contents

THE CHAMBER 

Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce 

Benefits of Your Chamber Investment 

Chamber Accreditation 

Chamber Leadership 

The Chamber’s Wall of Honor 

Platinum and Emerald Investors 

Distinguished Investors 

THE COMMUNITY 

Montgomery County - Rich in History 

Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag of Texas 

Annual Festivals and Events 

Downtown Conroe - Rodney Pool: Downtowner
of the Year 

Cultural Attractions 

SHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Recreational Opportunities 

Discover Golf 

Conroe Welding - Roy Morton & Family 

Education 

Community Demographics 

Telephone References 

THE MEMBERS 

Business Directory 

Advertiser Index

Cover photo by Dave Clements/dmc photography

(Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park)

Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber

505 W Davis St., Conroe, TX 77301

PO Box 2347, Conroe, TX 77305

936.756.6644 | www.conroe.org

This is a Town Square Publications,

formerly MetroMedia (since 1997),

publication created and produced for the

Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber

505 W Davis St., Conroe, TX 77301

PO Box 2347, Conroe, TX 77305

936.756.6644 | www.conroe.org

Copyright © 2023 Town Square Publications

P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006

(847) 427-4905 | [email protected]

www.TownSquarePublications.com

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of

the information in this publication. The Chamber and

Town Square assume no responsibility for misinformation.

Please contact the Chamber with any additions or

corrections. Reproduction in whole or in part without

permission of the Chamber and Town Square is prohibited.

Chairman, CEO and Publisher | Douglas K. Ray

President and Chief Operating Officer | Scott Stone

Vice President / Director | Scott Ray

Managing Director | David Small

Director of Production | Ryan Moore

Sales Rep | Dede Harmell

Editor |Mia Katz

Project Manager | Angie Davis

welcome

A Letter from the Chamber President

Next year, the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber will celebrate its 90th anniversary. This is an important milestone, and it is a testament to the dedication and vision of so many who have been engaged with the Chamber throughout its history. While Conroe has changed – and grown – significantly since 1934, I suspect that the same hard work and can-do spirit existed then as it does today.

I am inspired when I look at the faces and hear the stories of the Conroe pioneers who laid the groundwork for Conroe’s growth. I am equally impressed and motivated when I talk with today’s business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs who have continually “raised the bar” to make our city and surrounding area one of the fastest-growing places in the state and nation. Indeed, in 2022 our Chamber ranked as the 7th largest chamber in the Gulf Coast region, according to the Houston Business Journal.

At our recent Chamber board retreat, we planned for 2023 and beyond, and we re-committed to the following strategies:

1) Stay focused on our members and their needs, 2) Be storytellers of who we are and what we do as a Chamber, 3) Serve as the ‘Voice of Business’ as we assist in communicating the legislative agendas of our members and the communities we serve, 4) Support Workforce Development, helping our members grow and expand their workforce in a constantly changing economy, and 5) Provide relevant and engaging Professional Business Development training and workshops for our current and prospective members.

A chamber of commerce is only as strong as the members who support it. On that front, I am proud to say that our almost-90-year-old Chamber is in great hands!

Scott Harper
President, Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce

A Letter from the BOARD CHAIR

I am incredibly honored to serve as this year’s chairman of the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce. This is an organization of hard-working staff and business leaders who have, for 89 years, served as “Chamber Champions,” helping Montgomery County businesses grow and flourish.

The Conroe/Lake Conroe region is a thriving community that offers a unique mix of business, ranging from small, family-run operations to large, corporate entities, working together with a common vision of growth and opportunity. This hard work has paid off, with the City of Conroe being recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as one of the fastest growing cities in the United States.

Since its inception in 1934, the Chamber’s primary focus has been to strengthen the economic environment and quality of life in the Conroe/Lake Conroe area. In addition to that focus, each year the board of directors identifies key goals to aid in both growing and strengthening the Chamber. This year we are continuing to focus on being an active informational pipeline to our members and community on legislative affairs, membership growth and retention, and being a more present and active board in our community.

In short, that means continuing – and strengthening – the legacy of “Chamber Champions.” I would love for you to attend a Morning Mingle, Fun After Five, or any of our business development luncheons. Reach out to our great staff and find out how you can get involved, get connected and engage with local business owners to make our community stronger together! You get more out than what you put in — as long as you’re in the game. Let’s live out this year’s theme: “Be a Chamber Champion Today!”

Nick Davis
Chairman of the Board

the chamber

The Conroe/Lake Conroe

chamber of

commerce

First organized as the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce in 1934, the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber celebrates 89 years of service to the Montgomery County area this year. The humble membership of three businesses in 1934 has grown to over 900 members dedicated to improving the economic quality of life in Montgomery County.

The mission of the Chamber is to strengthen the economic environment and quality of life in Montgomery County. The Chamber actively promotes Conroe/Lake Conroe in business and industrial development and continues to provide our community with a well-balanced and wholesome quality of life.

In 2015, after a comprehensive self-review, the Chamber announced that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded the Chamber with 3-Star Accredited status. This prestigious honor puts the Chamber among the top three percent of chambers nationwide. The Chamber’s goal to demonstrate competency in nine core areas, ranging from finance to facilities, was recognized by this impressive rating. In 2020, the Chamber received the highest rating of accreditation, 5-Star Accreditation, after continual improvement in each of those core areas. The Chamber must go through the re-accreditation process every five years. As of January 2023, the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce is the only accredited chamber in Montgomery County.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has the only national program recognizing chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement. Accreditation allows us to renew, improve and promote sound business practices, policies and procedures.

The Chamber is a 501(c)6 nonprofit, community-based organization devoted to enhancing the economic growth of Conroe/Lake Conroe.

Striving to involve the community in all decisions, the Chamber is governed by a member-elected board of directors that determines policies, sets goals, and steers the path of the Chamber. The board also employs a president who hires a professional staff to handle the daily operations of the Chamber. The Chamber’s goals are accomplished through the collective efforts of the board, staff, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

the chamber

benefits

Of your chamber investment

Membership in Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber is an investment – and a wise one at that! As one of the area’s largest business leadership organizations, the Chamber is committed to providing benefits that deliver immediate and long-term value to your company – through new jobs, new investments and new opportunities for business growth. When you join the Chamber, you become a part of those efforts through your civic engagement, thoughtful leadership and financial investment.

Each business joins the Chamber for different reasons. The Chamber offers numerous benefits for all its members to help grow and develop their business.

Marketing Support - Being aligned with the Chamber means that you are partnered with a known, well-respected brand in the Conroe and surrounding region. This comes with valuable marketing support:

• One complimentary Chamber member mailing list per calendar year

• Ribbon cutting at designated time and location by Chamber

• Business listing in the printed Chamber Guide

• Chamber counter plaque

• Display business cards/brochures in the Chamber lobby for individuals and businesses who visit the Chamber

• K-Star (99.7FM) advertising discount (with certificate from the Chamber)

Online Business Branding and Promotion - Your customers – and your competitors – are online, and so is the Chamber. Take advantage of the web-based, digital resources we provide:

• Business listing online

• 500 character business description in the online directory, 30 keywords for online directory, hours of operation and driving directions.

• Online listing with “Proud Member” logo (for your company emails and website)

• Company listing in the online directory and the online Chamber Guide – in user-friendly flipbook format.

• Postings of Hot Deals/member-to-member deals on Chamber website

• Ability to post press releases on website, as well as events on the Community Calendar

Personal Connection and Access - Membership in the Chamber gives you immediate and continual access to the almost 1,000 small, medium and large businesses, as well as community leaders and decision-makers who can help you maximize your membership value. This includes:

• Opportunity to attend monthly Morning Mingles at a variety of member businesses in the Conroe area

• Opportunity to attend monthly Fun After Five evening networking events at member businesses

• Opportunity to attend Professional Business Development, including workshops, seminars and lunch-and-learns

• Opportunity to attend marquee events such as legislative gatherings, leadership award ceremonies, Chairman’s Ball, Lobsterfest, Tastefest and more. Many of these are great ways to recognize and reward employee performance.

• Opportunity to serve on active community committees, including ones that advocate policies and legislation to positively impact our area’s future economic growth.

Additional Services - The Chamber knows that many of its members lack the resources, such as space and personnel, to conduct meetings or secure needed services. The Chamber provides:

• Access and use of the Chamber board room and conference room when available for company meetings or business promotion.

• Certificates of Origin for international shipping

• Free notary service

the chamber

Chamber

accreditation

Accreditation with the United States Chamber of Commerce is the only program of its kind that defines excellence in chamber planning and recognizes chambers for outstanding contributions toward positive change in their communities. The purpose of the U.S. Chamber’s Accreditation Program is to facilitate continuing excellence in the chamber industry and to foster a pro-business environment across America.

By earning Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a chamber shows its dedication to:

•  Reviewing, improving, and promoting strong business practices

•  Recognizing leadership and outstanding contributions to the community

•  Supporting the principles of free enterprise and promoting pro-growth policies at federal, state, and local levels

•  Establishing best practices and staying in-step with industry changes

Currently, 202 chambers carry this distinction. With approximately 7,000 chambers in the United States, Accreditation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a prestigious honor that distinguishes the high quality, expertise, and strong leadership displayed by Accredited state and local chambers of commerce.

Becoming a leading-edge organization means scrutinizing the entire operation; from governance, program development, human resources and technology to communications, governmental affairs, finance, facilities and benchmarking, chambers of commerce are reviewed and graded by peers in the industry. Following this extensive review process, chambers earn status as Accredited; Accredited with 3 Stars; Accredited with 4-Stars and Accredited with 5-Stars (the highest level of accreditation).

In 2015, under the leadership of Scott Harper, the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce earned its first accredited status with the US Chamber by being recognized as a 3-Star organization. It was a momentous occasion for the chamber and the Conroe/Lake Conroe community. Taking a step back and letting unbiased, third parties look at our operations and stewardship, and confirming that we’re doing what we tell our members we’re doing is good for the chamber and good for business…and accreditation is good for five years!

In late 2019 and early 2020, even as the pandemic was unfolding before our eyes, members of the chamber’s leadership team began the process of resubmitting our application for accreditation. At the forefront of the process was correcting missed opportunities from 2015 and highlighting those areas of improvement over the past five years. From volunteer leadership to staff and committees and members, the work gets done because of a commitment to excellence…and the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce was rewarded with the highest possible designation…Accredited with 5-Stars!

What does this mean to our membership and the greater community? The chamber is rock solid in its organization, financial health, program development, advocacy, and leadership…all of which reflects on our core values…and the first one that says…Lead from the front! As one of only two 5-Star Accredited chambers of commerce in the Houston metro area…and only 21 in the entire state of Texas, we are excited and proud to see what the future holds for this great organization!

the chamber

2023

chamber

2023 Conroe/Lake Conroe
Board of Directors

á Officers

Nick Davis, Guaranty Bank & Trust
Chairman of the Board

Jennifer Millington, Primrose School of Conroe
Chair-Elect

Jennifer Wright, Wright Business Technologies
Vice Chair, Membership

Mario Valedez, Conroe’s Incredible Pizza Company
Vice Chair, Business Development

Steve Pilgrim, Entergy (retired)
Vice Chair, Governmental Affairs/Community Development

Clint Nichols, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
Treasurer

DeAndre Guin, City of Conroe
Vice Chair, Special Events

Cody Spence, All Star Catering

Immediate Past Chair

á directorS

Terms Expiring January 2024

Cody Bartlett, Bartlett Financial

Patricia Brown, Woodforest National Bank

Nick Davis, Guaranty Bank & Trust

Arnette Easley, Easley Enterprises of Texas

Meredith Jurica, Makeup Junkie Bags

Warner Phelps, Soules Insurance Agency

Dr. Rebecca Riley, Lone Star College-Montgomery

Mario Valadez, Conroe’s Incredible Pizza Company

Terms Expiring January 2025

Randy Barcus, Consolidated Communications

Cody Spence, All Star Catering Company

Bryan Fowler, The Fowler Law Firm

Steve Pilgrim, Entergy Texas, Inc. (retired)

Keath Krueger, Branding Iron Custom Goods

Colin McKenzie, McKenzie’s BBQ

Jennifer Millington, Primrose School of Conroe

Jennifer Wright, Wright Business Technologies

Terms Expiring January 2026

Guy Barker, First Financial Bank

Brittany Chandler, Entergy Texas, Inc.

San Cheng, Dragon Bowl C

Kelly Dietrich, The Howard Hughes Corp.

DeAndre Guin, City of Conroe

Tiffany Iadarola, Gullo Dealerships

Linda Nelson, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center

Clint Nichols, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital

Appointed Directors
(One-year term through January 2024)

Brandon Polk, +40 Fitness

Carl White, Cam Light Video Production

Darwin Canales, Crown Brand Building Packaging

the chamber

The Chamber’s

wall of honor

Meant to acknowledge the distinguished leaders in the community, the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber has selected several men and women to be recognized on the Wall of Honor at the Chamber office building. They have been chosen for their outstanding service and contributions through their involvement in the Chamber and other business, civic, or community activities.

Most of these men and women have served as chairman of the board at some point and have helped the Chamber develop into the successful entity that it is today. A complete biography and picture of each can be seen in person at the Chamber office building or online at www.conroe.org/wall-of-honor.

Inducted October 2001

Frederick Walter Woodson

George B. Darden

T.W. Feagin

Seth W. Dorbandt

Winifred B. Weisinger

W. Cleo McClain

Lavoy Moore

M.W. (Buddy) Everett

Don A. Buckalew

R.A. (Mickey) Deison

Grady Spikes

Numsen Hail

Donna McVeigh

Inducted December 2003

Ron Husley

Russell Law

Rigby Owen, Jr.

John Wiesner

Inducted January 2009

William A. Bergfeld, Jr.

Thomas Earle Gentry

Dr. Deane L. Sadler

Inducted February 2010

John E. Burge

David William Crews

C. David Friday

Inducted November 2011

Col. Ramon M. Laughter

Gerald J. Creighton, Jr.

Inducted January 2018

Donnie Buckalew

Richard “Dick” Coyle

Larry L. Foerster

Roy Morton

Jerry Streater

Inducted 2021

John Holmes

Dr. Don Stockton

Jill Vaughan

honoring our

leaders

Past Chairmen of the Board

The Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber pays tribute to the men and women who have served to make this Chamber as successful as it is today.

2022 - Cody Spence

2021 - Dr. Rebecca Riley

2020 - Patricia Brown

2019 - Brent Wunderlich

2018 - George Waggoner

2017 - Matt Davis

2016 - Hector Forestier

2015 - Dr. Don Stockton

2014 - Danielle Scheiner

2013 - Tamara Perry

2012 - Helen Thornton

2011 - Charlie Irvine

2010 - Roy Morton

2009 - Bill Hanover

2008 - Jerry Nash

2007 - Brent Sherrod

2006 - David Moore

2005 - Rui Martin

2004 - Don Heathcott

2003 - Jill Vaughan

2002 - Donnie Buckalew

2001 - Frank Denton

2000 - Sandra Zwick

1999 - Andy Dill

1998 - Jerry Streater

1997 - Ron Hulsey

1996 - Donna McVeigh

1995 - David Friday

1994 - Lloyd Tisdale

1993 - Numsen Hail

1992 - Jay Dreibelbis

1991 - Larry Foerster

1990 - Numsen Hail

1989 - John W. Wiesner

1988 - Hon. Grady Spikes

1987 - Raymond Walston

1986 - Morris Straughan

1985 - Barry Kelly

1984 - Charline Muller

1983 - Max Mahaffey

1982 - John E. Burge

1981 - Clayton Hester

1980 - Fred Greer

1979 - R.A. Mickey Deison

1978 - Bill Bergfeld

1977 - T. Bruce Scott

1976 - Patrick D. George

1975 - John P. Holmes

1973 & 74 - Don A. Buckalew

1972 - C. Lee Williamson, Jr.

1971 - Don Hammock

1970 - Russell Law

1969 - M.W. “Buddy” Everett, Jr.

1968 - Gus W. Derrick

1967 - H.M. “Monty” Hawthorne, Jr.

1966 - E. Davis (Sonny) Hailey

1965 - Lester C. Shepard

1964 - Marshall Holloman

1963 - Jack Clark, Jr.

1962 - W. E. Dinkins

1961 - Bill Vittrup

1960 - A. Lavoy Moore

1959 - W.C. McClain

1958 - Dave Nichol

1957 - Hollis Choate

1956 - Turman S. Kimbro

1955 - Glynn McClellan

1954 - Cam Harrell

1953 - Wallace S. Lampton

1952 - W.A. Moon

1951 - J.L. Heard

1950 - Regan Smith

1949 & 48 - L.M. Welch

1947 - W.B. Weisinger

1946 - Seth Dorbandt

1944 & 45 - T.W. Feagin

1942 & 43 - George Darden

1941 - F.W. Woodson

1940 - A.E. Hickerson

1939 - S.R. Hereford

1938 - Dr. J.L. Hicks

1937 - T.E. Gentry

1935 & 1936 - Charles Harritt

1934 - R.D. Simonton

the chamber

distinguished

investors

The Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber has several levels of membership. Companies who pledge the highest amount are Platinum members, followed by Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, Gold and Silver. We appreciate the businesses that have made an increased commitment to the Chamber and to the economic development of the community.

CHI-St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital

Consolidated Communications, Inc.

Constructable

Corporate Incentives

Entergy Texas, Inc.

Guaranty Bank & Trust

HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe

Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital

Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center

Primrose School of Conroe

Prosperity Enterprise Funding

Sergio’s Landscaping

Southern Luxe Home Innovations LLC

Steinmann Law Firm

The Howard Hughes Corporation

Woodforest National Bank - Conroe

Worthington Manor

Wright Business Technologies

All Star Catering Co.

America’s Home Place

Better Bookkeepers, Inc.

Buckalew Chevrolet, L.P.

Conroe Professional Firefighters Assoc.

Crown Cork & Seal USA, Inc.

DeMontrond Auto Country

First Financial Bank

First National Bank Texas - Conroe

Grand Central Park

Gullo Ford, Toyota, Mazda

Health Markets - Christopher Wiloth Licensed Insurance Agent

KDW LTD

Latin Grill

Legacy Emergency Training, LLC.

LEO at West Fork

Lone Star College-Montgomery

McKenzie’s Barbeque & Burgers

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Nothing Bundt Cakes

PR Luxury Media

Richmond Realty Group

Rodgers Stein Chiropractic Center

Staffing Texas

Stainless Structurals America

VeraBank

Webb’s Uniforms

Wiesner Buick-GMC-Hyundai

Ball Corporation

Blue Epiphany Downtown

Center for Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship at SHSU*

CenterPoint Energy

Luxury Air A/C & Heating

Mobiloil Credit Union

Naskila Gaming

Ranger Guard of Conroe, LLC

Rios Funeral Directors*

Terracon

The Geo Group, Inc

The Luminaire

The Shout House*

Tujay Homes

Wal-Mart #0400

Wal-Mart - Montgomery

Advanced Freight Dynamics

Allergy & ENT Associates

Allumine Health - Home Health & Hospice

Baker’s Bouquet

Bayway Cadillac of the Woodlands

Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing

ClearWater Express Wash

Conroe Welding Supply, Inc.

Easley Enterprises of Texas, Inc.

Family First Urgent Care

Fidelis Grand Central

Frost Bank

GD Energy Products

Juggernaut Payment Processing

Lakeside Collision

Liberty Materials, Inc.

LightPoint Engineering

Lights Out Production Company

McKesson

Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Conroe

Mercedes-Benz of The Woodlands

Mesah Commissoning

MJR Services, Inc.

Mobility City of Montgomery County, TX

NOV Texas Oil Tools

Overhead Door Company of Conroe

Pinpoint Movers

Rise Local

Soules Insurance Agency, A Dean & Draper Company

Spear Point Engineering

Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Events

The Abbey at Conroe

Top Soap, LLC

Total Point Emergency Center

True Texas Solar

Union Processing Systems

Val’s Cooling and Heating, LLC

Woodforest Earthworks, LLC

American Furniture Warehouse

April Sound Country Club

Arcosa Stabilized & Recycling

Astro Fence Company

Bauer Equipment America

Bleyl Engineering

Buff City Soap

Cold Stone Creamery 23857 Conroe, TX

Color Interiors

Conroe Willis Family Medicine/Radiant Skin & Health

Craft Pride LLC

CWS Propane

Drilling Specialties Co

Easco Air Conditioning & Heating

Easley Enterprises of Texas, Inc.

ECS Southwest LLP

Envirotech Mechanical Systems

EVEN Hotel

Freebirds World Burrito

Good Agency

Houston Chronicle Media - The Conroe Courier

Hyatt Regency Conroe

Jade Consolidated Mgmt., Inc.

JD Precision Plumbing Services, Inc.

Meredith Capital Consulting

MHW Real Estate Inc.

MidSouth Electric Co-op & Fiber Internet

Milstead Service Center, LLC

MoCo Plumbing Services

Picture This Memories To Go

Pine Lake Ranch

Quadvest

Schoenmann Produce Company

SCI Alarms

Second Chance Families

Taher, Inc. Custom Die Cutting

The Golden Hammer

The Law Office Of Robert M. Meredith

The Wellington at Conroe

Time to Spare Bowling

Total Air Service

Toyomasters LLC

US Aviation Group

Walden Yacht Club

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux

Wellpath

Whataburger, LP

1845 Solutions

1st Franklin Financial

5Point Credit Union

84 Lumber

A Place At Home

A&H Electric Co. LLC

Able Glass Company

Adams Transfer & Storage

AdviCoach

All Seasons Ace Hardware

Anatole At the Pines

Apache Welding Inc., Mfg. and Apache Refinery Services Intl. LLC

Avery Eye Clinic

Black Walnut Cafe

Bold Fox Development -Airport Road Conroe, LP

Bristol Park at Conroe

Burditt Consultants

Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC

Cashner Funeral Home & Cemetery

Citizens Grill

City of Conroe

Clayton Lee Plumbing

Colortech Direct

Conroe Golf Cars, Inc.

Conroe’s Incredible Pizza Company

Contour Medspa

Cowboy Kia of Conroe

David Weekley Homes

DB Bit Services

Denton Claims Consulting

Dragon Bowl C

Dritex Restoration

EDGE-Global Technology Solutions

Fabritex LLC

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

Finway Electric

Forever 5 Events

Fun Town RV Conroe

Grand Central Storage

Green and Associates Real Estate Services

Guaranteed Rate Affinity

Hadco International, LLC

Hailey-Sadler Properties

Harbor Shores- A Waterfront Community

HBI Office Solutions, Inc.

Her Chance

Heritage Oaks Assisted Living & Memory Care Community

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

Home Instead Magnolia

Hope & Causey, PC

HUDDLE UP with Roger Goertz / Your Business Coach

Hunger Crush Cafe, LLC

Hyatt House The Woodlands/Shenandoah

John Hafley, County Court at Law #1

KHolder Development Inc.

Kindle’s Food Park

L Squared Engineering, LLC

Lamar Advertising

Landing at Seven Coves Condominium Council

LBM Advantage

LEVELTX

LINE-X of Conroe

Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.

Lone Star Family Health Center

Love’s Travel Stops

Manta Swim Academy

Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant

Metcalf Funeral Directors

Milstead PC Investments LLC

Monkey’s Tail

Montgomery County Home & Outdoor Living Show

Montgomery Self Storage

Montgomery Summit Business Park

Mutual of Omaha Advisors

NextCare Urgent Care

NOV Brandt

Outback Steakhouse

Pedros Taco and Tequila Bar

Petbar Boutique

Physical Therapy Associates

Plains State Bank

Professional Service Industries, Inc

Protect Controls, Inc.

Quest Engineering

R&R Salvage, Inc.

Randy Roan Construction, Inc.

Rennell Associates, LLC

Rick Schissler-Silver Fox Advisor

River Wood Apartments

Rock Hard Construction, LLC

Safety Check Services LLC / Texas CPR Lady

San Jacinto River Authority

Sapphire Gas Solutions

Sargent Home Inventory Services

School of Rock Conroe

Service Master by CGI Restoration Services, LLC

Shari Edwards State Farm Insurance

Shea Homes Houston

Silver Rock Productions

Sirius Video Productions, Inc.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace -

Montgomery County, TX

Spherion Staffing

Spikes Group, Inc.

Steve Scott - The Houston Business Coach

Sunbelt Business Brokers

Texas Patriot Realty, LLC

Texas Port Recycling

Texas Title - Conroe

The Beauty Lounge

The Blair Law Firm, PC

The Custom Sign & Graphics Haus

The Loop Apartments

The Table at Madeley

The Woodlands Pride

Third Coast Bank

Thornton Financial Services

TownePlace Suites by Marriott

U.S. Rubber Corp.

Valuation, Fraud & Forensics, LLC

Valvoline Instant Oil Change

VAM Foods

Vogt Engineering, L.P.

Vulcan Materials Company

Westin Homes

Wilkins Linen

Willis Animal Hospital

Woodhaven Village

Zen Gab Foundation

the community

montgomery county

Rich in History

Montgomery County comprises one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation. At one time, the economy was driven by farming, timber, and oil, and Conroe was the third-greatest oil center in the U.S. The county has experienced tremendous growth spurts throughout the years.

The City of Conroe has enjoyed much growth and prosperity since its humble beginnings in 1870. When Conroe became the county seat in 1889, the courthouse square became an important gathering point for everyday life. Recently, the courthouse and surrounding square have undergone a planned revitalization that has brought many new businesses to the downtown area.

Believed by many historians to be named after a community confrontation in 1912, the small city of Cut and Shoot has a big history, including that of a tall Texan fighter. The 1958 World’s Heavyweight Boxing contender, Roy Harris, came from this small community. The young and then-unknown Harris battled Floyd Patterson over 50 years ago, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In 2008, the Conroe City Council honored this respected fighter.

Steeped in history, the City of Montgomery, founded in 1837, remains a small, but growing, Texas town with tree-lined streets and friendly people. It beckons you to stroll back in time and browse the many antique shops, gift shops, and historic homes open to showcase its rich history. Montgomery is the official birthplace of the Texas flag.

Originating in 1964, Panorama Village is a private community of 660 acres, complete with a golf course. Nestled in a peaceful wooded environment minutes from I-45, Panorama Village attracted new residents. In 1972, it was incorporated, and police and volunteer fire departments were organized.

Incorporated in 1974, the City of Shenandoah rests quietly in southern Montgomery County. With a growing population, it is undergoing an explosion in commercial development. Residential Shenandoah is a peaceful, comfortable neighborhood tucked away in the Texas pines.

When the railroad came to the City of Willis in 1870, the town began to grow by leaps and bounds. The tobacco industry was the number-one crop, and locally made cigars won first prize at the Columbia World Exposition. Over the years, Willis was mainly an agricultural area, with timber and livestock as the main industries. Today, it continues to grow due to its high quality of life and close proximity to Lake Conroe and Sam Houston National Forest.

the community

Birthplace of the

lone star flag

of Texas

The Lone Star Flag of Texas first rose in Montgomery County – or at least the idea of it did. It was a vision of Dr. Charles Bellinger Stewart, a resident of the City of Montgomery. Dr. Stewart served as the first Secretary of State for the Republic of Texas and was the first to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836.

Shortly after the signing, Republic President Mirabeau B. Lamar appointed a committee to create an official flag for the Republic. Dr. Stewart was asked to create a draft for a flag, and he did a sketch on vellum featuring three rectangles of equal size, one vertical and the other two horizontal. In the vertical rectangle, he placed a lone star. The original drawing was not colored, but Dr. Stewart labeled the rectangles red, white and blue. The red, white and blue of the Lone Star Flag of Texas stand respectively for bravery, purity and loyalty.

The committee approved his design, as well as a design for a state seal, which Stewart also had drawn on the same piece of vellum. President Lamar approved both on January 25, 1839. The Heritage Museum in Montgomery County has a replica of this draft and the original sketch of the flag, and Dr. Stewart’s papers are in the Texas Archives.

When Texas became a state in 1845, our Lone Star became one of many on the national flag. It flies proudly here and is loved by Texans as a symbol of our state’s strength, aspiration and independence, all qualities that early settlers brought to the country to make Texas possible.

The House of Representatives of the 75th Texas Legislature adopted HR 1123, authored by State Representative Robert Rabuck and signed May 30, 1997, by Governor George W. Bush, proclaiming Montgomery County as the birthplace of the Lone Star Flag.

the community

Annual

festivals and events

JANUARY

Job Fair

The annual Job Fair features job opportunities in a variety of fields as well as educational opportunities and community resources. The event is free to job seekers and booth space is available to hiring businesses and organizations. The Conroe Economic Development Council partners with the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce, Lone Star College, The Lone Star Convention & Expo Center and Workforce Solutions to host this community event.

Chairman’s Ball Awards Gala

Hosted by the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce, the Chairman’s Ball and Awards Gala honors the organization’s outgoing Chairman of the Board. The program includes award presentations for Diplomat of the Year, Chairman’s MVP, Chairman’s Horizon Award, and Wall of Honor recipients, as well as a “passing of the gavel” ceremony to the incoming Chairman. Dinner, dancing, and casino games make for an unforgettable evening.

FEBRUARY

Go Texan Parade

Providing scholarships for area youth, the Go Texan Parade through downtown Conroe is presented by the Conroe/Willis/The Woodlands Metro Go Texan Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™.

MARCH

Young Texas Artists Music Competition

The Young Texas Artists Music Competition Concert features Texas music students, ages 18-30 competing for the coveted title of Young Texas Artist.

APRIL

Montgomery County Fair

The Montgomery County Fair Association welcomes everyone to the Fairgrounds in Conroe to enjoy shows, games, educational exhibits, a rodeo, carnival and much more. This 10-day event serves as a platform for youth to be able to display their projects in a public setting, all while having fun.

Conroe KidzFest

An annual City of Conroe event for children and families with free admission, activities, live entertainment, inflatables, game booths, train rides, face painting, water activities, food vendors and more

Tastefest

Come one, come all to the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce’s annual Tastefest, a gathering of food and beverage vendors providing samples of their featured cuisines. Bring the whole family to the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center to enjoy one of the largest events in Montgomery County. Then, visit the participating restaurants in the following weeks for samplings as Tastefest continues.

Antiques Festival

The festival features more than 50 fine and traditional antique dealers from throughout Texas displaying and selling quality antique furniture, furnishings, and merchandise as well as regional craftsman and artisans.

May

Outrun Hunger

Montgomery County Food Bank’s Outrun Hunger’s Mardi Gras-themed events include a 5K, 10K, 1K Mardi Gras Second Line Parade, and a carnival and vendor fair with face painters, balloon artists, Cajun food trucks and more!

July

ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon

The Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce partners with ATHENA International, an organization that develops, supports, and honors girls and women to build a global pipeline of women leaders. The ATHENA Leadership Award is presented to a local woman, nominated by her peers, and selected by ATHENA International, who embodies the eight principles of the ATHENA Leadership Model. This luncheon is held in the recipient’s honor to recognize her impact on Montgomery County.

Conroe Stars & Stripes Celebration

Come join the fun in downtown Conroe at the Conroe Stars & Stripes Celebration. This new tradition includes food trucks, vendors, kid-friendly activities, inflatables, live music and fireworks!

Montgomery Freedom Fest

The Montgomery Freedom Fest includes a Freedom Parade through Historic Downtown Montgomery, a Crafter’s Market featuring homegrown food, homemade crafts and vendors, a baking contest, a BBQ cookoff, and a kids’ zone with sack races, watermelon seed spitting, bounce houses, tug-of-war, and more.

Willis Independence Day Celebration

The Willis Independence Day Celebration will include balloon art, face painting, vendors, food, and fireworks show.

SEPTEMBER

Montgomery Wine and Music Fest

Discover Texas wines and enjoy live music from wineries and musicians across the state in the annual Montgomery Wine and Music Fest!

Shootout Hunger

Montgomery County Food Bank’s annual sporting clays tournament, Shootout Hunger, raises critical funds for our neighbors in need.

Texas Renaissance Festival

Take a trip back in time to the days of knights, damsels, and wizardry at the Texas Renaissance Festival that takes place over eight weekends from September through mid-November.

OCTOBER

Lobsterfest

Golf, grub, and good times! Get your steak and lobster fix at the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce’s signature event at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center. Visit with friends, family, and co-workers while you bid on silent auction items, and tip your hat in the live auction. Compete in a golf tournament the next day at one of our members’ outstanding courses.

Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival

Delicious fried catfish and Cajun food, tons of live music, and arts and crafts vendors make up the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival, held in the second weekend of October in historic downtown Conroe. A professional carnival, street performers, a car show, and fireworks on Friday night round out the entertainment options at the festival.

Texian Heritage Festival

The Texian Heritage Festival is a celebration of the state’s early years. History comes to life with booming cannons, dramatic Texas Independence battle reenactments, a Texian army tent encampment, and actors wearing period clothing. This festival typically occurs on the third weekend of October at the Fernland Historical Park in Montgomery.

NOVEMBER

Turkey Trot 5K

Held in Carl Barton Jr Park in Conroe. Participants are encouraged to register early for lower fees and shirts.

Texas 10 Series

Conroe 10 Miler offers participants a nice run through north Montgomery County, starting and finish at Lone Star College-Conroe Center. The five-mile, two-loop course sets up for some fast times and challenges runners to push themselves while running for a personal best or finishing their first 10- or 5-mile race. All 10-mile, 5-mile and 5K finishers receive an event shirt and custom finishers medal. The race for the ARMADILLO and TEN GALLON Cups sets the stage for a showdown in the last three races after Conroe.

Stock The Sleigh

Montgomery County Food Bank’s annual holiday food drive and ornament fundraiser, Stock The Sleigh, helps to provide holiday meals and HOPE to those in need across the county.

DECEMBER

Christmas in Montgomery

Visit Historic Montgomery for the annual Holiday Marketplace, Christmas Parade, annual Cookie Walk, annual Candlelight Home Tour and Breakfast with Santa.

Conroe Christmas Celebration

The annual celebration features the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Kiwanis Christmas Parade, two real snow hills, face painting, petting zoo and pony rides, train rides, live nativity scene, camel rides and more.

Hail & Farewell - Elected Officials Reception

Mix and mingle with your elected officials at the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce’s Elected Officials Reception. This afternoon event is held to appreciate current and outgoing representatives, as well as welcoming those who are new to serving our community.

Willis Christmas Festival & Parade

First Saturday - The parade is free and open to anyone who would like to participate and goes down Texas 75 in Willis. Awards are also given out to the top floats/participants in the parade.

Lake Conroe Christmas Boat Parade

A magical night of decorated boats, lights, music, families, and businesses coming together to brighten the sky and our hearts while bringing joy and laughter to our amazing Lake Conroe community! Your donations and collaborations make this event possible, and all proceeds go to a charity cause related to children in Montgomery County.

Year-Round Events

You can catch year-round events with the Conroe Farmer’s Market, Sounds of Texas Music Series, City of Conroe First Thursday Free Concerts and Lone Star 1st Saturdays in Montgomery.

Additionally, the Chamber hosts monthly Morning Mingle and Fun After Five networking events, Professional Workforce Development events, Young Professional Network events, and more.

the community

“mr downtown”

Leads the Way for Conroe’s Historic

Center

By Jean Murphy

Rodney Pool, the “Godfather of Downtown Conroe,” was recently honored with the 2022 Downtowner of the Year Award from Texas Downtown, a statewide organization dedicated to downtown development and revitalization.

Rodney and his wife, Joyce, moved to Conroe in 1981. While he was working for Mitchell Energy, the two opened Conroe Florist. At the time, the once-vibrant downtown Conroe was largely boarded up.

“We felt that we had to get involved in local organizations like the Conroe Chamber and Friends of Conroe in order to market our flower shop,” Pool recalled.

“Before long we began thinking about how we could revitalize the area because there was no nightlife and most of the area was dry.”

Pool and his friends encouraged the city to renovate the downtown infrastructure and then formed the Main Street Merchants Association to lobby voters to allow alcohol sales in the entire city.

Soon thereafter, the city hired a downtown director and earned the “Main Street City” designation, while the Merchants Association began planning downtown events.

Meanwhile, the Pools purchased and refurbished a downtown building, transforming it into the Texas Arts Venue where local artists’ work is sold and music is performed.

Then, once alcohol was permitted, they purchased another downtown building and opened Conroe’s first pub/music club – The Corner Pub.

The Pub’s success opened the floodgates for a slew of similar venues to open including the Red Brick Tavern, 202 Main, Pacific Yardhouse, Fass Brewery, The Ferm, B/E Winery, Dragon Bowl C, MOCO Food Hall and many retail businesses.

It certainly didn’t hurt that, during this time, the city’s population increased from 17,000 in 1981 to almost 100,000 today. Indeed, Conroe recently ranked sixth on the list of America’s “Top Boomtowns” for economic and population growth by SmartAsset magazine. It also ranked highest in five-year housing growth, with Montgomery County ranking in the top 30 for both its annual GDP and business growth rates.

“In recent years, Conroe has become a real destination for people living in Austin and beyond,” Pool said. “We also have new investors with plans to bring more industry, restaurants, retail and residential to Conroe – one of the fastest growing cities in the country,” he added.

the community

cultural

attractions

The beautiful vaudeville-era Crighton Theatre in downtown Conroe was originally built in 1934 and restored in 1978. It is now home to cultural organizations that present everything from musical and symphony performances to stage plays, along with other special events.

The Owen Theatre, Conroe’s newest theater, is an intimate soft-seat venue that hosts live performances. Originally built in the 1940s, this building was renovated and opened in 2008 with a thrust stage, state-of-the-art lighting, and sound system. The building is owned by the City of Conroe and dedicated to the arts in Conroe.

The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County, housed in a 1924 historic home, features exhibits on the county’s development as a major oil and lumber center. It also contains original drawings of the Lone Star Flag and Texas seal, which were designed here in Montgomery County.

The Lone Star Monument & Historical Flag Park, located next to the Montgomery County Central Library, is a celebration of Texas history and a tribute to the common soldiers who fought as Texas won her independence during the Texas Revolution.

The Veterans Memorial Park, previously located in downtown Conroe, has been moved and enhanced and sits next to the Lone Star Monument & Historical Flag Park. This new memorial park is the home of tribute and recognition of the sacrifice of U.S. Veterans and their families, dependents, and children of the Veterans who served and are now serving this country. The future Memorial Museum will contain a series of galleries where Veterans, the general public, educators, families, and students can gather to learn about the experiences, tragedies, and triumphs of the men and women serving or having served with the U.S. Military.

The N.H. Davis Pioneer Complex & Museum, housed in the 1851 Davis Cottage, features period vignettes with furnishings and accessories dating from 1840 to 1890, as well as information on the history and culture of Montgomery. The museum also houses a replica of the original sketch of the Lone Star Flag and Republic of Texas Seal, which were adopted as the state flag and seal in 1839 and were drawn by native son, Dr. Charles Bellinger Stewart.

SHSU’s

college of

osteopathic medicine

trains doctors for rural and
underserved areas of East Texas

By Jerry LaMartina

University expanding its footprint

in Montgomery County

Sam Houston State University’s $65 million College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) was completed in February 2020. Its first class started in August 2020 and will graduate in May 2024.

The college is housed in a 108,000-square-foot facility in a five-story, 216,000-square-foot building at 925 City Central Ave. in Grand Central Park on 7.3 acres donated by Johnson Development Corp. This is the university’s eighth college and one of three osteopathic colleges in Texas.

COM has about 320 students and expects enrollment to increase to nearly 500 in the next year and 630 in the 2024-2025 school year. The college focuses on primary care, community-based medicine and access to care for underserved populations in East Texas, said Dr. Thomas Mohr, the college’s dean. To date, the college has affiliation agreements with 74 hospitals and medical groups at 80 sites to help train its students in their third and fourth years of medical school. COM also is starting its first residency program in Huntsville in the summer of 2023, and several other programs are in development.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions to change their teaching methods by adding hybrid online training to traditional in-person teaching, Mohr said. Hybrid medical education “may continue for years down the line.”

Mohr’s top priority as dean is obtaining full accreditation from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation when its first class graduates. Other priorities include helping its first graduating class with the interview and matching process for placement into residency programs after graduation and expanding its graduate training programs.

Mohr said some people are “wondering why we need another medical school” since there are “several outstanding schools in Houston.” But COM’s community-based model takes a different approach, including third- and fourth-year clinical training in underserved community-based sites and rural areas.

“If you do your training there, you’re prepared to work in those areas after school,” he said. “That’s where we want people to go and that’s where the need is.”

That kind of need also motivated SHSU’s College of Health Sciences’ decision to move its Master of Science programs in athletic training and dietetics to the Conroe campus from the Huntsville campus, said Dr. Emily Roper, the college’s dean. Plans are underway to build a roughly $70 million, 85,000-square-foot building adjacent to COM to house the programs. Groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2024 and completion estimated for late 2025.

The College of Health Sciences is also proposing two new programs at the Conroe campus, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant. The college’s Human Sciences and Public Health departments and most of its Kinesiology department will remain on the Huntsville campus. Its School of Nursing is at The Woodlands Center.

The College of Health Sciences has clinical partnerships in Conroe and the surrounding community. It recently conducted a needs assessment for another physical therapy program in Texas. Data pointed to a strong demand for physical therapy in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area, with Montgomery County showing a high need for physical therapists.

The college’s new facility in Conroe prioritizes student success and well-being, Roper said. It will include fitness facilities for students, faculty and staff; healthy food options; library services; mental health services; disability testing; and space for study groups, all designed to support and serve students.

Having the two colleges share a campus in Conroe better enables collaboration for interprofessional education and research, Roper said. Students in athletic training, dietetics, public health and nursing also work closely with osteopathic students.

the community

recreational opportunities

SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY IN CONROE

The City of Conroe Parks and Recreation Department has something for everybody. Residents can enjoy sports, performances, children’s activities, and plenty of open space.

Conroe’s recreation options go above and beyond— not only does the City offer a full aquatic center with an educational and competition pool to match that of any municipality, it also has a water park. The Conroe Water Park is currently in its fourth year of operation and attracts visitors from throughout the region for fun in the sun.

“I’m blessed to have a very talented team who have a heart for serving the community,” said Mike Riggens, Conroe’s Director of Parks and Recreation. “The department’s vision is to bring people together to change lives. You can see the vision coming to life in the work staff do every day in the parks, with programs, and special events.”

The City is constructing a new 87,000 square-foot multigenerational center off Foster Drive to compensate for the maxed-out Oscar Johnson Jr. Community Center. The City also acquired the 110-acre former Conroe YMCA property (renamed as Owen Park) on Loop 336, and will soon introduce a new hiking and bike trail at Flournoy Park. This project, to be completed in phases, is expected to open in late 2023.

“We recently began youth sports programming due to a lack of affordable options in the community,” Riggens said.

Organized sports for kids include Conroe United© Soccer, which boasts a participation of 800 in the most recent season, flag football, and a new basketball program at the Westside Recreation Center (former Conroe YMCA). The town even has indoor and outdoor space for new sports like pickleball.

Not only can visitors enjoy the parks, the Parks and Recreation Department also hosts several events throughout the year.

“The department’s largest special event is Kidz Fest, which happens the last Saturday in April and takes place in downtown Conroe,” said Riggens. “The great thing is that it’s free to enter and free parking – the only cost is food if you want to buy from a vendor.”

The Fest attracts 10,000 people and features different themed “Villages” such as Arts Village for arts and crafts and visual and performing arts, Safety Village with hands-on activities organized by the Police and Fire Departments, and Sports Village with hands-on sporting activities for the kids. There are various other villages and guests enjoy jugglers, unicyclists and other performers who wander the event.

For more information, visit www.cityofconroe.org/departments/parks-recreation.

the community

discover golf

In Conroe

PRIVATE COURSES

April Sound

3 courses

White Back 9 Course

18 holes

71 par | 6,207 yards |

69.5 rating | Bermuda grass built in 1976

Inland Red Course

9 holes

32 par | 2,311 yards

Bermuda grass | built in 1976

White Front 9 Course

9 holes

71 par | 6,207 yards

built in 2016

1000 April Sound Blvd 
Montgomery, TX 77356-5890
P: (936) 588-1101 
F: (936) 588-1229 
www.april-sound.com

Bentwater

3 courses

Weiskopf Course

18 holes

72 par | 6,992 yards

built in 1989

Miller Course

18 holes

72 par | 6,809 yards

built in 1993

Grand Pines Course

18 holes

72 par | 7,100 yards

built in 2005

800 Bentwater Dr 
Montgomery, TX 77356-8256
P: (936) 597-6219 
F: (281) 306-4444 
www.bentwater.com

River Plantation

18 holes

70 par
built in 1968
550 Country Club D
Conroe, Texas 77302,
Montgomery County
(936) 271-1083
built in 1969
riverplantationgolfclub.com

Walden

18 holes regulation length course

Private golf course

72 par | 6,765 yards | 143 slope

73.1 rating | Other grass

built in 1976

13101 Walden Rd 
Montgomery, TX 77356-5385
United States
P: (936) 448-4668 
www.waldengolf.com

Woodforest

3 courses

Front Course

9 holes regulation length course

36 par | 3,417 yards

Bermuda grass | built in 2001

Back Course

9 holes regulation length course

36 par | 3,551 yards

built in 2001

West Course

9 holes regulation length course

35 par | 3,402 yards

built in 2002

1199 Fish Creek Thoroughfare

Montgomery, TX 77316-6944

United States

P: (936) 588-8800

F: (936) 588-8802

www.woodforestgolf.com

PUBLIC COURSES

The Golf Club at Margaritaville

18 holes

71 par | 6,900 yards

built in 2008

600 Margaritaville Parkway 
Montgomery, TX 77356
United States
P: (936) 448-4400 
F: (936) 582-4410 
margaritavilleresortlake
conroetexas.com/golf_club/ 

Panorama Golf Club

9 HOLE courses

Winged Foot, Thunderbird, Rolling Hills built in 1962

73 Greenbriar Drive
Conroe, TX 77304
(936) 856-5531
panoramagctx.com

West Fork

18 holes

72 par | 6908 yards | 135 slope

73.1 rating | built in 2004

One Golf Ridge Drive
Conroe,TX 77304
936.441.6193
www.westforkgolf.com

Montgomery County boasts a lot of picturesque, award winning champion golf courses, and some of the best places are right in the Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe area. Recreational, beginner, or seasoned pro-these courses offer challenges for every level of golfer. Courses and availability vary but with the temperate climate golfing is truly a year-round sport! Welcome to Golf Country! Call to make your reserved tee time in advance since most of the courses are booked quickly.

the community

Family-owned Welding Company Creates

community connections

By Dave Hoffman

Conroe Welding has been a consistent presence in town since Roy Morton founded it 1975, and the business has grown with the city. Since that time Morton has grown it to more than 60 employees in three locations. His family has also grown during that time - his wife of 65 years, three children, seven grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren. He’s been able to include three generations of family including his son, son-in-law, and two of his grandsons as employees in the company.

“I have always liked welding. I’ve been doing it since I was 19 years old,” Morton said. “I like it because you help people do a better job, and teach them processes and how to do things they don’t normally have to do.”

In a way, the connections made through welding are an analogy for the connections he has forged through the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce. Morton is a member of three different chambers as well as the Lions Club.

“Anyone who doesn’t get involved with the Chamber is missing the best opportunity of their life,” Morton said. “The Chamber of Commerce is where business gets done. Everybody in there becomes a friend. It’s just a very active bunch of people and everybody helps everybody else. It’s like a big family.”

Morton sees the Chamber as instrumental in helping the region attract industry and grow. “The Chamber is what makes the wheels of the city turn. We can get the city and county

to do things, and even influence the state,” he said. “One year we even went to Washington DC. There are a bunch of things you get involved with that you wouldn’t if you weren’t in the Chamber.”

In addition to having roads built, the Chamber was instrumental in building a 2,800-acre industrial park. “The Chamber helped buy the land and get it going,” Morton said. “A lot of guys in the Chamber were involved in the deal. We got the people together to finance and buy the land. We put in the roads and the streets. We also helped get the airport here. The Chamber has been involved in all of that.”

Morton was Chamber chairman in 2010 and has been included in the Wall of Honor for his leadership. Other members of his family have also been involved in helping lead the Chamber, including sons Ricky and Ryan.

“It’s a pretty good honor to get your picture up on that wall,” Morton said. “I don’t know what I did to get on there, I was just involved with everything I could.”

With more development and more industry and manufacturing coming to town, so increased the need for all the welding materials and processes Conroe Welding provides. The company has grown to serve over 3,000 accounts in the area, including hospitals, construction companies, rig welders, fabricators, manufacturers and more.

“When I first started coming to Conroe in 1959, there was a little two-lane highway, old Highway 75. Now it’s Interstate 45 with eight lanes going north all the way to Huntsville,” Morton said.

And his company has grown to match. “Early on, we worked 18-hour days, but once we got it started, it kept on rolling. Now I don’t need to work as much because I have people in place,” Morton said. “It’s a fun, blessed job. I don’t think I’d change anything in my work career, just work hard and do what’s right. That’s what we try to do and for the people we sell to; they’ll take care of you if you take care of them.”

the community

education

In Montgomery County

School District Statistics

CONROE ISD

Student Enrollment 71,000

Elementary Schools 32

K-6 Schools 5

Intermediate Schools 10

Junior High Schools 7

9th Grade Campuses 3

High Schools 7

Alternative Schools 3

Academies 3

MONTGOMERY ISD

Student Enrollment 9,396

Elementary Schools 6

Junior High Schools 2

High Schools 2

WILLIS ISD

Student Enrollment 8,577

Elementary Schools 6

Junior High Schools 2

High School 1

Alternative High School 1

Independent School Districts

The Conroe/Lake Conroe area is served by three quality school districts; Conroe Independent School District, Montgomery Independent School District and Willis Independent School District. These districts offer quality, well-rounded curriculum that provide opportunities for students to gain the academic skills essential for success in today’s competitive environment. All three school districts field competitive athletic programs that frequently win district and state championships.

the community

HIGHER EDUCATION

Lone Star College (LSC)-Montgomery

Located on 165 acres of pine forest between The Woodlands and Conroe, LSC-Montgomery was established as a comprehensive college to serve the residents of Montgomery County. LSC-Montgomery is many things to many people. For some, it is the first step toward a degree – associate, bachelor’s or master’s. For others, it offers career programs and certificates that lead to real jobs – in two years or less. Still others enjoy leisure learning opportunities, individual classes, artistic programs, library access, community events and more. To learn more about the college, visit LoneStar.edu/Montgomery or call 936.273.7000.

Lone Star College (LSC)-Conroe

LLone Star College-Montgomery’s satellite campus, the Conroe Center, is located in north Conroe on FM 3083. The center is a comprehensive educational campus that provides a mix of academic transfer courses and corporate and workforce training programs. The center also offers a program for those interested in English for Speakers of Other Languages training and General Education Development test preparation. To learn more about the Conroe Center, visit LoneStar.edu/ConroeCenter or call 936.521.4500.

Lone Star College (LSC)-The Woodlands

Lone Star College-University Center at The Woodlands is just steps away from Lone Star College-Montgomery. It is a partnership with seven universities allowing students to complete their undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs with face-to-face classes taught by instructors. Partner colleges include Ferris State University, Lamar University, National American University, Our Lady of the Lake University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University and University of St. Thomas. To learn more about LSC-University Center, visit LoneStar.edu/UC-TheWoodlands or call 936.273.7510.

Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State University is a four-year university located in Huntsville. Established in 1879, SHSU has a rich history of serving students and community members through flexible course offerings in relevant, in-demand fields. The university offers a variety of bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, graduate certificate, and professional certification degree programs.

SHSU provides exceptional educational opportunities in a variety of formats, including in-person and online options. With more than 190 degree and certificate program offerings, SHSU’s flexible learning models make it easy for all students to explore interests and gain valuable skills to address current workforce needs.

University of St. Thomas USTMAX Center

When leaders at Houston’s University of St. Thomas decided to open a micro-campus in Conroe, they wanted a name that reflected their new and innovative approach to reaching prospective students.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, often referred to as the patron saint of innovation, came to mind. The name was both befitting for the Catholic university’s identity and plans for the future.

And so, with a bit of abbreviation and combination, Conroe’s newest academic space was named USTMAX Center and opened in October 2020. UST, of course, are the initials for the University of St. Thomas. And Max pays homage to the saint who has inspired their innovative plan to expand outreach and deliver opportunities to Conroe-area students.

The USTMAX Center, located at 336 N. Main St. in Conroe, helps to enroll area students in the University’s online programs that include a wide variety of options, including associate degrees in technology and cybersecurity, certificate programs and graduate degrees in education, business, theology and more.

Plans are underway to expand in-person learning to include an undergraduate degree program in Montgomery County.

Between the online curricula and local in-person opportunities, the USTMAX Center is bringing opportunities to students who might not otherwise have access. To learn more about the USTMAX Center, visit www.ustmax.com.

telephone

REFERENCES

Area Information

Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber

(936) 756-6644

Scott Harper, President

505 W. Davis, Conroe 77301

Conroe Economic Development Council

(936) 538-7118

Danielle Scheiner,

Executive Director

300 West Davis

Conroe, Texas 77301

Conroe Convention & Visitors Bureau

(936) 522-3500

Shannon Overby, Director

300 West Davis

Conroe, TX 77301

Lone Star Convention Center

(936) 528-8000

Terri Strozier, Director

9055 Airport Road,

Conroe 77303

AIRPORT

Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport

(936) 788-8311

10260 Carl Pickering Memorial, Conroe 77303

Animals

Animal Control

(936) 522-3211

Animal Adoption Center - Conroe

(936) 522-3550

Montgomery County Animal Shelter

(936) 442-7738

Better Business Bureau

(713) 868-9500

Government – City

City of Conroe

(936) 522-3000

City of Cut and Shoot

(936) 264-3100

City of Montgomery

(936) 597-6434

City of Oak Ridge North

(281) 292-4648

City of Panorama Village

(936) 856-2821

City of Shenandoah

(281) 298-5522

City of Willis

(936) 856-4611

Government – County

Appraisal District

(936) 756-3354

County Court at Law 1

(936) 539-7831

County Court at Law 2

(936) 539-7832

County Court at Law 3

(936) 539-7973

County Court at Law 4

(936) 538-8174

County Court at Law 5

(936) 538-3615

County Courthouse

(936) 756-0571

Tax Assessor/Collector

(936) 539-7897

Oak Ridge North Municipal Court

(281) 292-8736

Government – State and Federal

Internal Revenue Service

(800) 829-1040

Social Security Administration

(866) 614-0032

Texas Governor- Greg Abbott

(512) 463-2000

Texas Lieutenant Governor – Dan Patrick

(512) 463-0001 

Attorney General of Texas – Ken Paxton

(512) 463-2100

State Representative Will Metcalf

District 16

936-727-1289

State Representative Cecil Bell

District 3

(281) 259-3700

State Senator Robert Nichols

Senate District 3

(903) 589-3003

State Senator

Brandon Creighton

Senate District 4

(512) 463-0104

U.S. Representative Morgan Luttrell

Congressional District 8

(202) 225-4901

U.S. Senator John Cornyn

(202) 224-2934

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz

(202) 224-5922

Montgomery County Memorial Library System

(936) 539-7814

Motor Vehicles

Drivers License Office - Conroe

(936) 442-2810

Vehicle Registration

(936) 539-7896

Parks and Recreation Department

City of Conroe

(936) 522-3842

Post Offices

Conroe

(936) 756-1278

(936) 264-1411

(281) 701-6863

Cut and Shoot

(713) 350-6055

Montgomery

(936) 597-8099

(936) 597-4222

Willis

(936) 856-4981

Public Safety

Emergency

911

Constable, Precinct 1

(936) 856-6329

Constable, Precinct 2

(936) 539-7854

Constable, Precinct 3

(936) 539-7813

Constable, Precinct 4

(281) 577-8985

Constable, Precinct 5

(281) 259-6493

Fire Administration – Conroe

(936) 522-3080

Fire Administration – Montgomery

(936) 597-4455

Fire Administration – Willis

(936) 856-5111

Homeland Security and Emergency Management

(936) 523-3900

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

(936) 760-5800

Poison Control

(800) 222-1222

Police Department – Conroe

(936) 522-3200

Police Department –
Cut and Shoot

(936) 264-2173

Police Department – Montgomery

(936) 597-6866

Police Department –

Panorama Village

(936) 856-7777

Police Department – Shenandoah

(281) 367-8952

Police Department – Willis

(936) 856-4039

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Conroe Connection

(713) 635-4000

Texas Department of Public Safety (Conroe)

(936) 442-2810

Schools

Conroe Independent

School District

(936) 709-7752

Montgomery Independent School District

(936) 597-3096

Willis Independent School District

(936) 856-1200

Lone Star College –

Conroe Center

(936) 521-4500

Lone Star College – Montgomery

(936) 273-7000

The University of St. Thomas – Conroe

(936) 207-2926

Sam Houston State University (Huntsville)

(936) 294-1111

Sam Houston State University – College of Osteopathic Medicine

(936) 202-5202

Utilities

Cable

Consolidated Communications

(866) 989-2255

Suddenlink

(888) 822-5151

Electricity

Entergy Texas

(800) ENTERGY

Mid-South Synergy

(888) 525-6677

Sam Houston Electric Cooperative

(800) 458-0381

Gas

CenterPoint Energy

(281) 561-6005

Telephone

Consolidated Communications

(866) 989-2255

Water, Sewer and Garbage

City of Conroe Utility Billing

(936) 522-3170

Hays Utilities Services

(936) 588-1166

Voter Registration & Election Services

(936) 539-7843