Most men I know aren’t looking for applause. They’ve got families to care for, work to do, and burdens they rarely speak aloud. That’s the part we often miss. Not because we’re too proud to ask for help, but because somewhere along the way, we started believing we were supposed to carry it all alone. … Read more
Memories are instant flashes where all our senses converge, transporting us back to another moment in our past. The smell of an ingredient while cooking. The color of a stranger’s hair. The perfect summer coastal breeze in the evening. A song is playing overhead while shopping at HEB. Each of these brief things invokes an … Read more
Kevin Klaerner’s roots in law enforcement run deep. His great-great-uncle John Klaerner, great-grandfather Alfred Klaerner, and grandfather Hugo Klaerner each served as Sheriffs of Gillespie County. “Continuing that family tradition is something I take great pride in,” he said. “It drives me every day to uphold the values they lived by.” Now a Kendall County … Read more
When I was young, I liked to take things apart to see how they worked. Unfortunately, they didn’t work as well when I put them back together. Nowadays, I tend to suppress my urge to dismantle unless there is a problem. Which still gives me frequent opportunities to see how things work, since nothing is … Read more
“Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again…” – Proverbs 24:16 In 2009, Boerne High School reopened its doors, and with it, the heartbeat of a small-town tradition came back to life. We had closed the school for a calendar year while it was remodeled. And with that return came the need for a … Read more
In the heart of Kendall County, Texas, where the Hill Country’s rugged beauty meets the warmth of community, a simple coffee shop stands as a testament to faith’s transformative power. Barker and Wortman Coffee is more than a place for a morning brew; it’s a sanctuary where an eight-foot cross looms on the wall, a … 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
Ernst Kapp and the Enduring Legacy of a Texas Hill Country Visionary Nestled deep within the picturesque embrace of the Texas Hill Country, the small community of Sisterdale often conjures images of rolling hills, meandering rivers, and a tranquil escape from the bustling world. Yet, beneath its serene surface lies a rich tapestry of history, … Read more