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Fire Department The heroics of Seguin Fire Lt. Harrison Broadhurst, Fire Apparatus Operator Shannon Billings, and Firefighters Bryan Zuberbueler, Brett Starr and Cody Boehm when they pulled Seguin Police Sgt. Bradlee Flippin to safety after he was shot in the line of duty earned them the Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year Award. Story by Felicia Frazar Photos by Felicia Frazar & the City of Seguin

he five-man crew manning Seguin Fire Department’s Station 3 on Sunday, Oct. 10 are credited with going above and beyond the call of duty when they drove into a “hot zone,” scooped up an injured Seguin police officer out of the street and got him to safety.

12 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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It’s their heroics that morning that earned Seguin Fire Lt. Harrison Broadhurst, Fire Apparatus Operator Shannon Billings, and Firefighters Bryan Zuberbueler, Brett Starr and Cody Boehm this year’s Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year Award from the Seguin Gazette. The crew was called to the 600 block of Rosemary Street, along with the Seguin Police Department, for a shooting. A woman and a child were reportedly shot by a male subject in a domestic dispute. Seguin Police Sgt. Bradlee Flippin immediately began to investigate as he arrived at the home and was subsequently shot twice by the suspect. The shooting happened as Officer Brittany Cimental noticed a man in the shadows and, when Flippin and three other officers approached him, the man fired his shotgun striking the sergeant several times in the body armor, hands, arms, neck and head, Seguin Police Chief Terry Nichols said. The first shotgun blasts damaged Flippin’s handgun as he and other officers returned fire, Nichols said, adding that while Flippin looked down at the weapon to try to get it to work again, the gunman’s second shot hit the sergeant in the top of the head. Had Flippin not been looking down, the shots could have hit his face and caused more devastating injuries, Nichols said. The sergeant was able to make it to the street where he radioed for help, Nichols said. The five firefighters, who were waiting nearby for the all clear, heard Flippin’s call for help come across the radio and didn’t hesitate to act, Nichols said. “When they heard Brad come on and say he had been shot and where he was, they didn’t wait to be told to go down there,” he said. “They knew the scene was not secure and they rolled down there anyway. They stopped right in the middle of what we call a ‘hot zone’ not knowing where the gunman was and jumped out of the truck, grabbed Brad and literally ran him back to the ambulance, got him in there and got out of the area.” 14 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

As per fire department protocol, firefighters called to an active situation are waiting nearby, but a safe distance away. In this instance, under the guidance of Broadhurst, the team of five moved in, Nichols said. “It goes against their traditional training and protocols, but they knew that somebody needed help and they went and helped,” he said. “They heard it

on the radio, they heard how bad it was. They could probably hear the gunfire from where they were. When Brad is on the radio saying ‘I’ve been shot in the head. I’ve been shot in the arms and I’m out here in the middle of the street,’ you could see the headlights coming. They didn’t hesitate a second. They were in a situation of get him and get out.” As soon as they got to the

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officer, they got him out of the street with Cimental right on their heals, Nichols said. “She got there the same time as the professional medics,” he said. “She immediately let them do what they do and she reverted back to what she does, which is her law enforcement role. I think we missed that piece at times because Brad suffered two gunshot wounds, he’s in a lot of pain, he’s in the middle of the street and we still don’t know where the bad guy is.” The woman and child were retrieved from the home and taken to Guadalupe Regional Medical Center for treatment. Police eventually found and arrested the man suspected of shooting Flippin, the woman and child. Seguin Fire Chief Dale Skinner, who later watched the body cam video of the shooting, said the video was hard to watch and hear the actions that led up to the shooting. But he was also proud of how his crew reacted in the heat of the moment. “Once Brad made it out to the street and then you see our guys come in, and the actions they took, it went from Oh. My. God! to Oh My God,” he said. “As a fire chief, one of the greatest benefits of my job is getting to watch our firefighters actually perform the job they were trained to do.” Broadhurst joined the Seguin Fire Department in 2011 as a firefighter and rose through the ranks to his most recent promotion to lieutenant. “On that night, Harrison in particular, acted like a seasoned company officer,” Skinner said. “That to me was one of the prouder moments for me, to see that.” During his tenure with the department, Broadhurst has shown he isn’t shy about taking on something new, Skinner said. “When there is any special assignments, he is always one of the first people to volunteer for it, no matter what the job is,” he said. “He is dedicated to the fire service.” Billing, who was driving the engine that night, is a life-long Seguin resident, who joined the department in 2006. 16 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Skinner said he is not only dedicated to the fire service, but to the community. “Most of our public education events, Shannon is in the middle of,” Skinner said. “He served as our public education officer, he has represented the department with the Badges, Bikes and Tykes. Of course there is the work he does with Bras for a Cause. He is truly a servant of the community of Seguin.” Billings has served as firefighter, fire investigator and currently is a fire apparatus operator. In 2013, the Seguin Fire Department hired Zuberbueler straight out of the academy, Skinner said. A few years later, he enlisted with the military and was deployed overseas. “He was exposed to and witnessed a lot of things,” Skinner said. “I think what that did was gave him a lot more self confidence in his skills as a paramedic. His training in the military was very evident in his response that night. What I saw was a very focused and determined individual when I saw the body cam footage.” Starr, who joined the department in 2020, jumped out of the of ambulance to assist Broadhurst and Zuberbueler. “I didn’t really get to see a lot of him in the video, but Bret was right in the middle of it all,” Skinner said. “He

jumped out of the ambulance, and assisted Bryan and Harrison with getting Brad to the ambulance. He worked with them as a team to treat Brad and ensure that he was taken care of.” Boehm, who was hired in 2018, drove the ambulance into the scene and out just as quickly as the crew loaded up the wounded officer, Skinner said. “He is a great paramedic,” he said. “On this day, he was the one driving the ambulance. I think it is great that he willingly drove into the hot zone and drove them out safely. He is one of those guys that comes up with ideas as to how to improve our service delivery to our citizens.” Each firefighter played a role in helping to protect and save Flippin that night, Skinner said. “Once I discovered the actions our responders took, it filled my heart with pride to hear what they did,” he said. “The Bible verse, Psalms 23, ‘There is no greater love than to lay one’s life down for your friends,’ and that is what they did. These guys did what we are charged with doing, that is to risk your life for others.” It’s their actions on this morning and every day that have earned them the Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year Award.

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vision award

Maria Lozano Coming to Seguin from Mexico years ago, Maria Lozano knew in her heart that she needed to help others and to make a difference in the community. Decades of inspiring volunteerism across many areas of the community have earned Lozano honors this year as a Seguin Gazette VISION Award recipient.

Story by dalondo moultrie Photos by Felicia Frazar, submitted by Maria Lozano

early 30 years working in Seguin ISD wasn’t enough for Maria Lozano.

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 21

After retirement, the Mexico native and longtime Seguin resident felt she still could do more. So, since her retirement from Rodriguez Elementary School, Lozano has continued giving to the community and the youth within it. “She’s always involved with kids. She’s mentored about 10-15 young ladies with Seguin Youth Services,” said Gilbert Lozano, Maria’s husband who nominated her for the Seguin Gazette’s Citizen of the Year and VISION Awards. “She’s been on the board of United Way a number of years and she’s on the Habitat for Humanity committee, also.” Maria is among the select few who were named a VISION Award recipient for her dedicated service to the community. When told that she had been chosen to be recognized for her commitment to Seguin, Maria said she was floored. “I”m in shock,” she said. “I’m excited, but I also know that it’s so many people today that give back to our community. For me being from Mexico, I just want to be an example. “It doesn’t matter what you are. What God plans for you, that’s what you’re going to be.” What matters is helping out your fellow man, Maria said. She strives to make a difference in the community and set positive examples for all watching. It appears to be paying dividends, she said. Many people recognize her after her years of helping them or them seeing her help others, Maria said. Some young folks she’s helped in the past now have children that she currently helps in various ways, she said. Her spirit of giving spreads, Maria said. “Now, some of those families are doing the same things because they saw me,” she said. “They’re doing it. That’s my reward.” Maria moved to Seguin from Mexico about 45 years ago. She brought 22 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

“No matter what’s going on in Maria’s life, she continues to help people.”

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with her a can-do spirit and a learned willingness to help others. Her need to share what she has goes back generations, Gilbert said. “She comes from a family of givers. Her dad was that way,” he said. “Her dad was always helping people in her home town. She took it from her dad.” Besides mentoring young ladies as a part of Seguin Youth Services, Gilbert said that Maria received a Humanitarian of the Year award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which also recognized her for her leadership and service. His wife organized Thanksgiving and Christmas food donation and distribution efforts at their church, Hillcrest Assembly of God, he said. She helps support a food bank in Mexico and has served as a talent judge for an annual mariachi competition at Texas Lutheran University, Gilbert said. No matter what’s going on in Maria’s life, she continues to help people, he said. “She’s always out helping people. She always has been,” said Maria’s spouse of 48 years. “I’ve always been very proud of her. She’s always been helping people out.” Throughout all of her years of doing what she does, Maria never expected any recognition. She didn’t realize Gilbert noticed. So when she learned he nominated her for the VISION Award, she was astounded. Of all the thanks she’s received over the years, she took time out to thank Gilbert and then offer more of her own assistance to those in need. “I would say thank him because I don’t have to tell him what I do because he sees what I do; he sees it,” Maria said. “(The people) know they can come to me. I’m in shock because I thought he never noticed the things that I do.” Gilbert isn’t the only one who has noticed and that’s why Maria is a 2022 VISION Award recipient. 24 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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vision award

Karen Wallock

Karen Wallock has spent a lifetime volunteering and giving back to her community through various organizations including the Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center, Meals on Wheels and the Seguin Christian Cupboard. It’s her dedication to the community through these outlets and more that have earned her recognition as a Seguin Gazette VISION Award winner. Story & Photos by Felicia Frazar

olunteering and giving back to the community is something that was ingrained into Karen Wallock as a child. From a young age, she was taught the value of a dollar, as well as giving back.

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 27

“We never talked about it, we just did things,” she said. “It was all by example.” It started with her and her siblings delivering freshly made cookies to their neighbors and a quick trip to the dime store. “Dad would take us to the old Duke and Ayers Dime Store and he would give us roles of quarters, dimes or nickels, and he would tell us to buy as much stuff as we could,” Wallock said. “We would buy up all of this stuff, we would get back into the car — and sometimes we would have a Santa Claus riding with us, and sometimes it was just us — and we would go to lower income neighborhoods and kids would just be out in the streets and we would give them whatever we bought. We did that for years.” The Kiel family — Karen, her parents, brothers and sister — also adopted a family during the holidays to ensure they had a good Christmas with food, clothing and toys, Wallock said. “I think we were a blessing to the families, but we were definitely blessed by that,” she said. Those lessons Wallock carried with her into high school, college and life, as she has spent much of her time volunteering for the community and her church, giving back where she could. Something all of her family is known for. “That was just a natural part, doing community service was bred into us,” she said. “Dad was among the first group to receive the Chamber’s Community Service Award, now three of us have as well — my brothers Ken, Jeep and myself. My sister lives in Washington and she does this amazing thing every Christmas. It is just in there. It is ingrained. The three of us here in Seguin all do something different, but it is all outside of ourselves.” Karen tends to gravitate toward groups and organizations that help the most vulnerable — women, children and seniors. After graduating from Seguin High School in 1967, Wallock earned her bachelor’s degree in education and taught English at Saegert. She left shortly after to raise her children. During that time, she served as the pres28 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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that would hand out gently used purses filled with necessities to members of the homeless community. “We were having Purse Bingo the following week, and said let me see if we can get word out and have people bring their gently used purses to Purse Bingo,” she said. “Then I called my church ladies and said, ‘if we do this, will you help me get the fillings and distribute them?’ Everybody said yes. By that night we had 129 purses and so that just keeps coming.” The purses were given to the Guadalupe County Family Violence Shelter, the Seguin Christian Cupboard, the Salvation Army and the Women’s Pregnancy Center to hand out to their clients. Karen also volunteers at the Seguin Christian Cupboard, and is a member of the nonprofit’s building committee. Additionally, Karen is a member of the Seguin ISD Bond Oversight Committee, member of the Delphian Study Club, Retired Teachers Association and three book clubs. She’s a charter member of Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, where she served on the first church council and chaired various committees. She also has served as the president of the Guadalupe County Christian Counseling Center. Her volunteerism also saw her work on various committees at Faith Lutheran Church. She was the Vacation Bible School director, Women of the Church president, and served on the church council. Karen also is part owner of KWED, which was founded by her father, Garfield Kiel. While she dabbles a lot on various projects, she said she plans it in a way that keeps her free to still enjoy her family. She has three children — Lisa Jubela, Sara Elley and Josh Baker — and nine grandchildren, all of whom follow in her footsteps. “It is beautiful to see my kids do the same,” she said. In her spare time, Karen also enjoys reading, going to the gym and playing Mahjong with friends. She is a member of the Sterling Silver Dancers, which was started by the late Irma Lewis and 30 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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vision award

Velma Holm

Years of driving a van for a living led to retiree Velma Holm volunteering and driving a 15-passenger van over the last 11 years for the Guadalupe County Veterans Services, shuttling veterans to medical appointments. For her tireless aid to area vets, Holm was chosen as a 2022 Seguin Gazette VISION Award winner. Story by dalondo moultrie Photos by Felicia Frazar & dalondo moultrie

little over a decade ago, Velma Holm began volunteer work that was sort of an extension of what she did for a living before retiring a few years prior.

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 33

She never thought doing what she found herself good at and what she enjoyed would lead to being recognized as a 2022 Seguin Gazette VISION Award winner. “I’m very surprised for one thing and I don’t want to say proud because that doesn’t sound good,” she said. “I just feel fortunate that I am able to do something for somebody else and I enjoy that a lot.” Holm moved to Seguin more than 40 years ago with her husband. Previously, she lived in Illinois where she was born and raised and where her husband worked at Motorola before the plant closed, Holm said. The couple visited friends in this area and he received a lucrative job offer that prompted the move to the Lone Star State, Seguin in particular. They haven’t looked back since, she said. “It was really the best move we’ve ever made,” Holm said. “Even though all of our family is in Illinois, we have a church family at Grace Lutheran. Our sons were involved in church there and youth group. It just made us feel welcome we were here. “Financially and all the way around, it was a very positive thing to do.” It’s been a positive thing for veterans in Guadalupe County. After working for years driving a van for USAA Insurance, Holm retired and then, a few years later, started driving a van again. Now she drives as a volunteer for the Veterans Service Office at the Guadalupe County Justice Center. She shuttles around veterans, making sure they get to their medical appointments on time in San Antonio and other places around the area. “Just the idea that I can help people get to where they’re going and making sure they’re safe getting there means a lot to me,” Holm said. “I’ve made a lot of friends. I enjoy the companionship and I enjoy what they talk about. 34 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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“It’s very special to me.” Holm’s 11 or so years of service driving veterans is why Joyce Engelhardt nominated her for the VISION Award. Holm has been a consummate professional yet she doesn’t get the recognition she may deserve, Engelhardt said. Along with that, the program helping the vets doesn’t receive the attention maybe it should, Engelhardt said. “A lot of people don’t know, veterans don’t know this service is available,” she said. “She’s very patient with these old guys. Sometimes they can be a pain but she takes care of them with great love and appreciation. “She’s just kind of an unsung hero.” Holm has taken Engelhardt’s 90-year-old husband to appointments, helped him get COVID-19 vaccination shots and more. The volunteer’s prowess behind the wheel is evident to Engelhardt’s husband, as is Holm’s skills navigating, Engelhardt said. “She loves traffic, my husband says. She can drive in San Antonio,” Engelhardt said. “We’ve had her drive us to the airport and different places. She just knows what she’s doing. She’s not afraid of getting out there.” Currently, Holm said she enjoys the volunteer work and has no plans to quit. In fact, she hopes she never has to stop. Her altruism goes even further. Not only does she want to keep driving the vets, but she wants even more to climb aboard. “I just want everybody to know the veterans have a way to get to San Antonio,” Holm said. “I’m not sure some of them know that or not. It’s a volunteer service. All they have to do is call the Justice Center and get connected with Nancy Russell. “They’ll set it up so they’ll have a ride wherever they need to go.” 36 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

“Just the idea that I can help people get to where they’re going and making sure they’re safe getting there means a lot to me,”

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EVENT C A L E N D A R -FebruaryThird Thursday - love your local businesses: seventeenth – 4 - 8 PM C

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