San Angelo Rodeo

Group's patriotism builds

The Operation Finally Home household is nearly complete but lacks a few items. Donations of these items would be appreciated by the Home Builders Association of San Angelo:

Kitchen undermount sink

Faucets for sink and bathroom sinks

Shut-offs for kitchen and bathroom sinks

Refrigerator

King-size mattress

Microwave (built-in over cooktop)

20 gallons of paint

Sprinkler system

Landscaping labor and materials

Concrete for driveway and sidewalk

The Home Builders Association of San Angelo hosted Terry Johnson, founder and president of Show of Support, at its monthly membership luncheon Tuesday. Besides reaching out to its members to become a part of Show of Support's "Hunt for Heroes" program, which provides a hunting excursion for wounded veterans, the local HBA is on the verge of completing its first home for Operation Finally Home, a program that puts a wounded veteran in a custom-built, mortgage-free home.

"We haven't done anything in the past with (Hunt for Heroes) but we look forward to doing something with them," said Adrian Balderas, president of the HBA of San Angelo. "This is sort of our first year doing something with wounded heroes, but we are looking forward in really growing our efforts for that sort of stuff in the future."

The past seven years, wounded veterans from around the country have been treated to an expenses-paid hunting trip in West Texas, including clothing and rifles.

Johnson, who started the Midland-based program in 2004, told the crowd of about 100 HBA members of the program's benefits.

The program stemmed from his gratitude toward wounded veterans, he said, but bloomed into something more.

"I've been a hunter my whole life and I see the good hunting does for folks. Men who take their son on that first hunt and those who get that first deer — seeing all the good that comes out of it. I wanted to bring that feeling as my gratitude," Johnson said.

"I did it for selfish reasons at first. It was my way to say thanks, but then I saw the guys were getting something more out of it," he said. "That was a very powerful thing. I hadn't intended for that consequence, but it became a great consequence."

Since making the announcement to wounded Lance Cpl. Sam Marley at a San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo performance in February that he was the recipient of a new home provided by Operation Finally Home, the HBA has raised enough money, supplies and labor to build the home. The keys are slated to be given to the Marley family at a ceremony outside the house at 5934 Sheffield Drive on Sept. 11.

Cam-Fu's Blog: San Angelo Rodeo and Stock Show

Compared to other carnivals and festivals I have been to, this one was one of the worst. But, I really wasn't expecting much because we're in San Angelo. The rides were all really lame looking. A couple ferris wheels, some kiddie coasters, and a Ring of Fire. That was about it. I chose not to go on anything. It made me wonder if the Angeloans have ever been to a "real" carnival, or do they think this is the best there is? For that matter, have any of them been on a true roller coaster? Since they were all wearing their cowboy gear (no joke... cowboy hat, spurs and everything), my guess was no. Cam is a 27-year-old American male of Chinese, English, and Scottish descent who lives in Kent, Washington. He has also lived in Maryland, California, Texas, and Germany. He works at Microsoft. He loves talking about movies. He is an avid photographer. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He writes all his profiles in the third person. All things that make him totally unqualified to have a blog.

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