From the Publisher | August & September 2022
Some of the top leading women of Central Texas take us into late summer and early autumn in our 2022 Women Who Lead issue, and we’re excited to introduce them to you. While leadership by women is not unique, sometimes recognition is a little slower. We are singling out a few women who are representative of many others in our area. We recognize a few today and salute all those whose efforts we enjoy and appreciate daily.
This issue’s leaders include Dell Ingram-Walker, vice president of operations at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Hospital; Natasha Tolleson, managing artistic director at Temple Civic Theatre; Michelle DiGaetano, owner of Temple Machine Shop; Jessica Walker, Temple city councilwoman and co-owner of Lengefeld Lumber; Brynn Myers, Temple city manager; Debbie Nash-King, mayor of Killeen; Col. Khanh Diep of III Corps at Fort Hood; and Jean Shine of Shine Team Realtors. They all dropped by the Tex Appeal offices and spoke with us about leading in their careers. Meet them starting on page 36.
Neighbor tells the story of the Temple Children’s Museum under the leadership of Dr. Robin Battershell, whom you might remember as the previous superintendent of Temple Independent School District. She talks with us about the museum and what its future will be on page 8.
CenTex Ed looks at creating productive partnerships in education between parents and educators on page 58.
Meet the Makers meets local photographer Blair Dupre and shows of her creativity in images that make her subjects’ dreams and fantasies come true on page 50.
Home looks at the ways our Texas ancestors made themselves a little more comfortable in the summer heat and discusses ways to keep your home cool in modern times on page 30.
This Girl’s Garden tackles the concept of “right plant, right place,” and the special challenges of maintaining a garden in Central Texas on page 28.
Scene explodes with multiple events during Independence Day celebrations and a look at the John Mayo Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Central Texas Youth Services starting on page 12.
Flavours samples a taste of Arepitas, one of our local favorites in Harker Heights, to see how it’s expanded and what it has to offer in delicious Venezuelan fare on page 16.
Jackie Mills, writer and lyricist of Salado Legends, shares her experience of Being Central Texan as the musical reaches 29 years on stage on page 56.
Tex Messages explores the feminine fashion of football season, past and present, with a nod to those huge Homecoming game mums on page 60.
Love her or hate her, the first woman governor of Texas, Miriam A. “Ma” Ferguson features prominently in CenTex Past on page 64.
Carey Stites continues sharing tips for coping with breast cancer and a career on page 52.
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and we speak with Baylor Scott & White specialists on the signs and symptoms of one of the deadliest cancers for women on page 54.
Day Trippin’ travels to the blissfully cool indoors of the Mayborn Museum Complex on the Baylor University campus in Waco to explore things to see and do, especially for children, on page 62.
Entrepreneur introduces two sisters in business at Summer Moon Coffee in Belton and their plans to expand to Harker Heights on page 48.
We also take a look at losing a baby and the care delivered to grieving parents via a bereavement program in Temple that does what it can to help salve the profound hurt experienced by families on page 34.
It is important to me to make sure the stories that matter to you are featured in Tex Appeal. We’ve been at it 10 years now and want to share our joy at being a part of the community this last decade as we look forward to many more in the future. Share your story tips and ideas with us by emailing our editor at editor@texappealmag.com or calling 254-774-5266.
Sue Mayborn
Tex Appeal publisher