Bill Spradlin

How I’m Involved:
o   Supporting Sponsor of the American Cancer Society and MD Association
o   Member Texarkana Board Of Realtors
o   Texas Firefighters Association
My Family: Married to Tracy; Son, Payton; Daughters, Ashley, Megan and Amanda.
Who Inspires You Most: I guess the answer to this question would be Professional Firefighters everywhere.  Firefighters are amongst the lowest paid public servants, yet, they have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Firefighters do not do the job for which they are called upon for the money. It is in their blood to do everything they possibly can to protect property and save lives. In fact, most firefighters are required to work 2 jobs in order to support their families and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. The true meaning of dedication and devotion to duty lies deep within the heart of a firefighter.
What Do You Want Your Legacy To Be: I guess my life would be absolutely complete if I knew that I were remembered by my friends and family as a man of simple values: hard work,  loyalty and a man who learned to never say “NO” to his wife!

Blake Carlow

How I’m Involved:
o   Member of First Baptist Church of New Boston
o   Volunteer for Hurricane Disasters of Katrina, Rita and Ike
o   Volunteer at New Boston Middle School
o   Member of Bowie County Farm Bureau Board for the past 15 years
My Family: Married to Melinda; Daughter, Malori; Son, Mason.
Who Inspires You Most: My Dad, Judge James Carlow. He is my inspiration because of his honesty and integrity, work ethics and because he is business minded.
Favorite Quote: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”-Theodore Roosevelt
What Do You Want Your Legacy To Be: I want everyone to remember me as being a fair and honest business man, and I want my family to know how much I love them.

Bob Bruggeman

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at First Baptist Church, Usher and Greeter
o   Vice President Texas Association of Sports Officials (High School Baseball Umpire 31
o   Member – Kiwanis Club of Texarkana
o   United Way Campaign Volunteer
o   Texarkana, Texas, City Council Member Ward 4 / Mayor Pro Tem.
o   Board Member- Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Facilities
My Family: Married to Jackie; Daughters, Elizabeth and Olivia.
My Interests: I enjoy playing golf and working in the yard. I love looking at new cars.
Interesting Fact About Me: I have had 6 career holes-in-one playing golf.

Brent Carmony

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at Williams Memorial Methodist Church
o   Coach all youth sports
o   Support numerous charities- Make a Wish, Special Olympics, American Heart Association,  Children’s Hospital, Breast Cancer Awareness and more.
My Family: Married to Christine; Daughters, Britton and Brianna; Sons, Brent II and Brett.
Interesting Fact About Me: When I was 10 years old, I use to sell Tyler Roses on the street corner of Irving, Texas.
Favorite Quote: “Quitters never win, winners never quit.”- Unknown
What Do You Want Your Legacy To Be: I want my legacy to be that I cared about all of my patients and was the best husband and father that I could be.

Brian Purtle

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at Saint James Episcopal Church
o   Member of The Brotherhood of Saint Andrew, a men’s group in the church responsible for
     outreach, including feeding the homeless at the Randy Sam’s Homeless Shelter monthly.
o   Member of Texarkana Noon Lions Club
My Family: Married to Michelle; Son, Blake; Daughter, Caroline.
My Interests: Hunting, gardening and sports- especially Texas A&M sports!
Who Inspires You Most: My children inspire me because they tackle life with great enthusiasm. Even though they may occasionally ask for advice, they try to make their own way. They never fail to surprise me. They make me laugh and challenge me every day - they’re teenagers.  You hope when they are young, they are learning all the right lessons. What makes me happy now that they are becoming young adults is that all your hard work, sacrifices and love is paying off.

Chet Nichols

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at First Baptist Church Moores Lane
o   Volunteer with local veterans and their disability claims and other related benefits
o   Member of local TEA Party and Run www. www.politlicalintegritynow.com
o   Volunteered for an NBC documentary by the National Campaign to Prevent
     Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
My Family: Married to Natalie; Sons, Mack, Zach and Benjamin; Daughter Etta.
Favorite Quote: “There are always two sides to a story, and somewhere in the middle lies the truth.”- former neighbor of Chet
What Do You Want Your Legacy To Be: When the curtain is drawn, and God calls me home, I want to be remembered by what I want to be put on my gravestone “Here lies a loving father, husband, brother, son, friend and servant of God”  That is what I want as my legacy, everything else is short term and irrelevant.

Donald Benning

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at County Avenue Baptist Church
My Family: Married to Stacey; Daughters, Leslie and Ashley; Sons, Thomas and Isaac; Grandson, Braiden.
Interesting Fact About Me: I am the youngest of identical twins. We are called mirror twins because my twin, Ronald, is right handed whereas I am left handed. We switched classes in junior high school on many occasions, but only one teacher ever caught on. She knew when we had switched because she was the only one who noticed that one of us was right handed while the other was left handed. She never told the other teachers how she knew the difference. People always ask what it is like to be a twin. We answer that we don’t know because we have never known anything else.
Who Inspires You Most: My parents inspire me the most. They raised five unruly sons and did an excellent job. We were never rich in money but we were always rich in love. All the money in the world cannot buy a happy family.

Doug Sloan

How I’m Involved:
o   Owner, Texarkana Wingstop Restaurants
o   Member and Treasurer, Pleasant Grove Band Boosters
o   Involved with Partners in Education with TISD
o   Member of Knights of Columbus
My Family: Married to Lisa; Son, Drew; Daughter, Lauren.
My Interests: I love woodworking, collecting Coca Cola and Mickey Mouse, H.O. Gauge trains and taking vacations and spending quality time with my family.
Interesting Story About Me: I met my wife through a mutual friend as a blind date. I really did not want to meet her because I knew nothing about her. I actually turned around three times before I finally made it to her house! We have been married now for 22 years.
Favorite Quote: “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.”
         -Walt Disney

Doug Warren

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at First Baptist Church New Boston, TX
My Family: Married to Camille; Daughter, Ashley; Sons, Jordan and Ryan; Grandsons, Dylan and Daylen.
What Brought Me to Texarkana: A beautiful hometown girl and her son from New Boston, TX.
Interesting Story About Me: For the past eleven years, I have worked with wounded soldiers on outdoor projects all across the country, projects designed to help take them from the horrors of war back into the realm of day to day living here at home with their families and friends. Outdoor programs on the woods and water from Alaska to Maryland have proven to be an outstanding physical therapy aid to our wounded service members. The restored self confidence on the face of a recent paraplegic after netting a salmon in the wilds of Alaska goes unmatched. These outdoor “therapy challenges” work by bringing out and honing a new drive and adaptation that will be necessary for their new lives ahead.
Favorite Quote:  “Don’t mistake kindness for weakness.” - Albert Collins

Dustin Robnett

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at Cowboy Church
o   Member of Southwest Arkansas High School Rodeo Association
o   Member of Hooks Band Boosters
o   Volunteer with Cub Scouts Pack 547
My Family: Daughter, Taylor; Son, Austin;and Daughter, Bristol.
Interesting Fact About Me: I was very involved in dirt track racing from 1994 until 2007.
During that time, I won seven track championships. I am currently a radio talk show co-host
on 740 AM’s ESPN Up-To-Speed.
Who Inspires You Most: My children inspire me. I want to be someone they look up to and make them proud to say, “That’s my dad.”
What Do You Want Your Legacy To Be: I would like to leave a legacy of hard work, love of family and respect.

Dustin Stringer

How I’m Involved:
o   Attend regularly at Hardy Memorial Methodist Church
o   Volunteer Coach, tee-ball and soccer
My Family: Married to Wendy; Son, Peyton.
My Interests: Going to the gym, anything outdoors but my real love is competitive fishing!
Interesting Fact About Me: After a hunting accident that left me impaled, hanging in a tree by my arm, I was able to walk half a mile out of the woods and drive myself to the hospital. This has also led me to church and to the gym.
Favorite Quote: “God bless me with an ability to read numbers and cursed me with a tongue!”-Dustin
What do you want your legacy to be: I want my son to look back and say that I was the best father he could ask for.

Jeff Phillips

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at First Baptist Church, Moores Lane
o   Texarkana Rotary club
o   Red River Plantation Hunting Club member
o   Race for the Cure participant
My Family: Married to Kelli.
My Interests: I love playing poker with my Monday night guy crew, fishing on the red river, hunting on my deer lease, working out, fantasy football, golfing, date nights with my wife and traveling the world.
Interesting Fact About Me: I can juggle!
Who Inspires You Most: My mother, Carol. She has always been a huge support in my life, and I will be forever grateful. She was my rock at a tough time in my life. best f

Jeff Pritchett

How I’m Involved:
o    Member of Trinity Baptist Church
o    President of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 502, 8 yrs
o    Participated in various fundraisers for MDA
o    Donate to Temple Memorial Rehabilitation Center, Easter Seals and Shriners
My Family: Married to Billie; Daughters, Morgan, Regan and Sydnee
Interesting Fact About Me: I have a daughter in Brazil. She is not my biological daughter, but my daughter none the less. Maria was an exchange student in mid school year and was going to be sent away. Once we talked to her, we fell in love with Maria! She spent the rest of the school year with us, and even went on a cruise with the whole family just before she went back to Brazil in late June of this year. The day she left she told me I was her father and I told her she was my daughter and always would be. She asked me to give her away at her wedding and I cried like a child. It is amazing how someone can touch your life in such a short period of time.
What Do You Want Your Legacy To Be: That people see all the good in me through my children as they grow into young women who give of themselves to their husbands, children and everyone in their lives. When I die, I pray that people to whom I’ve never given a dime say that I was a giving man.

Jeff Tanner

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at St. James Episcopal Church
o   Member of the Texarkana, Arkansas Fire Department for 16 years
o   Non-Profit Organization Volunteer
My Family: Married to Jennifer.
Interesting Fact About Me: I have also been awarded Firefighter of the Year twice.  The second award, and the one I am most proud of, was for resuscitating an elderly gentleman using CPR who is still alive today.
Who Inspires You Most: I am inspired the most by Steve and Sue Johnson of Texarkana, Arkansas. I am inspired by Steve for his fire investigation knowledge.  He has probably forgotten more about the craft then I will ever know.  I am inspired by Sue for her personality.  She is probably the most considerate and kind hearted person I know.
Favorite Quote: “You have achieved success if you have lived well, laughed often and loved much”. – unknown

Justin Ingram

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at First Baptist Church, Texarkana, TX
o   RA’s Volunteer
My Family: Married to Stephanie; Sons, Reid and Cade.
My Interests: There is nothing better than loading up the family and taking the boat to the lake for the day to ski and wakeboard.  I also enjoy playing golf and hunting with my two boys.  I love to watch football any time I can.  Hook ‘em, Horns!
Interesting Fact About Me: I am terrified of horses- too big and too smart for me to be around!
Who Inspires You Most: My wife is my inspiration.  She is my rock.  She is such a beautiful person, inside and out. She always has a kind word and a smile for everyone even when she doesn’t feel up to it.  Whenever I feel stressed out she knows just what to say to make me feel better.  She makes me a better person just by being with her. b 

Mark Brine

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at First Baptist Church, Texarkana
o   Member of the Elks Club
o   Member of Northridge Country Club
o   Member of NADA and TADA
My Family: Married to Karen; Daughter, Jenna; Son, Joshua.
Interesting Fact About Me: I won the Texarkana city golf championship and the Northridge club championship in the summer of 1978, and Bill Rogers presented me with the club championship trophy. That was cool- I was 17 at the time.
What do you want your legacy to be: That I was a good husband, father, son and friend, that I always tried to do the right thing when it counted.

Philip Poteete

How I’m Involved:
o   Youth Pastor, Christian Fellowship Church
My Family: Married to Michelle; Daughter, Lyndsey.
My Interests: I love hunting, basketball, playing pool, jet skiing and canoeing rapids.
Interesting Story About Me: I seriously thought I was being “punked” about the nomination for this contest. I could not imagine anyone would nominate me for this!
Who Inspires You Most: My pastor, Ben Aguirre. He has so much wisdom, and he is a man of integrity and character.
What do you want your legacy to be: That I lived my life with passion and purpose for the glory of God and inspired young men and women of God to rise up and take their place in the Body of Christ.4

Scott Hines

How I’m Involved:
o   Board Member, Webmaster and Coach of Pleasant Grove Youth Association
o   Dixie Baseball Assistant Coach
o   Boy Scouts of America, Troop 16, Assistant Scoutmaster
o   Volunteer in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary as Webmaster and Vessel Safety Examiner
My Family: Married to Melody; Daughters, Brooke and Abby Gayle; Son, Garrett.
Interesting Fact About Me: In 1993, while working at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL, I was selected to be the first Department of Defense civilian to participate in the entire 17 week Quartermaster Officer Basic Course in Ft. Lee, Virginia. The class of 60 U.S. Army Second Lieutenants voted me to receive the Spirit Award for my efforts during the course.
Favorite Quote: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”-Colossians 3:23

Tim Montgomery

How I’m Involved:
o   Pastor of Heritage Baptist Church
o   Vice President of Laces of Grace, providing shoes to less fortunate children before school       starts back up again
My Family: Married to Cynthia; Son, Joshua; Daughter, Sarah.
Interesting Fact About Me: I have been to a depth of 160’ while diving in the southern Philippines!  My next diving adventure is to see the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Oriskany, sunk off the coast of Florida.
Who Inspires You Most: Grant Harrison is a 16 year old young man in our church who has been confined to a wheelchair all of his life and has survived a battle with cancer recently.  He has a great attitude and will no doubt be unbelievably successful in life.  He is a true champion in every sense of the word!

Trent Hanna

How I’m Involved:
o   Member at Highland Park Baptist Church
o   Technical Theatre Teacher at Texas High School
o   Vice-chair of the Arkansas Historic District Commission
My Family: Married to Bethany; Sons, Benjamin and William.
Interesting Fact About Me: My wife and I bought the abandoned Mullins Court Apartments in 2006 and spent 3 years restoring them.  It was a daunting task, but with hands-on help from the community and our family, we have created homes for 12 families and helped turn the neighborhood around.  I kept telling my wife, “Only 12 more kitchens in line ahead of ours…”
Who Inspires You Most: Dave Ramsey for financial advice and Tom Silva from “This Old House” for carpentry expertise.
Favorite Quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead