Happy New Year and thank you for your past and continued support of the Seadrift Chamber of Commerce. The past year was filled with many promotions and activities supporting our community and businesses, and 2012 looks to be an even more exciting year for Seadrift.

● Seadrift was featured in Texas Highway Magazine.

● Full page ads featuring a map to your business ran in the Calhoun & Crossroads Tourism Guides.

● The Texas 200 Sailboat race concluded in Seadrift and will return in 2012.

● The Texas Water Safari will celebrate its 50th race in 2012.

● 2011 Shrimpfest was a great success and 2012 will feature a headliner act and hopefully as many vendors, participants and attendees as last year.

● Our Annual Halloween Costume Contest and Parade was a great success

● The Holiday Season was celebrated with a Jingle Bell 5-K Fun Run and Christmas Trees and decorations were provided for the enjoyment of the community at First National Bank.

● Seadrift will celebrate its Centennial Anniversary this year.

The work done by the chambers volunteer staff is truly a full time job. It is surprising how many phone calls and e-mails are fielded by the chamber each year. These inquiries are requests for information about the area and are directed to member businesses.

2012 Seadrift Chamber of Commerce Meeting Schedule:

First National Bank Community Room at 6:00 p.m.

January 19th, Election of Officers
February 16th
March 15th
April 19th
May 17th November 15th
Shrimpfest June 8th & 9th
July 19th
August 16th
September 20th
October 18th
November 15th
December 20th

Due to a flurry of activity ending last year, we were unable to fit in the election of new officers and directors and request that you please consider becoming involved. We encourage you to become an officer. Send nominations via e-mail to jason@seadriftchamber.com or bring them to the meeting on January 19, 2012. All officers and directors of the chamber serve one year terms. If you wish to get involved please nominate yourself. Any and all assistance in the Chamber is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again! Seadrift Chamber of Commerce Officers

Barton Darrell “Pat” Riley

June 27, 1925 – December 26, 2011

Pat and Sarah Riley

A Marine Corp survivor of Iwo Jima, who with his twin brother, Mike, joined up right out of San Benito High school after taking the Greyhounds football team to the district champions in 1942. When released from service he made his way to Austin to attend The University of Texas School of Architecture on the G.I. Bill. Upon graduation, he worked for several prestigious firms until he opened his own firm, Barton D. Riley, AIA and Associates on 34th street. He served on the City Planning Commision, was a consultant to The Texas Restaurant Assoc. and taught at the University of Texas College of Engineering. He designed a number of commercial and municipal buildings, but it was in residential that his talent for art was easily seen. With his contemporary style, he helped shape the unique landscape that Austin is known for.

His passion for fishing drew him to take his wife Sarah and their beloved poodle “ Twinkie” to Port O’Connor, where they bought a simple house and remodeled it into a lovely comfortable home, where they could entertain family and friends with tacos and chocolate meringue pie. He had enough work that let him go fishing at his leisure and he loved the Port O’Connor area.

His watercolors were quite remarkable. He saw beauty in birds, fish and rusted out shrimp boats. In later years they built a home in Kerrville where they spent the rest of their remaining years.

He is preceded in death by his grandfather Beech, twin brother Mike, daughters Shannon and Kerry and his wife Sarah.

He is survived by his eldest son Michael E. Riley and wife Pamela of San Antonio, granddaughter Katie Riley of Houston, his youngest son Shaughn P. Riley of Austin and nephew Patrick Reilly of Harlingen.

Diane McMinn

Diane Keffer McMinn, whose big heart and beautiful smile made such a lasting impression on everyone who knew her, returned to her Lord on Dec. 27, 2011.

Diane so enjoyed being a part time resident of Port O Connor. For many years, first in a travel trailer and then in 1998 with the help of her husband, Jack, they built their dream home. Days were spent on the porch and the swing enjoying each others company. Diane loved the days spent shopping, card games, get togethers, Sunday Beach, fishing and just driving around P.O.C.

Diane’s greatest joys were the friends she met along the way, Debbie, Hilda, Mary, Carolyn, Linnie, Nancy and Belinda. Throughout Diane’s battle with cancer, it was her time spent in P.O.C. that lifted her spirits.

A very special thanks to Debbie Busby, whose love and compassion knew no bounds. Good days or bad days, you were always there for Diane and now you truly have a guardian angel looking down upon you. Diane would not say goodbye… she would just say “See Ya”.

Services for Diane will be held, Jan. 14, 2012 at 1:00 p.m., Westbury United Methodist Church, 5200 Willowbend Boulevard, Houston, TX 77096

Daniel “Butch” Yarborough Sr., 62, of Seadrift, passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at his residence. He was born in Houston on July 21, 1949, to the late Dan Moody and Martha Jean Dierlam Yarborough.

He is survived by his wife, Rhonda of Seadrift; daughters, Christie Hicks of Port Lavaca, Amanda Hinds of Seadrift; sons, Danny “Skipper” Yarborough Jr., John Yarborough, both of Port Lavaca, and Donny Yarborough of Seadrift.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial bike ride honoring Butch was held on December 17, originating at Seadrift Custom Choppers.

Nicholas Aaron Rudd, 25, of Seadrift, passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2011, in Seadrift. He was born in Victoria on December 29, 1986, to Bryan Keith and Dixie Douglas Rudd of Seadrift. He was a welder.

He is survived by his parents; daughter, Jordyn Boucher, of Timmins, Ontario, Canada; grandmothers, Joyce Rudd of Seadrift and Clara Douglas of Cassia, FL; sisters, Deanna Butts of Killeen, and Desiray Kelly of Keiseyville, CA; brother, Bryan “B.K” Rudd Jr. of Seadrift.

Funeral service was held on January 4, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Seadrift, with Rev. Gary Wiley and Dennis Wittnebert officiating. Burial followed at Seadrift Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Caleb Douglas, Allen Douglas, Kyle Adams, Tom Butts, Donny Paul Yarborough and Greg Hunt.