The Story of Christian Dietert Christian Dietert (1827–1902) — Hill Country Miller, Builder & Pioneer Have you ever wondered who laid the foundation for our busy Hill Country towns? The name Christian Dietert might not be on every street sign in Kendall County, but his story is a vital piece of our shared German-Texas heritage—a … Read more
Living in Lakeway, Texas, in 2020, my family (Kristen, Izzy, and Samuel) was living in a master-planned suburb northwest of Austin where uniformity prevailed, and genuine community engagement was often limited to individual church groups. We enjoyed weekends out at Lake Travis from time to time, and the schools were known to be really … Read more
When you sit with Jerry McKenna, time slows down in the best way. The man has lived enough for three lifetimes, and he talks about each one with a steadiness that comes from earned peace. His voice is gentle, his memory sharp, and his stories roll out one after another with the calm of someone … Read more
It’s a conversation we all have with ourselves, whether we admit it or not. When the calendar turns, and January rolls around, the subject of resolutions drifts into the air. Some say they don’t believe in them. Others laugh them off. But if we’re honest, most of us strike a private deal with ourselves – … Read more
Every January, something interesting happens. People start talking about resolutions. Gyms get crowded. Grocery carts fill with greens. Planners fly off the shelves. Everyone seems to be searching for a fresh start. There is nothing wrong with that. A resolution shows hope. It tells the world that a person wants to be better. But over … Read more
Published in 2011, the late John Eddie Vogt’s book, Witches, Bitches, and Other Small Town Folks, brings to life the quirky, unforgettable, and entertaining tales of growing up and living in Kendall County from the 1930s through the 1960s. Thanks to the gracious permission of his family, The Kendall Gentleman is honored to share excerpts … Read more
New Year’s resolutions can fill us with hope for achieving our goals. Have you ever found yourself only making it through part of January before losing confidence in your ability to reach them? What if your goal was something simple, achievable, and whiskey-related? Here are some whiskey-related resolutions that have helped me year after year. … Read more
This was going to be a unique trip in a few ways. Instead of our standard four-day float, we will only be camping one night and fishing two half days. How? Why? Good questions. Through some river relationships we have developed, we got an offer to camp on some premier private land. This stretch, about … Read more
For Firefighter Mark Cross, service was not a career decision as much as it was a way of life shaped from childhood. He grew up in Kennedale, a small town on the southern edge of the DFW metroplex, where his parents’ example formed his earliest understanding of what it meant to help others. His father … Read more