The Heart of Bexar County

More documents

Recommendations

Info

IV T H E H I D A L G O F O U N D A T I O N by Tracy Wolff On May 8, 2001, Nelson was appointed by the Commissioners Court to become County Judge after Judge Cyndi Krier stepped down and accepted an appointment to the University of Texas-Board of Regents. He was ready to take on the task of restoring the courthouse. Nelson first sat down with Betty Bueche, who had created the courthouse restoration plan. After going over the information in the plan he quickly realized that it would take several years to complete. He would have to commit and run successfully for re-election several times if he were to finish the restoration. He asked me to raise money from the private sector to help pay for some of the restoration. I commented that I would consider creating a foundation to help with the restoration, but reminded him that my main focus has always been children issues. And so that evening, the Hidalgo Foundation of Bexar County and its three main goals were born: restoration, children’s issues, and education. I had a long history of supporting children. I had served on the Workforce Commission and chaired the committee on childcare. When Nelson was mayor, I started the first Library Telethon on KENS5 TV to benefit the Library Foundation. Over the years the telethon has raised thousands of dollars for the library. I also helped raise over $5 million for the construction of the new downtown library. I co-founded “Smart Start” and raised millions of dollars for upgrading childcare centers and providing additional training for childcare workers. “Smart Start” is now a fund in the San Antonio Area Foundation. Nelson informed me that the courthouse had a children’s court handling child abuse and neglect cases, but their space was terribly inadequate. The judges felt the current courtroom could not meet the needs of our most vulnerable children. Although it was not in the master plan, he suggested that I make it the centerpiece. q Above: Tracy Wolff speaking at the Hidalgo Foundation Gala on Oct 09, 2014. . C h a p t e r 1 V F 2 3
2 4 F T H E H E A R T O F B E X A R C O U N T Y In Nelson’s opening remarks to the Court on May 8, 2001, he said he studied the master plan and met with Betty and Andres Andujar with 3- D International. He also mentioned that I would create a foundation and raise private money for the restoration of the courthouse with the County matching 2-1. I like those odds. Nelson was not afraid to support the most controversial parts of the plan; the dismantling of the 1963 and 1972 additions to the courthouse and the restoration of the original two-story courtroom. I agreed with him. At the time, neither one of us realized how controversial it would be and how long it would take to accomplish it. Today we know, it took over 17 years. Meanwhile I began moving forward with the necessary paperwork to create the Hidalgo Foundation. I named the foundation after the noble title given by the King of Spain to the Canary Islanders who came to San Antonio in 1731. The Commissioners Court have also adopted the Hidalgo Certificate as its highest recognition of a citizen for their contribution to our county. The Hidalgo Foundation’s first task was to raise funds for the restoration of the courthouse exterior.
Page 1 and 2: THE HEART OF BEXAR COUNTY RESTORATI
Page 3 and 4: First Edition Copyright © 2020 HPN
Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS FOREWORD .................
Page 7 and 8: q Architectural drawing of the Cour
Page 9 and 10: I E V O L U T I O N O F C I T Y H A
Page 11 and 12: q Above: Bottom, right: The Masonic
Page 13 and 14: q Architect’s Drawing of the Bexa
Page 15 and 16: II R E S T O R A T I O N O F C I T
Page 17 and 18: q San Antonio City Council Chamber.
Page 19 and 20: III T H E D E C L I N E O F T H E C
Page 21 and 22: 2 0 F T H E H E A R T O F B E X A R
Page 23: Both designs were ill conceived, mi
Page 27 and 28: 2 6 F T H E H E A R T O F B E X A R
Page 29 and 30: q Bexar County Courthouse. submitte
Page 31 and 32: VI T H E C H I L D R E N ’ S C O
Page 33 and 34: q Above: Children’s court Judge R
Page 35 and 36: VII T H E F I R S T R E S T O R E D
Page 37 and 38: q Before and after restoration of t
Page 39 and 40: In 1996 Father David Garcia, belove
Page 41 and 42: IX L A D Y J U S T I C E by Tracy W
Page 43 and 44: q Top, left: The Lady Justice fount
Page 45 and 46: q Right: Lady Justice during the un
Page 47 and 48: q Above and below: Construction of
Page 49 and 50: With that picture of the original c
Page 51 and 52: q Above: June 17, 2018, King Felipe
Page 53 and 54: q Above: Removal of the Gondeck add
Page 55 and 56: q Bexar County Courthouse after the
Page 57 and 58: XII T H E B E X A R C O U N T Y A R
Page 59 and 60: q Above: Texas A&M-San Antonio Arch
Page 61 and 62: XIII T H E B E X A R H E R I T A G
Page 63 and 64: q Exhibits from the Bexar County He
Page 65 and 66: q Right: Northside view of the Bexa
Page 67 and 68: ABOUT THE AUTHORS C O U N T Y N E L
Page 69 and 70: APPENDIX A A R C H I T E C T S & C
Page 71 and 72: APPENDIX C A R C H I T E C T S & C
Page 73 and 74: APPENDIX D B E X A R C O U N T Y O
Page 75 and 76:
7 4 F T H E H E A R T O F B E X A R
Page 77 and 78:
JTM CONSULTING, LLC Drawing on a lo
Page 79 and 80:
G BRACEWELL, LLP From top to bottom
Page 81 and 82:
NICHOLAS & BARRERA, P.C. For nearly
Page 83 and 84:
DAVIS, CEDILLO & MENDOZA, INC. G To
Page 85 and 86:
LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON,
Page 87 and 88:
LAW OFFICES OF SERNA & SERNA Growin
Page 89 and 90:
G ESCAMILLA & PONECK, LLP Above: Pa
Page 91 and 92:
WATTS GUERRA, LLP G Left: Mikal C.
Page 93 and 94:
GUNN, LEE & CAVE, P.C. G Left: Ted
Page 95 and 96:
THOMAS J. HENRY LAW Thomas J. Henry
Page 97:
$34.95 978-1-944891-70-1 Ë|xHSLJOE
show all

The Heart of Bexar County

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?