Comfort’s Enduring Tribute to the German-Texan Unionists of 1862 In the heart of Comfort, Texas, shaded by ancient live oaks and surrounded by the quiet hum of Hill Country life, stands a monument unlike any other in the American South. Modest in size but immense in meaning, the Treue der Union Monument has watched over … Read more
For Kendall County EMS paramedic Greg Smith, emergency medicine was not the original plan. Growing up in Castroville, Smith worked as an automotive technician before the economic downturn in the late 2000s pushed him to reconsider his path. A suggestion from a high school classmate led him to try EMT school in 2010, and what … Read more
No one writes headlines about the countless ordinary decisions where someone quietly insisted on doing things the right way. There is a moment that shows up in almost every room. It happens in board meetings, classrooms, family conversations, and small-town committee gatherings. The discussion moves along normally enough until someone says something that makes the … 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
“If I can go home at the end of the day doing 51 percent more good than bad, I am doing okay.” For years, the hallways of Boerne Middle School North carried the familiar rhythm of adolescence. Students moved between classes with backpacks slung over their shoulders, laughing with friends, worrying about tests, and navigating … Read more
By: Louis Barnes Introduction: In the Spring of 2019, I found myself in Paris, France, watching as flames began to engulf one of the most renowned buildings to ever exist, the Notre Dame Cathedral. Although I had never felt any particular connection with this building, it was deeply disturbing to witness. Fires happen every day … Read more
I had my first cigar on August 3, 1998. Yes, I‘m fully aware that it’s odd that I remember the date, but it just happened to be my grandfather’s birthday. In my early twenties, I knew I wanted to get involved with cigars. I knew I wanted to explore different cigars, and then maybe, one … Read more
Thirty-five miles down from what seems more like an endless desert trail leading to your doom than a weekend away. Random washouts, massive holes, and lots of dust. If we passed another vehicle, we all silently hoped that it wasn’t federales, or worse. Rolling hills, desert valleys, a few dirt roads peeking out of the … Read more
“There but for the grace of God go I” – John Bradford This well-known phrase is often attributed to John Bradford, a 16th century English reformer, As the story goes, Bradford witnessed a group of prisoners being led to execution and humbly remarked, “There but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford,” He recognized … Read more