mush-rooms, garlic and a pinch of kosher salt.Sauté until mushrooms begin to brownbut still remain firm. Sparingly shake

red pepper flakes, if using, on mush-rooms. Stir, then remove contents to abowl with a tent of foil over top. AddPeanut Pesto and drained tomatoes toskillet. Stir until blended. Add crushedtomatoes and simmer 10 minutes. Stirmushrooms and any juices into sauce,top with herb sprigs. Simmer whilepreparing pasta of choice or refrigeratefor eating later. Remove herb sprigsbefore serving.

Servings: 6 (includes Peanut Pesto). Serving size: 1 cup. Per serving: 289 calories, 6 g protein, 27.3 g fat,5.5 g carbohydrates, 1.5 g dietary fiber, 122 mgsodium, 2.3 g sugars, 9 mg cholesterol

P E A N U T P E S TO1 to 2 cups fresh basil and, if desired, baby spinach2 to 3 cloves garlic 1/4 cup unsalted peanuts 1/4 cup grated pecorino Romano cheese Extra-virgin olive oil Fresh lemon juiceIn food processor, combine 1 to 2 cupsbasil (substitute baby spinach for someof basil, if desired), garlic, peanuts andcheese and process, adding olive oil andlemon juice until achieving consistencyof loose paste.

BERNI LYNN FISHER

Farmers Electric Cooperative

COOK’S TIP: Freeze pesto in flattened,snack-sized plastic bags. When thoroughly firm,

enclose each bag in second bag and stack infreezer.

T E X A S P E C A N P E S TO 1 cup packed cilantro leaves 1/2 cup pecans 3 cloves garlic 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon black pepper 4 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheeseAdd all ingredients, except cheese, inblender. Blend well. Stir in cheese. Serveover pasta.

Servings: 4. Serving size: 1/4 cup. Per serving: 365calories, 3.6 g protein, 37 g fat, 4.8 g carbohydrates,1.9 g dietary fiber, 370 mg sodium, 1.3 g sugars, 4 mgcholesterol

SHEREEN DAVIS

Swisher Electric CooperativeAdapted from the book Barbecue, Biscuits &Beans Chuckwagon Cooking

C I L A N T R O P E S TO 2 cloves garlic 6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese 2 cups fresh cilantro, hard packed 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup chopped, toasted walnuts 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon saltPlace all ingredients in food processorand blend until smooth. Refrigerateunused portion.

Servings: 5. Serving size: 1/4 cup. Per serving: 316 calories, 5.9 g protein, 31.2 g fat, 2.9 g carbohy-drates, 1.1 g dietary fiber, 388 mg sodium, 0.5 g sugars, 8 mg cholesterol

REXANNE MEAUX

Pedernales Electric Cooperative

ANNA PORTERFIELD, Bandera Electric Cooperative Prize-winning recipe: Cannellini Pesto Pasta SaucePasta-loving electric cooperative members sent in their favorite recipes for saucesin response to this month’s Pasta Sauces and Pestos contest, sponsored by theTexas Peanut Producers Board. With an array of flavors, ingredients, textures andcolors, there’s something here for every taste.

1st

$ 1 0 0 R E C I P E C O N T E S T

July’s recipe contest topic is Food that Feeds a Crowd.Family reunions, holiday picnics and other gatherings callfor big batches. Do you have a recipe that fits? The dead-line is March 10. Recipes do not have to include peanuts.

S P O N S O R E D B Y T H E T E X A S P E A N U T P R O D U C E R S B O A R D .

Submit recipes online at TexasCoopPower.com/contests. Or mail them to Home Cooking,1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. You may also fax them to (512) 763-3408.Please include your name, address and phone number, as well as the name of your electricco-op. Also, let us know where you found the recipe or whether it’s one you developedyourself. The top winner will receive $100. Runners-up will also receive a prize.

2 0 1 2 © A N G E L O G I L A R D E L L I . I M A G E F R O M B I G S T O C K . C O M


Have a health insurance question or concern?

The Texas Consumer Health Assistance Program can help you:✔ Learn about your rights under the federal health care reform law✔ Enroll in a health plan✔ Appeal a treatment decision✔ Resolve a complaint against your health plan or insurer✔ Obtain the health care premium tax credit (for small businesses)

1-855-TEX-CHAP (1-855-839-2427) toll-freewww.texashealthoptions.comThe Texas Consumer Health Assistance Program (TEX CHAP) is operated by the Texas De-partment of Insurance to help Texas consumers with health insurance issues. We do not sell insurance. TEX CHAP is part of a network of state consumer assistance programs funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

S P O N S O R E D B Y

T E X A S P E C A N B O A R D

Order your Texas pecans today.www.TexasPecans.org

Enter online at TexasCoopPower.com. Each entry MUST include your name, address and phone number, plus the name of your Texas electric cooperative, or it will be disqualified. Specify which

category you are entering, savory or sweet, on each recipe. Send entries to: Texas Co-op Power/Holiday Recipe Contest, 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. You can fax recipes to (512)

763-3408. Up to three entries are allowed per co-op membership. Each should be submitted on a separate piece of paper if mailed or faxed. Mailed entries can all be in one envelope. No email

entries will be accepted. For official rules, visit TexasCoopPower.com.

Send us your best original Texas pecan recipes—savory and sweet. Show us how you use Texas pecans to dress up vegetables, meatsand salads or your nuttiest cookies, pies and candies. All recipes must include pecans (Texas pecans are our favorite). Winners willbe featured in our December 2012 issue. Enter by August 10, 2012, at TexasCoopPower.com. Go to TexasCoopPower.com for details and official rules.

8 T H A N N U A L H O L I D A Y R E C I P E C O N T E S T

$5,000 in Total Prizes

Delicious, NUTritious Texas Pecans

5 Winners! $2,000 Grand Prizewinner. $1,000 Best Savory Recipe. $1,000 Best Sweet Recipe. Two Category Runners-Up Each Win $500.

Fresh, plump and bursting with flavor, Texas pecans can’t be beat. Find out for yourself. Order some Texas pecans and enter our 2012 Holiday Recipe Contest. Send in your best original recipes, sweet or savory, using Texas pecans. Let’s get cracking!

Six Decadesof Texas’

Favorite Foods, Fads & FactsFull Color, Hardbound, More Than 600 Recipes

From 60 Years ofTexas Co-op Power

Six Decadesof Texas’

Favorite Foods, Fads & Facts

Get yours today at www.TexasCoopPower.com

F O C U S O N T E X A S

WILD ANIMALS

Wowza! We asked, and you delivered. Turns out,

Texans are quick to grab their cameras when paid an

unexpected visit from nature’s fuzzy, feathered or

scaly friends. We received more than 250 entries for

this month’s category, and it was an arduous task to

decide on merely five. What you see here is just a

sampling of the animals of Co-op Kingdom.

—ashley clary-carpenter

On TexasCoopPower.com: See more of our readers’ wild animal photos.

Upcoming in Focus on Texas

ISSUE SUBJECT DEADLINE

May Everything’s Bigger in Texas Mar 10

Jun Hard at Work Apr 10

Jul Yard Art May 10

Aug Up Close and Personal Jun 10

Sep Pet Tricks Jul 10

Oct Ooops! Aug 10

EVERYTHING’S BIGGER IN TEXAS is the topic for ourMAY 2012 issue. Send your photo—along with yourname, address, daytime phone, co-op affiliation and abrief description—to Everything’s Bigger in Texas,Focus on Texas, 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX78701, before March 10. A stamped, self-addressedenvelope must be included if you want your entryreturned (approximately six weeks). Please do notsubmit irreplaceable photographs—send a copy orduplicate. If you use a digital camera, submit yourhighest-resolution images online at TexasCoopPower.com/contests. We regret that Texas Co-op Power can-not be responsible for photos that are lost in the mail ornot received by the deadline. Please note that we can-not provide individual critiques of submitted photos.

1 This casual kitty was anything but camera shy. Karnes Electric

Cooperative member Jo Ann Smith says this bobcat stopped on a trail

and posed while she snapped a few shots on her ranch near Goliad.

Then, the big cat simply sauntered off.

1 San Bernard Electric Cooperative member Steve Kotzur says this

buck disappeared into the fog almost as quickly as he appeared, allow-

ing him to take only four quick shots. “It is one of my favorite pictures

that I have ever taken,” he says.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative member Ann McNees says this little

guy, a male green anole her kids named Larry Lizard—lived in her gar-

den all spring. 5

1 Early one morning, Sue

Dittman, a Pedernales Electric

Cooperative member, spied these

three baby raccoons snuggled up

on her deck.

1 This Red-shouldered Hawk

paused just long enough for San

Bernard Electric Cooperative

member Ken Sparks to get this

shot on his ranch near Weimar.


10 HUNTSVILLE

The Raven Ride, (254) 644-8242,www.huntsvilleravenride.org

LULING

Rajun’ Cajun ThrowdownGumbo Cook-Off, (830) 875-3214, ext. 3,http://lulingmainstreet.com

ROUND TOP

Guitar Festival, (979) 249-3129, www.festivalhill.org

CAT SPRING [10–11]

Antiques & Garden Show,(979) 865-5618,www.ruraltexasantiques.com

11 PLANO

Bridal Show, (972) 713-9920,www.bridalshowsinc.com

17 COLUMBUS

Dinner Theater—“The Pajama Game,” (979) 732-8385,www.columbustexas.org

M A R C H07 NEW BRAUNFELS

Art on the Beach, (512) 617-1020

09 JEWETT [9–11]

Fine Arts Festival, (903) 626-4202,http://jewetttexas.org

WEST [9–11]

West, Central TexasCeramic Expo, (254) 716-5227, http://westceramicshow.web.officelive.com

17 JASPER

Azalea Festival, (409) 384-2762,www.jaspercoc.org

LAMPASAS

Classics at the Classic CarShow, (512) 734-5180

SAN PATRICIO [17–18]

St. Patrick’s Mission BBQ& Raffle, (361) 547-5748,www.stpatrickpiusx.org/bbq12.htm

This is just a sampling of the eventsand festivals around Texas. For the complete listing, please visitTexasCoopPower.com/events.

PICK OF THE MONTH

MARCH 24FORT McKAVETT

West Texas Heritage Day, (325) 396-2358,www.fortmckavett.org

F O R T M c K A V E T T : 2 0 1 2 C O U R T E S Y T E X A S P A R K S A N D W I L D L I F E D E P A R T M E N T . C R A W F I S H : 2 0 1 2 © S E R G E J S R A Z V O D O V S K I S . I M A G E F R O M B I G S T O C K . C O M . C H A I R : 2 0 1 2 © M A R G O H A R R I S O N . I M A G E F R O M B I G S T O C K . C O M .

10LULING

Rajun' Cajun ThrowdownGumbo Cook-Off

10CAT SPRING

Antiques & Garden Show

AROUNDTEXASAROUNDTEXAS

LOW COSTMobile Home Insurance

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23 BEAUMONT

Blues Festival, (409) 838-3435, ext. 1, http://beaumont-tx-complex.com

GEORGETOWN [23–24]

Quilt and Stitchery Show,(512) 869-1812,http://georgetownquiltshow.org

KILGORE [23–24]

Lone Star Lug Nuts CarShow, (903) 238-7034

We pick events for the magazine directly fromTexasCoopPower.com.Submit your event for Mayby March 10, and it justmight be featured in thiscalendar!

24 MASON

Texas Topaz Day, (325) 347-0475,www.texas-topaz.com

26 HAMILTON

Spring Fling, (325) 948-3260

30 KILLEEN [30–31]

Shades of Texas QuiltShow, (254) 554-2674,http://cttquiltguild.org

A P R I L 06 BURNET [6–7]

Creative Arts Spring Show,(512) 755-0257, www.burnetcreativeart.etsy.com

07 WOODVILLE

Dogwood Festival, (409) 283-2632,http://tylercountydogwoodfestival.org

AROUNDTEXASAROUNDTEXAS

7WOODVILLEDogwood Festival

7WOODVILLEDogwood Festival

23 MERIDIAN [23–24]

Bosque County-WideGarage Sale, (254) 435-2331,http://bosque.agrilife.org

24 CALVERT

Open House Celebration,(979) 393-0166, www.khsheritagecenter.com

LINDEN

Texas Music Awards,(903) 756-8944,www.texasmusicawards.org

LUCKENBACH

Mud Dauber Fest & Chili Cook-Off, (830) 997-3224, www.luckenbachtexas.com

MARBLE FALLS

Lace ’Em Up for Leukemia 5K Fun Run,(512) 484-3629,www.laceemupforleukemia.com

G U I T A R P L A Y E R : 2 0 1 2 © A L A N A N D V I C E N A P O U L S O N . I M A G E F R O M B I G S T O C K . C O M . D O G W O O D : 2 0 1 2 © J O R G E S A L C E D O . I M A G E F R O M B I G S T O C K . C O M .

24LINDEN

Texas Music Awards

As we observe with awe God’s creation of a perfectblossom unfolding its petals, glistening with dewdropsto the first golden rays of the sun, we behold the miracle of creation and open ourselves to the beliefthat with God’s power anything is possible. This artfullysculpted Sterling Silver ring by master jeweler ThomasSota lavishly coated with 14K Gold and sparkling withWhite Topaz is a constant reminder of your faith inHeaven’s promise of love and hope.

A special treasure to cherish and wear forever, this dramatic ring is offered exclusively through theConcorde Collection and is not sold in stores.Satisfaction guaranteed for 60 days. Mail your order today.

White Topaz…14K Gold…Sterling SilverThe perfect gift for yourself… or someone special. Just $45

ORDER FORM Please mail within 30 days.YES, I wish to order the BELIEVE IN MIRACLES® RING. I needsend no payment now. I will be billed $45* when my ringis ready to be shipped.Size: � 5 � 6 � 7 � 8 �9 �10* Plus $4.95 shipping and handling . Plus 6% sales tax, PA residents only.

Name PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

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Mail to: The Concorde Collection P.O. Box 8017, Aston, PA 19014

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Believe in Miracles ®RingBelief and hope in the wondrous power of God

An original creationby award-winning

designer Thomas Sota

This is a personal and endearingvision. On top of an artificial hill with awaterfall is a bronze casting of Maxworking in the garden with a trowel inhis hand, as one of his chocolate Lab-rador retrievers keeps him company.Next to a pavilion used for family wee-nie roasts is a statue of Billie and heryoungest grandchild, Molly. Part of theinstallation is an old, red Radio Flyerwagon.

Billie, 78, now lives in a residentialcare facility in Wichita Falls, but Max,84, still has his hands in the dirt about50 hours a week.

In addition to providing cart toursor tickets to stroll the gardens, thefacility caters weddings and other spe-cial events. There are splashing foun-tains, a chapel, a formal English gardenand lagoons.

The Clarks’ iris garden of 1,500 vari-eties will be one of the Master PlantingsGardens for newly developed irises dur-ing the 2013 American Iris SocietyConvention. There also is an extensivecollection of heirloom roses, a stunningvariety of day lilies, herb and grass col-lections, and a historic tree trail whereoffspring of famous American treesfrom locations such as the Gettysburgbattlefield and the Alamo are planted.

My favorite feature is the G-scaletrains that run through a structurecalled Clark Station and continue out-side on 1,200 feet of track, passingminiature replicas of the Parker Countycourthouse and the old, defunct BakerHotel in Mineral Wells. Leaving thebuilding, the trains wind their waythrough ingeniously constructed tun-nels, bridges and miniature scenes.Vintage toy cars and trucks are parkednear tiny stores, and the root systems oftiny plants prevent erosion on hills andgullies of the rail route. The trains runon an abbreviated schedule, so checktheir seasonal operating times.

Back in Weatherford, be sure to stopat the farmers market just east of thecourthouse. You’ll find various varietiesof jams, jellies, salsas and condiments,plus a great selection of unshelled nuts.

Kaye Northcott is a retired editor ofTexas Co-op Power.

Clark Gardens Botanical Park is aremote oasis with an address inWeatherford but a physical location justthree miles east of Mineral Wells. I tookInterstate 20 west from Fort Worth andthen jogged north on the Main Streetexit to Weatherford. It’s a treat just tocircle the ornate Parker County court-house before heading west again onU.S. Highway 180. Before MineralWells, signs announce Maddux Roadand direct you for a mile or so to theentrance of the 35-acre garden.

Max and Billie Clark purchased theproperty in the late 1960s, built a housethere in 1972 and enthusiasticallybegan to convert a mesquite-strewnfield into a very personal paradise.Carol Clark Montgomery, one of thecouple’s two children, is now directorof the park, which is run by the Clarks’nonprofit foundation. It’s open to thepublic every day of the year. The gar-dens’ Spring Festival this year is sched-uled for March 31 through April 1.

“When we moved here, it was a fallow piece of land,” Montgomery

said. She remembers a visitor to ClarkGardens Botanical Park telling herfather, “God gave you a lovely place towork.” His response: “Pardon me,ma’am, but before I got here Godwasn’t doing much with it.”

The couple had the wealth, energyand ingenuity to think big. Max’s adap-tation of a big-toothed rock saw virtuallyreplaced the jackhammer in diggingtrenches for coaxial cable and otherunderground lines. When they weren’tworking at their contracting company,they were planning the gardens.

Over the years, Max and Billieimported thousands of truckloads oftopsoil and compost to improve the thinsoil. The gardens are not irrigated.During the summer drought, water col-lected in artificial lakes was used tohand-water stressed plants. The gardenslost some young trees, but most of theplantings survived.

The gardens have also benefited fromthe efforts of full-time general contrac-tor John Holder as well as groundskeep-ers and talented craftsmen.

FROM THE GROUND UPClark Gardens Botanical Park spotlights hands-in-the-dirt work of two visionaries.

BY KAYE NORTHCOTT

4 2 T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R M a r c h 2 0 1 2 P H O T O B Y P A U L V A L E N T I N E

H I T T H E R O A D

Rays of sunrise bounce off a sandstone chapel at Clark Gardens Botanical Park,awakening the multiple colors of the Meditation Garden. The Chapel, as it officially isknown, has hosted many a special wedding.

H

March 10 - April 7, 2012Explore Texas’ Largest Azalea Garden

Don’t miss exclusive Azalea Trail events:Nacogdoches Azalea Trail SymposiumMain Street Sidewalk SaleFloral Design ShowcaseFarmer’s Market Spring Fling

Springtime in the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden showcases the United States’ most diverse collections of azaleas - just one of many attractions during the annual Nacogdoches Azalea Trail. Walk, drive or bike more than 20 miles of Azalea trails throughout historic residential districts and world-class gardens. Along the way, stop by interactive museums, local shops and a relaxing room in a friendly hotel or a charming B&B.

For more details and bloom reports, scan the QR Code.

Looking for a place to view some bucks?

Rural Land Loans

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T E X A S ’ L A R G E S T R U R A L L E N D E R

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