For Officer Jacob De Anda, law enforcement was never a backup plan. It was something he feltcalled to from an early age, shaped by growing up in Boerne and seeing firsthand the trustbetween the community and its officers.“My family has been in the Hill Country for over 30 years,” De Anda said. “Growing up here,the … Read more
If you spend enough time around Kendall County, you start to notice something. The things we’re proud of didn’t happen by accident. They didn’t just show up one day fully formed. The schools, the churches, the businesses on Main Street, the land that’s been cared for and passed down, even that quiet sense that this … Read more
In the Hill Country town of Comfort, where the cypress trees lean over the Guadalupe River and thelimestone hills glow gold in the lateday sun, history is never far from view. It lingers in the old stonebuildings, in the German street names, and in the quiet dignity of the Treue der Union Monument.Among the names … Read more
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