James Amaro
Director, Owner, Amaro Law Firm
Other Community Roles and Interests: My interest in the history of SL comes from my family connection to SL. My family emigrated to SL around 1918, fleeing the civil war in Mexico. My dad’s father, my grandfather Joe Amaro, was born in SL in 1924. His mother, grandmother, 2 uncles as children, and grandmother all left Mexico together and settled in SL. Joe worked at Imperial with his brother Bruno for some unknown time. My mom’s dad, Carlos Cantu, also worked there for over 30 years and her Grandfather Presas also worked there. All of this family and much more is buried in SL at San Isidro. We all went to St. Theresa. So, I have a strong connection to what I call my home.
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: Sugar Land has such an interesting history. I’m a history geek, minor at UT-Austin. I did not learn much about the origins of my family until more recently and it fascinates me. I think its important to preserve and share this history with the community so the sacrifices all have made over the last 100 years is not forgotten or taken for granted.
Bettye Anhaiser
Lifetime Board Member, Community Volunteer
Other Community Roles and Interests: Fort Bend County Historical Commission, mid-1970’s to today. Chairman for many years, and now Markers Committee Chair; Fort Bend Museum, early 1980’s – 1990’s on board, President 1984-1985; Daughters of the American Revolution (52 years), Daughters of the Republic of Texas and United Daughters of the Confederacy founding member; Sugar Land Bicentennial USA Chairman; Sugar Land Sesquicentennial Texas Committee Member; Co-Author: 1972 Booklet about Fort Bend; 1986 Pictorial History of Sugar Land.
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: In appreciation of the people and times from the beginning to now who have and are creative and continue to develop economically, educationally and for their family ties.
Madeleine Calcote-Garcia
Director, Executive Director, Fort Bend History Association
Other Community Roles and Interests: Executive Director of the Fort Bend History Association, excited new board member of the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation, member of the Fort Bend County Historical Commission, serves as a non-voting member of the Richmond Historic Commission (City of Richmond), active member of the Texas Association of Museums.
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: Preserving history is important to me and I’ve worked to preserve the history of each place I’ve lived. I grew up in Sugar Land and I am so excited to help further the mission of the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation.
Roy Cordes
Director, Fort Bend County Attorney
Other Community Roles and Interests: I have been a director and/or officer of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, Fort Bend YMCA, Fort Bend Museum Association, Fort Bend Senior Citizens, Fort Bend Regional Council, Fort Bend EDC, Sugar Land 4b Corporation, Houston and Gulf Coast Alzheimer’s Association, and Sugar Land Heritage Foundation. I am a Senior Fellow, American Leadership Forum.
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: As a second generation native of Sugar Land I support its Mission Statement. Sugar Land has a unique and colorful history to share, both the good and the challenging.
Carolyn Gilligan
President, Engineer for LJA Engineering, Inc.
Other Community Roles and Interests: I have been a volunteer with SLHF since 2010 when the Heritage Hikes first started. Besides leading the hikes, I have volunteered at the museum on Saturdays to relate the history of Sugar Land to visitors. I have also served as Volunteer Coordinator for approximately two years and organized the ornament sale at the Farmers Market.
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: We have such a unique history in Sugar Land, with its beginnings as the site chosen by Stephen F. Austin for his personal settlement, through the reconstruction era and the many years as a company town based on the philosophy of welfare capitalism. It is important to preserve and potect this history for future generations.
Ramon Gomez
Director, Retired from the Oil & Gas Industry
Other Community Roles and Interests: Organizing committee chairperson for Sugar Land Celebrates Hispanic Heritage and Dia de los Muertos for four years. Ad-hoc committee chairman and member of Friends of San Isidro Cemetery,
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: I want to foster and promote community pride by preserving, communicating, and celebrating the colorful history of Sugar Land. The beautiful cultures and wonderful history of the city need to be passed on to future generations.
Taylor Landin
Treasurer, Senior Vice President-Public Policy, Greater Houston Partnership
Other Community Roles and Interests: Member at Parkway United Methodist Church, Sugar Land Planning and Zoning Commissioner
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: My children are fifth generation Sugar Land. I want to preserve and celebrate Sugar Land’s history so my children will appreciate the story of their hometown.
Paul Lock
Director, Manager-Local Government Relations, CenterPoint Energy
Other Community Roles and Interests: Houston West Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, San Jacinto Region Flood Planning Group Member
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: I wanted to get more involved in Fort Bend County since the company I work for is in this area and learn more about the history of Sugar Land.
Kristin Lytle
Director, Broker Associate, Hometown America, Inc.
Other Community Roles and Interests: Friends of Old Sugar Land, Sugar Land Art Museum
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: I wanted to preserve history to build our community for the future.
Michael Madden
Director, Fort Bend ISD
Other Community Roles and Interests: Board member for Parks Youth Ranch and Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: I want to preserve and celebrate Sugar Land’s history so my children will appreciate the story of their hometown.
Claire Rogers
Retired from Fort Bend History Association
Other Community Roles and Interests: Fort Bend County Historical Commission, Secretary; Fort Bend Museum Docent; Fulshear History Association, Advisory Board; Delta Kappa Gamma-Epsilon Omega Chapter; First Baptist Church-Rosenberg, Committee Member & Sunday School Teacher
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: As a life-long lover of history (and the daughter of a sugar factory manager), I am proud to support the many museum efforts in Fort Bend County – especially the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation.
David Smith
Director, Pamela Printing Company
Other Community Roles and Interests: Currently involved in Kiwanis, Exchange Club, ARC of Fort Bend. Previously involved for 15 years coaching and working with Little League, select and High school baseball; two years coaching youth basketball; Fundraising for Dulles athletic Booster Club as well as Board member; and Professionally we have worked with a large number of Non Profit and charitable organizations in Fort Bend, Harris and Wharton counties to help them achieve their goals of supporting our community and neighbors.
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: It is easy to lose the past in an area like our that continues to move very fast. We have very good roots that should be used to help grow the future.
Beth Wolf
Secretary, Owner, Wolf Management Services
Other Community Roles and Interests: In addition to being a new board member for the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation, I have also serve on boards for the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County-Since 2014, and the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation-Since 2014, and the Community Exchange Member – Oak Bend Medical Center-since 2016. I have also served on the board previously for Fort Bend Connect – 2012-2015, and the Community Services Foundation Grant Advisory Committee 2011-2016.
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: I am honored to be a part of the Heritage Foundation and the effort to collect, preserve, communicate and celebrate the History of Sugar Land. The rich history of Sugar Land is a treasure to be shared and preserved.
Bridget Yeung
Vice President, Fort Bend Financial
Other Community Roles and Interests: One of the founders of the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foudation; Past Chairman of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce; Former City of Sugar Land Council Member, District 2
Why I Support Sugar Land Heritage Foundation: It is extremely important to always remember a community’s Heritage. If one does not know where they have been, they do not have the basis for where they will go.