03/03/2026
I am sure many of you are wondering who I am. So, I thought I would share a little about my life and how someone from southwest Missouri ended up in La Marque, TX.
One of the biggest questions I get asked is, "Why did we move here?" The answer has 3 simple parts: my wife and I wanted to live close to the beach, we wanted a place where we felt God wanted us to serve, and we fell in love with the area. You see, we vacationed here about 10 years ago and fell in love with the culture and community. It was then that we thought this could be our new home. It took a lot of prayer and planning, but 5 years ago, we decided to uproot our family and move 12 hours away from the only home we had known. So far, it has been one of the best decisions we have made. Has it been easy? No, but it has been extremely rewarding, and my wife, our children, and I have grown because of it.
Speaking of children, we have 9. 2 girls and 7 boys. Their ages range from 8 to 33. Plus, we have 6 grandchildren and one on the way! I have raised my kids like I was raised - with a servant's heart. You see, I grew up out in the country, where our nearest neighbor lived about a mile away. When you live that isolated, you learn quickly that neighbors matter. If someone needs help, you help without expecting anything in return. This simple idea, being there for those in need, shapes my core beliefs. It guides how I raise my children, how I serve my church, and how I teach my students, and it's something I strive for every day. It makes me feel complete, although it may irritate my wife from time to time.
I started working at a young age, helping local farmers. From there, I worked in fast food and quickly transitioned into management. My first long-term job was at AutoZone, where I spent almost 10 years. My core values followed me there, and I helped where I could, from fixing customers’ cars in the parking lot to traveling to fix problems in stores, managing entire stores, and finally, serving as the district trainer. It was in that last role that I really fell in love with teaching, but I wasn’t ready yet; my family wasn’t ready. After a few different management jobs, I finally decided to become a teacher. And, for the past 14 years, I have had the pleasure of inspiring young minds, coaching other teachers, and leading a district’s technology use. It is in this profession that I have become what I think I was made to be - a servant leader.
It’s in this spirit that I decided to run for the city council. It's the same reason I wanted to be a part of the HOA board. I want to serve. I want to help. So, let’s get to know each other better, and regardless of whether I’m elected or not, let's work together to make La Marque better than ever.
