Wanda Redding

I found Wanda Redding to be an extremely interesting person; warm with a very expressive countenance in her dealings with customers and other people.

She was born and grew up in Vidor, Texas, a portion of our East Texas area. She with her parents moved to Port O’Connor in 1969 when they worked with her uncle at the Mobil Station, located where the Fishing Center is now. Finishing her education at Calhoun High School in Port Lavaca, she then went to work for several businesses here in Port O’Connor. Among those was being active as a business clerk at Jeco’s Drive Inn; formerly located East of the intersection of Byers and the Highway.

Marrying another local, Virgil Redding, Wanda definitely became a “Native” of Port O’Connor as her family has since established themselves here. She began working for Teddy Hawes in his business 25 years ago; now becoming the manager of the Hardware Store. And her involvement with the Board of Directors of the MUD (now Improvement Board) began many years ago when she started keeping the minutes and the books for the District.

Wanda was appointed to the Board to fill out the term of a previous relocating member; she has stood for election in 2010 as well as 2014; her current office is as Secretary, continuing to keep the minutes of the Board’s meetings.

When asked what she hopes would happen in her next term of office: she replied that an anticipated upgrade of water lines would be completed.

Marshall Bradford

Marshall Bradford is a very interesting character; one that you really enjoy meeting.  One can see the construction background in this man; which generally carries the strong desire to succeed and also to “do things right”.

Born in Roby, Texas, a cotton farming town that gained notoriety when its residents won the lottery in 1996, he moved at an early age with his parents to the El Paso area where he finished his schooling.  Then, next on his schedule, was a tour of duty with the Marine Corps in Viet Nam, where he was stationed for 28 months.

Returning home, Marshall spent a number of years working with the Santa Fe Railroad, and finally retiring as a supervisor of operations, that made him responsible for over 700 customers and to always keep them happy.  But after retirement from the train industry, Marshall could not be inactive, and so moved to the Lake LBJ area and started his construction company.  He built many new homes throughout that area and other portions of the Hill Country.  When the sales of new homes plummeted, he turned to remodeling and there are now many homes in that area that have profited from his experience and skills.

A sportsman at heart, he has spent a great deal of time on the slopes and skiing as well as much travel throughout the United States while flying; for which he currently holds a license as a private pilot.  A life member of the VFW, Marshall has also committed himself to the goals of the Lions Club.

But one factor of his life concerned fishing and therefore he spent time when he could in our area, just fishing.  And here, he found another project, the development of Coastal Oaks, which he and other friends founded.  Here Marshall’s construction background stood him in good stead as he was responsible for the implanting of sewers and streets, curbs and water lines.  And then he found himself a full-time resident of Port O’Connor in 2001.

Asked what he would be concerned with if elected a Member to the Board: giving property owners who live elsewhere the right to vote for members of the Board; otherwise, this is Taxation Without Representation, a factor our forefathers rebelled against.

John “Red” Childers

John Childers, nicknamed “Red” because of his Irish coloring, has been a member of the Board for 29 years. And, during our interview, he spoke with pride of the improvements the Board has made for the residents of Port O’Connor.

Born in Pilot Point, Texas, John and his parents moved to the Houston area for completion of his schooling. He graduated from Bellaire High School in 1957, and then married his lovely wife, Nancy, following his graduation.

Becoming a businessman, he participated in a towing and recovery venture for various types of automotive vehicles. He also was a member of the pit crew for six years with the racing team of A.J. Foyt, giving him the opportunity to work with not just cars but motorcycles too as primed for the racing track. Selling his business in the 1980’s, he and Nancy moved to Port O’Connor, building their home and becoming permanent residents in 1985.

However, John decided that being retired could mean sitting on the front deck, an activity that didn’t set well with him, and he therefore started working as one of the major fishing guides in our area from 1985 to 2005, when he really retired.

With the desire to help his new community, he became active with others including Preston Stofer to reactivate the Board of Directors for the MUD 29 years ago. Their aim was to provide good water and sewers for the residents of Port O’Connor; an aim they have fulfilled.

Asked what he considered his greatest accomplishment during the terms of office while serving on the Board, he replied that it was reactivating and reforming the Board to improve those necessary matters for our residents. And his response to the question of what he would like to do in his next term of office would be to find another source of the necessary water for our growing community.

John and Nancy are the proud owners of a 28’ Airstream trailer in which they have traveled in many areas throughout the United States. And they are looking forward to Mardi Gras of 2015 and a return to New Orleans for that occasion and the opportunity to renew friendships with many other Airstream owners.

Leon Brown

Leon Brown was born in Amarillo, Texas, but as an Air Force “Brat” attended schools in many areas of the United States. He and his wife Kathryn, a former school teacher in Houston, moved to Port O’Connor permanently in 2007, living in their home on property that had been in her family since 1924.

Leon has spent many years in the corporate world, primarily in managing roles in financial and business aspects. Dealing with others has never been a problem as he has also been in the supervisory capacity of approximately 100 employees. Additionally, Leon has been responsible for credit and collections programs as well as contract negotiations along with mergers and acquisitions, which makes him completely at home in various types of financial undertakings.

Another side of Leon is shown by his service in the Army as well as a graduate of the Harris County Sheriff’s Academy; thereby bringing to the forefront his role and interests in law enforcement and community involvement.

Since moving to POC, he has been deeply involved in the Neighborhood Watch Program for our community following many home burglaries. This program was to make the community at large aware of each individual’s responsibility to combat these crimes. He is the founder and organizer of POC’s Night Out Crime, as sponsored by the Neighborhood Watch Program and co-sponsored by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office.

When asked what would you do if elected to the Board: his number one goal would to be active in reducing rates and taxes for our water and sewer. Additionally to be responsible for direct communication to the residents of POC. As the Board is actually a public servant and is dedicated to the community at large, any change of any kind must be communicated immediately and directly to the residents; i.e., shutting off of water for several hours, and often the necessity to boil it to be free of contamination. He strongly believes that the rate payers of the POC Improvement District are not just customers and consumers but neighbors as well.