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Issue 48 | Fort Worth Family Stories
July/Aug 2025
Publisher Victoria Wise
Editor Lee Virden Geurkink
Associate Publisher Jennifer Kieta
Contributing Writers
Sarah Angle
Tabetha Weeks
Photographer Emily Vasquez
Illustrator
Trish Wise
Lead Design
Conor Dardis
Cover Design Victoria Wise
Madeworthy Magazine is an extension of Tanglewood Moms, LLC., and serves to tell community stories for a family audience. For website and magazine advertising opportunities, please contact: Victoria@MadeworthyMedia.com
Looking for more copies of Madeworthy Magazine? You can subscribe at TanglewoodMoms.com for free or pick up copies at Central Market in Fort Worth.
Building a Strong Foundation for a Healthier Fort Worth
by Sarah Angle
Some people think empathy is innate, like intelligence or hair color. Others say it can be learned through personal experience, trauma, or an awakening of the soul through divine grace. Either way, most people agree that empathy is key to building healthy families, communities, and cities.
We all need a little help sometimes. Luckily, The Morris Foundation is here — a quiet, hometown hero located off West 7th Street dedicated to helping the people of Fort Worth live better, healthier lives.
It’s the 1940s. A Fort Worth trailblazer named Jack Morris was trying to start a carpet business. But success in business (and life) isn’t always easy.
What are you doing/have you been doing with your family this summer?
QContributors Question
Victoria
Italy! We plan to visit Rome for the Jubilee year. I've never been more excited for a trip. We hope to spot Pope Leo, the world's frst US-born Pope.
Tabetha
This summer, we've been soaking up the slow, sweet moments together as a family. I've been enjoying the slow mornings and cozy couch cuddles. We are planning our trip to the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan and are looking forward to escaping the Texas heat.
Lee
The kiddos are busy with camps and internships and driving lessons and working and going to see their South Carolina family and… We're trying to schedule a quick trip to Santa Fe, but I'm not sure when we can do it.
Since my family is geographically scattered, I'm trying desperately to visit everyone!
Morris failed and started over again and again. In the end, with a lot of grit, he created approximately 90 patents for products that were as soft as his heart: the signature foam padding used beneath carpets, bus benches, beds, car seats, and similar items.
In the process of engineering the polyurethane padding that revolutionized the carpet business, Morris became extremely wealthy but never lost the empathy he gained from
surviving a tough childhood. While some people turn away from suffering, Morris turned toward it, dedicating his fortune to Fort Worth’s most vulnerable populations: the people experiencing homelessness; the people who never got the opportunity to learn how to read; the children who didn’t grow up in nurturing homes or have the gift of higher education; and the families suffering from the effects of mental illness.
To date, the Morris Foundation has given over $100 million to nonprofts in the Fort Worth community, helping over two million people create better lives for themselves by partnering with nonprofts and universities like The Women’s Center of Tarrant County,
Tarrant Area Food Bank, Fortress Youth Development, and North Texas Area Community Health Centers. In 2022, the foundation awarded nearly $12 million to these organizations and more, strengthening its vision of supporting the city's leaders in education, healthcare, and social services.
Morris was gifted with the ability to see the pain of others and their potential, all without judgment. The foundation has operated under that same mentality of compassion, responsibility, innovation, and perseverance since its inception in 1986.
Jack Morris died in 2004, and his wife, Linda, passed in 2018; they ran the foundation together, and then Linda continued the work after her husband died at 84. Now, two of their children, Laura Liles and Michelle Piotrowski, sit on the board and oversee much of the work their parents started. “At the heart of how we lead the Foundation are our parents’ values and their vision that The Morris Foundation can play a role in creating paths to prosperity for all who call Fort Worth home.”
“Jack really started the foundation with the vision that he was giving back to the city that he lived in and loved,” said Elizabeth Brands, President and CEO of The Morris Foundation. “He felt fortunate that this city gave him the opportunity to start small and grow a legacy of wealth.”
That legacy and philanthropic opportunity was passed down to Laura and Michelle. The women work hard to ensure their parents' vision is carried out in the nearly 100 different projects
the foundation supports each year. In the country's 11th-largest city, poverty and social inequality run deep, but luckily, so does its philanthropy. Morris has four primary pillars it supports to strengthen the city from the inside out: housing solutions, mental health, maternal health, and public education. This womenand children-focused approach to philanthropy is something the Morris daughters believe will change the framework of education and healthcare in the city.
“All these systems work together,” said Brands. Kids without good housing conditions may not have good mental health, she explains, and women without good healthcare might lack strong maternal health.
These four pillars are like the foundation of a house: without a strong structure, the rest of the house won’t stand the test of time or survive the evitable hailstorms of life.
Brands believes the nonprofts they support provide the true structural foundation for the city. And it's those nonprofts, she says, that will create the lasting change the Morris family wants to see in the city they love so dearly.
“We help nonprofts swing for the fences in how they tackle the challenges that Fort Worth faces,” said Brands. And with the right resources, she knows the city’s nonprofts can fnd the right solutions to create lasting change and a better quality of life for generations to come.
Photos courtesy of the Morris Foundation
Sarah Moving into a new house!
Trish
BALANCE
Fort Worth Events - Jul/Aug 2025
Through July 4
Red, White & Boots: Stockyards 4th of July Celebration fortworthstockyards.org
Through July 12
A Strange Loop circletheatre.com
Through July 13
The Fall of Heaven jubileetheatre.org
Through July 19
Declarations of Freedom fortworksart.com
July 3
Phoenix Mercury at Dallas Wings wnba.com
July 3
Thin White Dukes: A Tribute to David Bowie tulipsftw.com
July 4
Fort Worth’s Fourth fortworthsfourth.com
July 5
Family Workshop: Painted Connections cartermuseum.org
July 5
July 15-20 The Wiz basshall.org
July 16
Goo Goo Dolls: Summer Anthem Tour 2025 dickiesarena.com
July 16 & 17
Modern Kids Summer Flicks themodern.org
July 19
The American Performance Horseman dickiesarena.com
July 19-20
Hell’s Half Acre Marathon hellshalfacred.athlete360.com
July 20
Parent & Child: Mexican Empanadas centralmarket.com
July 20
Aug 7
Meet up at the Museum: Living on the Land cartermuseum.org
Aug 10
Watermelon Run watermelonrun.athlete360.com
Aug 10
Dallas Wings host Washington Mystics wnba.com
Aug 13
Family Open Mic Night at Reby Cary fortworthtexas.gov/ departments/library
Aug 14
In the Moment at the Modern themodern.org
Aug 14 through Sep 6
The Last Five Years circletheatre.com
Aug 15-24
Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds jubileetheatre.org
Aug 15
Reverend Horton Heat tulipsftw.com
2025 Sonidos del Summer business.fwhcc.org
July 5
Red NOT Chili Peppers tannahills.com
July 8
Beer and Chocolate Pairing with Collin Zreet centralmarket.com
July 9 & 12
A Streetcar Named Desire amphibianstage.com
July 11
La Fête de la Bastille Happy Hour kimbellart.org
July 11-27
Family Festival: Ice Cream Sunday kimbellart.org
July 26
National Day of the American Cowboy fortworthstockyards.org
July 26
Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is 20th Anniversary dickiesarena.com
July 26
Deep Blue Something billybobstexas.com
July 30
Jim Milan’s Bucket List Jazz Band tulipsftw.com
July 29 through Aug 3 Shucked basshall.com
July 30 through Aug 17
The Heart Sellers amphibianstage.com
Aug 2
Aug 15
Randy Rogers & Pat Green billybobstexas.com
Aug 22 & 23
Bulls, Bands & Barrels bullsbandsandbarrels.com
Aug 22
Max & Heather Stalling thepostatrivereast.com
Aug 25
Panther City Writing Club: Southwest Regional fortworthtexas.gov/ departments/library
Aug 26 through Nov 11 Youth Glass Club sinacastudios.org
Hairspray: The Broadway Musical stolenshakespeareguild. org
July 12
Aug
Homemade Ice Cream Class logcabinvillage.org
July 13
Make & Take: Death by Doughnuts centralmarket.com
July 14
Billecart-Salmon Champagne Dinner with the Cliburn themodern.org
Family Rock Painting: Southwest Regional fortworthtexas.gov/ departments/library/
Aug 4-6
Texas Rangers host New York Yankees mlb.com/rangers
Aug 5
First Tuesday: A Field Trip to Kinfolk House stagewest.org
Aug 6
Flowing Lines: A Study of Japanese Ink Traditions kimbellart.org
Courtesy of the Stockyards
Courtesy of Amon Carter Museum
Courtesy of Stage West
Courtesy of the Modern
Fresh Family Recipes
This issue of Madeworthy features family stories. So many local chefs and restauranteurs have become part of our family that we wanted to celebrate them. Victor Villarreal, Jessica Castañeda, and Scotty Scott have all been featured in articles and have shared recipes before and are truly part of the Madeworthy family.
Yellowfin Tuna and Watermelon
Aquachile and Jicama Pico
Aguachile is a dish from Mexico consisting of raw seafood in spicy liquid. Unlike ceviche, aguachile is served immediately after preparation rather than marinating. This is a beautifully summery dish from Chef Victor Villarreal.
Ingredients
For the aguachile
Juice and zest of 2 limes
Juice and zest of 2 lemons
1 cup watermelon fesh or just the juice
1 serrano chile, seeded and diced
¼ cup cilantro leaves
2 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
For the jicama pico
¼ cup watermelon fesh, fnely diced
¼ cup jicama, peeled and diced
¼ cup cucumber, peeled and diced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
½ bunch cilantro, fnely chopped
Juice and zest of 2 limes
1 tablespoon good extra-virgin
olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
For the aguachile
Add all the aguachile ingredients into a blender and blend for 1 minute.
Strain the mixture into a bowl using a fne-mesh strainer.
For the jicama pico
Mix all the pico ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
To serve
Place the tuna slices on a plate with a lip or in a shallow bowl. Pour the aguachile over the tuna so that the tuna is barely submerged. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the tuna and top with the jicama pico. Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, and enjoy! Serves two as a main dish or four as a starter.
Green Garden Goddess
Chef Jessica Castañeda says of her recipe, “This is a gorgeous green sauce that is so tasty and versatile. I suggest you make a double batch.” It’s great as a dip for vegetables, as a salad dressing, over grilled meats or seafood, and it makes the best tomato sandwich of all time.
Ingredients
½ cup cottage cheese
½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 heaping cup of basil leaves
Several sprigs of dill
1 bunch of chives OR 2 to 3 green onions
1 to 2 garlic cloves, peeled
Salt and pepper to taste
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil or water (optional)
Directions
Peach Galette with Maple Bourbon Sauce
Chef Scotty Scott is a master of peaches. He shared his momma’s peach cobbler with us in 2023, and it’s sensational. This galette is equally as good and is as summery a dessert as you can wish for.
Ingredients
For the dough
1 ½ cups all-purpose four
¼ cup white cornmeal
2 teaspoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup (8 tablespoons or 1 stick) unsalted butter, VERY cold, cubed
¼ cup ice water, divided use
For the flling
4 medium peaches, pitted and quartered
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla
For the sauce
1 stick salted butter
1 cup maple syrup
1 ¼ cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons bourbon
To assemble the galette
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°.
For the dough
Place the four, cornmeal, sugar, and salt into a food processor and pulse until combined. Add in the very cold butter cubes and pulse until coarse crumbs form. Do not overmix! Add the ice water a couple of tablespoons at a time until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a foured surface and knead 2 or 3 times. Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days. While the dough is chilling, make the flling and sauce.
For the flling
Mix all the ingredients for the flling except the vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, cook until the butter has melted and the sugars have dissolved. Stir in the vanilla, remove from the heat, and set aside.
For the sauce
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter in the cream. Add the maple syrup and bourbon and simmer on low for 5 minutes before removing from heat. Set aside.
Place all ingredients except the olive oil or water into a blender. Jessica says, “Let that baby run until your mixture turns a beautiful, verdant green.” Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and lemon. To enrich the sauce, slowly add some olive oil while the blender is running. To thin down the sauce, do the same with cold water. This keeps for several days in the refrigerator.
To assemble
Unwrap the dough onto a foured surface. Sprinkle the dough with four and roll it into a 12-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pile the flling onto the dough, leaving a 2-inch border of dough around the edge of the circle. Gently fold the edges of the pastry over the fruit, pleating as you go.
The center of the galette should be open. In a small bowl, whisk the egg white and water together. Brush the pastry with the egg wash and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve with the sauce. A little ice cream is never a bad idea!
ar t tales
Wednesdays in July 10 a.m.–noon | FREE
Fill your summer with family friendly storytime fun! Each week will feature new stories, gallery games, art projects, and performances all inspired by the Carter’s collection and exhibitions.
Wednesday, July 2
Red, White, and Blue
Wednesday, July 9
Snack Attack!
Wednesday, July 16
Powerful Patterns
Wednesday, July 23
Fur, Feathers, and Scales
Wednesday, July 30
Material Mix-up
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided during this event.
For 50+ years, families have trusted us for expert oral surgery delivered with care, compassion, and integrity – all right here in the Tanglewood
ankYou, Edna Gladney
by Lee Virden Geurkink
“Mommy, tell me about the day I was born.”
“It was a gray, rainy morning. Daddy had just gone to work, and I was sitting at the table in the kitchen when the phone rang. It was Gladney, and they had a baby girl waiting for us.”
How many people have stories like this? More than you think.
For nearly 140 years, the good people of the Gladney Center for Adoption have been helping to build families by honoring the legacy of one woman who almost single-handedly changed adoptions in the United States.
Edna Jones came to Fort Worth in 1904 to live with her aunt and uncle. She was not planning on staying in
Texas long, but fortunately for so many children, she did. In 1906, an engaged Edna met Sam Gladney, and they eloped two days before Edna was supposed to marry her (now former) fancé.
The Gladneys lived in Wolfe City for a couple of years before settling in Sherman. Sam bought a four mill, and Edna went to work inspecting local markets and public facilities for cleanliness. During one inspection in rural Grayson County, Edna came across the Grayson County Poor Farm, a dumping ground for the unwanted: people with mental illnesses and disabilities, the physically disabled, the homeless, and unwanted children.
Horrifed by the conditions at the Grayson County Poor Farm, Edna helped to remove the children to the Texas Children's Home and Aid Society in Fort Worth, on whose board Edna served. She also established a free daycare for the children of women working as part of the war effort. It was one of the frst daycares in Texas, and the City of Sherman continued to run it until 2008.
When Edna and Sam returned to Fort Worth in 1921, Edna continued to work with the Texas Children’s Home and Aid Society. She was named superintendent of the Texas Children’s Home and Aid Society, a position that she held until 1959. She was a tireless advocate for children and unwed mothers. Through her efforts, Texas led the way in adoption legislation.
In 1936, Texas removed the word "illegitimate" from adopted children's birth certifcates. In 1939, Texas passed a law that sealed an adopted child's original birth certifcate and issued a second birth certifcate with the child's name and the names of the adoptive parents. In 1951, adopted children were granted the same inheritance
rights as biological children. None of this would have happened without Edna's lobbying and advocacy.
The Texas Children's Home and Aid Society bought the West Texas Maternity Hospital in 1950. Now known as the Edna Gladney Home, in recognition of Edna's tenacity and love, the organization was able to provide pre- and post-natal care for birth mothers and their infants. Edna died in 1961, having changed the lives of countless families.
Fast forward half a century, and the Gladney Center for Adoption (the name was changed in 1991) continues to create families through domestic adoptions, international adoptions, and foster adoptions and continues to lead the way in memory of Edna Gladney.
Gladney is licensed in 12 states and 11 countries, and since 2000, has helped the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services place children waiting in the foster care system with loving, forever families.
“We’re in a big growth stage right now,” said Holly Yarborough, Gladney’s Marketing & Communications Manager. “This is such a special place, but so many people here are unaware of how many people Gladney has impacted over the years.”
Holly was excited to tell me about their new program for international adoptees. “Kids from domestic adoptions usually know about their birth family, but until now, it’s been hard for kids who were adopted from another country to fnd out anything about their birth families.”
To change this disparity, Gladney has created the Heritage Experience. Licensed counselors will accompany adopted children and their families to their country of birth. “Adopted children usually get really curious
about their roots,” Holly said. “We’re the only adoption agency sending a licensed counselor along on these trips to support our families emotionally. This really is a labor of love, like everything we do here.”
In 2027, the Gladney Center for Adoption will celebrate 140 years of creating loving families. To celebrate, “Project 140” will share 140 stories to celebrate and honor everything that Gladney has accomplished. Adoption has come a long way since Edna Gladney began her life's work, and Gladney continues to lead the way, ensuring that more children fnd their families.
Oh, that story at the beginning? It’s my story.
My very first photo - in the car after leaving Gladney. Photo credit: Robert N. Virden (my dad)
Courtesy of the Gladney Center for Adoption
Courtesy of the Gladney Center for Adoption
129 YEARS OF QUALITY
by Lee Virden Geurkink
The year is 1896. Utah becomes the 45th state in the Union. Athens hosts the frst modern Olympic Games. Fannie Farmer publishes her frst cookbook. Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna are crowned Emperor and Empress of Russia. Gold is discovered in the Klondike. William McKinley becomes the 25th President of the United States of America.
And here in Fort Worth, Harry Keeton starts making brooms and selling mattress supplies.
It takes a lot for any neighborhood company to stay in business and in the family for 20 or 50 years, much less for 129 years. But that's precisely what The Mattress Factory has done.
Two years after he left Tennessee and settled in Fort Worth, Harry Keeton started what would eventually become The Mattress Factory, one of Fort Worth’s oldest businesses. Harry’s sons eventually stopped making brooms and expanded their mattress business from Fort Worth throughout Texas into Oklahoma, Arkansas, Arizona, California, and Florida.
The company began shipping all over the world. Today, Harry Keeton's great-grandson, Peter Duncan, Jr., and greatgreat-grandson, Trey, run the company. Trey left his job at a local luxury auto dealer not long ago to help his dad. “We’re a family business,” Peter said. “We’re the fourth and ffth generations here, and we’re proud of that.”
So how does a familyowned company like The Mattress Factory stay in business for 129 years?
Well, if you’re The Mattress Factory, it’s by making mattresses to the customer’s specifcations using quality materials in their factory on East Vickery, just around the corner from Harry Keeton’s original factory. It’s with friendly customer service that goes the extra mile. (Seriously, Trey has been known to leave the factory to help a customer put together a bed frame.) It’s by cutting out the middleman and selling mattresses directly to consumers at wholesale prices.
Do you prefer a high-count coil mattress, or would you rather snooze on a foam and latex mattress with a plush gel topper? Does your spouse snore so much that you need an adjustable frame to get a little uninterrupted sleep? Are your little ones clamoring for bunk beds, promising they’ll make their bed every single day without fail? The Mattress Factory has you covered.
“A lot of people now are buying these beds in a box they see online or getting mattresses from Amazon,” Peter said as we talked in the showroom. Mattresses were being made as we spoke, and Chance, the
showroom dog, was sleeping on his special mattress. “Sure, [ordering a mattress online] is real easy and quick, but those beds don't have the quality that lasts. Our customers get a well-made bed that they can watch being made that will last for years. And if you have a question or concern about your bed, all you have to do is call us, and we’ll make it right.”
In addition to selling mattresses, accessories, and frames directly to the public, The Mattress Factory provides mattresses for summer camps, inns, and bed and breakfasts.
Peter’s father, Peter Duncan, Sr., moved from South Africa to Oklahoma to take advantage of the University of Oklahoma's internationally renowned swimming program. He represented South Africa in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics before marrying Harry Keeton’s granddaughter, Doris, and joining the family business.
Peter is proud that he and his son are carrying on the family business in Fort Worth. Their roots are here, and the love they have for their city is evident in everything they do. (In an interesting aside for the family issue of Madeworthy, Peter competed against my older brother-in-law in high school tennis.)
From employing local workers to raising money for Fort Worth nonprofts like The Gladney Center for Adoption – Trey and his sister are both Gladney Kids – the Duncans give back to their city as much as they receive from it. If you want to know the true depth of the Duncans’ love for our fair city, stop by The Mattress Factory showroom and check out the TCU fabric on one of their show mattresses.
You, too, can support your team while you sleep. Go Frogs!
Let Peter and Trey help you design your perfect mattress while you give Chance scratches. Experience counts, and The Mattress Factory has 129 years of it.
Photos courtesy of The Mattress Factory
Forces of Nature, Forces for Good
by Lee Virden Geurkink
Photos by Omorfa Imagery
How many boards do Rosa Navejar and Rachel Navejar Phillips serve on now or in the past? And between running a successful business in a very competitive, very male-dominated feld and serving on all those boards, do they sleep?
I asked them these questions as we sat in the conference room of the Rios Group. The questions, meant seriously, were met with gales of laughter.
Rachel said, "One of my friends jokes that the Navejar hobby is sitting on boards of directors."
While Rachel’s friend is joking, it’s quite possible that they have served or do serve on every board of every organization in Tarrant County.
If you’re a Fort Worthian and you haven’t heard of Rosa Navejar and Rachel Navejar Phillips, you might be living under a rock. Rosa Navejar is the founder and President of the Rios Group, a subsurface utility engineering and utility coordination frm, and Rachel Navejar Phillips serves as the Business Development Manager. Oh, Rosa is also Rachel's mother.
For many, working with family members can be challenging. When I was younger, my father fred me after a 45-minute "discussion" about the placement of an address label. (True story.) Not only do Rosa and Rachel run a successful company as Latina women in a feld dominated by men, but they also
give back to their community every minute of their spare time and every ounce of their considerable energies.
Rosa Navejar was born in Fort Worth, the last of 10 children of laborers, and grew up in the Diamond Hill neighborhood. “Back when I was in high school, I was told that ‘girls like me” are only housewives and mothers,” Rosa said. “We didn’t go to college. We weren’t even allowed to go on college tours; those were for just the young men.”
Now, isn't that heartbreaking?
Although college obviously wasn’t in the cards for Rosa, she was determined to do something other than become a housewife. “When I was told I would only be a housewife and mother, I was real upset, but that gave me the drive to do something bigger. My father always told us, ‘Con ganas puedes hacer todo.’ Basically, if you have the will, you can do
to go work on the manufacturing line at Radio Shack in Diamond Hill,” Rosa said. “But instead, I took the bus and went downtown. I walked around, applying at every place I could. First of Fort Worth Bank was the one that hired me, and that’s what started it all.”
Rosa and her husband wanted to give their daughter every opportunity they didn't have when they were growing up. They built a house in Keller, judging that, at the time, the Keller school district offered more than the Fort Worth school district. “I was raised in Diamond Hill and still have family there, but when we had Rachel, we were living in Keller,” Rosa said.
“We did live in Diamond Hill frst,” Rachel interjected.
"Then we moved to the Birdville ISD, and then we built the house in Keller," Rosa fnished.
“” I took the bus and went downtown. I walked around, applying at every place I could. First of Fort Worth Bank was the one that hired me, and that’s what started it all.
whatever you want. I think that gave me the push to go out and show people I can do more than be a housewife.”
Rosa has certainly shown people that she can be more than a housewife. After a 25-year career in banking, she became the frst female President of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FWHCC) and the frst Latina Chair of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
“If I wasn’t going to be a housewife, I was supposed
“The majority of my childhood was spent in Keller,” Rachel said. “Our backyard was basically farm felds – you could see cattle. Now, when I drive to Keller, I get lost because all the development has changed it so much."
Rachel is a frst-generation college graduate with a degree from St. John’s University in Queens, New York. Rosa said, “Her dad and I gave her a choice. We told her she would do elementary, middle, high school, and college. Period.” Both women laugh.
“We really wanted her to have the benefts we didn’t have.”
Rachel majored in government at St. John’s. “I wanted to be a pre-law major and then become a lobbyist, but then I took a constitutional law class and said, ‘Nope. This is NOT for me.’ One of my stepbrothers is a very powerful lobbyist in DC, and I would have been constantly comparing myself to him, I think.”
After college, Rachel returned to Fort Worth and began working for the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD). By this time, Rosa was running the FWHCC and was a mover in municipal government. Rachel had to prove that she wasn’t just Rosa’s daughter. And sometimes, proving that she wasn’t Rosa’s daughter took courage.
As Rachel was trying to fgure out her next steps, Jonathan Morris was opening the second location of his successful Fort Worth Barber Shop and needed a front desk person. “I thought this would be a good break for me,” Rachel said. “I could take a break and see what I wanted to do next. I worked there for about six months, and it was great. I met so many people who knew nothing about my mother, or me, or the boards we served on, so there was no pressure on me. And it taught me a lot about customer service and the service industry… I have so much respect for the service industry because they put up with so much!"
By this time, Rosa had started the Rios Group. I asked how she went from banking and the FWHCC to running an underground utility engineering and coordination frm. (That means that they work with construction frms to map existing utilities and coordinate with utility companies to facilitate easier and safer construction.)
“Brad Gorrondona was my board chairman [of the FWHCC], and he was looking to divest this group from his company,” Rosa said. “For months, I gave him names of engineers because I assumed you had to be an engineer to run the company. Brad said I needed to buy the group, and I laughed and said no. I’m not an engineer. I don’t have a college degree. They’re introverts, and I’m an extrovert.”
But Brad knew that Rosa was precisely the right person for the job, and he kept at her.
“One day, I was in church, and I was basically asking God for a sign. I realized I was 56 years old, and I
“”
the feld into the offce.”
Rosa agreed. “We have a former crew member who is now an assistant project manager. We love being able to grow from within and teach the skill sets that our guys need for growth. It helps their families and lets their children see that there are pathways for them.”
It sounds remarkably similar to what Rosa did in banking. After all, as a Latina woman without a college degree, she had to work hard to move up in the banking world. It's also what she did at the FWHCC, where she grew it from 400 members to over 1,500 members. “My father always taught us to give back,” Rosa said.
She taught Rachel to give back, too. And she taught her daughter to make her own way in the world. "I understand the privilege I have when doors are opened to me because I'm Rosa's daughter," Rachel said. "So, how do I open doors for other people?"
Like her mother, Rachel does it by giving her time and energy to organizations that help our community. She serves on almost as many boards as her mother does. And Rosa couldn’t be prouder of how her daughter has established herself in her own right.
“Can I tell the story?” she asked.
Rachel rolled her eyes but noded.
“We were doing a music and art festival on the River, raising money for scholarships for the [FWHCC] when she was working for the Water District,” Rosa said. “It was late the night before the festival, and we were all cleaning up and getting ready. Rachel is telling all these men, "Excuse me, you need to get up. Do this. Do that. Get going!’ I said, ‘Rachel Ann! It’s late, and you need to stop talking like that to those gentlemen.’ She looked at me and said, ‘Mom, that’s your crew. This is MY crew, and this is what I have to do to get work done.’”
One day, I was in church, and I was basically asking God for a sign. I realized I was 56 years old, and I didn’t want to look back at 70 thinking... 'What if ? '
didn’t want to look back at 70 thinking... 'What if?'
Rosa remembered, “I’ll never forget when I got a phone call telling me that Rachel had walked out of a meeting with [the city manager]. Everyone kept saying, 'Well, let's ask Rosa's daughter her opinion,' or 'What does Rosa's daughter say?' She kept telling them, 'My name is Rachel,' but they didn't listen. I got a phone call from [the city manager] who said, ‘Your daughter needs to know that she can’t just walk out of a meeting.’ I said, ‘With all due respect, call her by her name. Would you like it if your son was addressed like Rachel was? Call her by her name and let her do her job.’ He said, ‘Oh. You’re right.’”
Rachel added, “It would be so easy to be ‘Rosa’s daughter’ and coast on her reputation, but I needed to earn my own respect.”
Even though they now work together, Rachel is no nepo baby. She worked hard to forge her own career and earned that respect.
"I was at the Water District for about 10 years," Rachel said. "I oversaw capital improvements on the [Trinity] River. I love the Water District; it taught me so many things, but I asked myself, ‘Do I want to stay here?’ That would be great, but I wanted to try something new, so I actually just quit one day. Scared the hell out of my husband and my mother!”
Rosa laughed. “God puts us in places for a reason, and we just need to learn what those reasons are because we’ll carry them into the next part of our lives.”
As I was leaving, I ran into one of the tellers I worked with back in ’91. She introduced me to her family and said, ‘Rosa always took a risk at the bank, and she took the biggest risk when she left the bank to run [the FWHCC].' I looked up at the Cross and said, 'Well, I asked for a sign.’”
After Rachel had been at Fort Worth Barber Shop for about six months, she got a call from her mother. “She said that she was looking for someone to oversee marketing,” Rachel said. “I thought I could do it, so I applied. I applied, and I interviewed, and I got the job.”
I asked how it was to work with her mother.
“We had worked together when I was at the Water District,” Rachel said.
“I helped oversee the fair contracting policy for the Trinity River Project,” Rosa added.
“We had already established a way to work together,” Rachel continued. “I did have to stop calling her ‘Mommy.' I couldn’t very well say, ‘My mommy says…’ But we had already established boundaries for a working relationship, so I knew that we could do it.”
And boy, have they done it. When Rosa founded the company, it had an offce in Fort Worth, with one person in Austin and one person in Houston. The company now boasts fve full offces and over 115 employees across Texas. They work on some of the biggest construction projects in the state. But (possibly) more importantly, they hire from the inside and help their employees move up the ladder. Rachel said, “We love moving crew members from
“I wouldn’t ask them to do anything I wasn’t willing to do,” Rachel clarifed.
Rosa continued, “The next morning, we were all there early to set up, and all of her guys were telling me how much they loved Rachel, how great she was, how she was out there at midnight, and how she was there early and bought them breakfast.”
At this point, Rachel looked a little embarrassed. “I was just there with them, doing my job.”
“It was so great to see how she had earned their respect,” Rosa said. “It was so wonderful to see how she’s made herself who she is. I got to see that my daughter has grown up to be her own person. That’s priceless.”
Talk about a proud mom moment. Now, Rachel is just as much of a force for good in Fort Worth as her mother is.
“No, I’m the past,” Rosa grinned. “She’s the future.”
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Fort Worth Family Businesses
by Lee Virden Geurkink
Whether it's biological or found, family is essential. Family, those people who support you and love you, cheer with you on your successes, and rally around you after a disappointment, are especially important when running a business. We asked the members of Tanglewood Moms for their favorite Fort Worth family businesses, and of course, they had all the best answers!
Lone Star Glass and Gutter
James and Michelle Smith founded their company in 2018 and quickly established a reputation in Fort Worth for their professionalism, diligence, and conscientiousness. After researching eco-friendly, all-natural ways to clean windows, the Smiths use a purifed water system that doesn't use harsh chemicals but still leaves your windows sparkling clean. They clean your gutters by hand to ensure that there is no damage to your gutters or roof and check that the downspouts are working correctly, thereby saving you money on roof, siding, and foundation repairs. The Smiths are proud to be a mom-and-pop business that helps their community.
Mik’s Garden Center
With locations in Fort Worth and Southlake, Mike's Garden Centers have the products and the know-how to make your yard the best-looking one on the block. Owner Mike Cook, Jr. is the second generation of green-thumbed Cooks to make things grow. Mike Cook, Sr. founded the company in 1972, and 53 years later, the business is still blooming. After graduating from college, Mike Jr. started a landscaping design business that he merged into his father's nursery. Mike Jr's daughter is now part of the business, making three generations dedicated to beautifying Fort Worth.
In the mid-‘80s, John Hernandez and his son Philip bought a small printing company. Now, almost four decades later, all four of John’s sons work with him, and John Sons Press has grown. But the Hernandez boys aren’t nepo babies; Philip, Adrian, Edward, and Marc had to work their way through every position in the company before becoming company offcers. Now, John Sons Press is one of the biggest printing companies in the DallasFort Worth Metroplex, with design and printing services that help local businesses promote themselves in style.
Sunflwer Shoppe
For over 55 years, the Sunfower Shoppe has been helping Fort Worthians achieve holistic health. Founder Bettye Bradford's sister was ill, and the doctors were at a loss for how to help her. Bettye wanted to help her sister and offer her community healthy options to complement traditional medicine. Now, the Sunfower Shoppe, with a location in Colleyville in addition to the original Fort Worth store, is run by Bettye’s four grandchildren, and they are just as dedicated as their grandmother was to helping their customers live better lives. On-staff certifed nutritionists help loyal customers and newcomers alike fnd exactly what they need to feel better and live a healthier life.
Litl Lilly Sushi
Named for the owner's granddaughter, Little Lilly Sushi opened its doors in 2012. Danny Liu and his daughter, Ann, serve some of the freshest and most creative Japanese cuisine to be found in Fort Worth. In fact, Danny is responsible, in great part, for broadening Fort Worthian’s sushi palate. Yes, they still have a California roll (made with lump blue crab) on the menu, but you can also get Wagyu beef and the Lilly Roll – a gorgeous combination of pickled plum, braised gourd, burdock root, asparagus, spinach, braised shitake mushrooms, cucumber, and avocado. In 2023, the Liu’s opened a second location, Little Lilly Sushi Too, in Keller.
The restaurant business is hard. The proft margin is razor thin, keeping good staff is extremely diffcult, and the codes and requirements are Byzantine, to say the least. And tastes change, so restaurants that were hot last year or even last month close overnight. When a restaurant stays in business for over 30 years, you know it has to be good. Founded by Peter Kaba in 1994, Prima's Pasta & Pizza continues to serve up delicious Italianinspired dishes in what was formerly a Dairy Queen. Forget the Blizzards! Whether you prefer a Neapolitan-style pizza or chicken piccata, spumoni or tiramisu, you won’t leave Prima's hungry.
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Prima’s Pasta & Pizza
John Sons Prss
Fort Worth Family Businesses
Continued from page 13
WineHaus
One of the best ways to spend a lovely evening in Fort Worth is to listen to some of the best local musicians play while enjoying a glass or two of wine and nibbles from a rotating list of food trucks on the back patio of WineHaus. One of our city’s most popular wine bars, WineHaus, was founded in 2013 by Lindsey Crawford. Crawford sold WineHaus to Robyn Davis in 2020, and as of October 2024, Deanna Stuart and her adult children are the proud owners. Stuart is a longtime resident of Fairmount and has ensured that WineHaus continues to offer a unique and diverse selection of wines from independent producers around the world
Angelo’s BBQ
I remember going to Angelo's when I was little, and my family would come to Fort Worth for the day. Back in the early ‘70s, Angelo’s was THE place for barbecue. Now, barbecue is big business in the Fort, and there are many places to get great barbecue, but Angelo’s is still serving some of the best. Founded in 1958 by Angelo George, Angelo’s has stood the test of time. Angelo George’s grandson, Jason, now carries on the family tradition, using his grandfather’s and father’s timetested and customer-approved recipes and techniques. The oldies are still goodies.
Carshon’s Deli
In 1928, Dave Carshon and Morris Chicotsky opened a kosher meat market and deli in downtown Fort Worth. After several moves, Carshon’s Deli is THE place for people in the know to lunch. Owner Mary Swift and her husband, Dennis, along with Dennis' law partner, Elliott Garsek (Dave Carshon's grandson), bought the deli in 1982. The Swifts bought out Garsek in 2005, and Mary is still at Carshon’s every day, greeting customers and making some of the best pies in town, while her daughter, Stephanie, serves as the food safety manager. So sit at the counter or grab a table and enjoy some of the best delicatessen foods this side of the Mississippi. But don't forget to swing by an ATM; Carshon's only accepts cash, just like Dave Carshon did 97 years ago.
Standard Meat
Okay, a custom meat processing, cooking, and packaging company isn’t what most people think of when they think of family businesses, but that's precisely what Standard Meat is. Four generations of Rosenthals have built the family butcher shop into a global leader with plants across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Ben Rosenthal founded Standard Meat in 1935 to supply downtown restaurants and hotels with the best cuts of quality meat. Today, Ben's great-grandchildren, Ben and Ashli, continue to provide high-quality meats to their customers across the globe.
R. Watson Boots
Native Texan Randy Watson knows boots. I mean, he really knows boots. For years, he headed some of the biggest boot-making companies out there, including Lucchese, Nocona, and Justin, to name but a few. He established deep relationships (dare I say friendships?) with suppliers, artisans, and vendors. These relationships (friendships) were so deep, in fact, that when he tried to retire, these people refused to let him go. So Randy, along with his son Ryan, founded R. Watson Boots. Now, Randy, Ryan, and a small group of carefully selected experts produce beautifully handcrafted boots that are sure to become a family heirloom.
Mens Collections
It is a truth universally acknowledged that it is ultimately cheaper to buy a tuxedo than to rent one. Kee and Hannah Song know this. Mens Collections has been outftting Fort Worthians from their location on East Berry for almost 45 years. Now Kee and Hannah’s son, Jonathan, works with his parents. Jonathan, a former placekicker for the TCU Horned Frogs, came to help his parents during the Covid-19 pandemic and never left. He planned to continue his place-kicking career but became interested in the family business as he worked with his parents. Now, he's learning the clothing trade from the inside.
Kubes Jewelers
Ask for a recommendation for a jeweler to resize a ring, fx a necklace, or design a pair of earrings in Tanglewood Moms. The frst recommendation you will get is invariably Kubes Jewelers. Founded by Joseph Kubes, Sr., and his wife, Rita, Kubes has been serving Fort Worth for almost 80 years. Joseph Sr. was one of the frst nine Certifed Gemologists in Texas and was, for many years, the only one in Fort Worth. Joseph and Rita's descendants have continued to provide exceptional service throughout four generations of Kubes.
Pro Tailor
Talented tailors Hung and Ly Vo Huong came to the United States from Vietnam in the early ’90s with their children. As newcomers, Hung and Ly Vo worked tirelessly around the clock to provide their children with opportunities that they did not have when they were growing up. The Huongs’ son, Andrew, started Pro Tailor on Overton Ridge and Ace Tailor on Camp Bowie as a way to give back to his parents a little of what they sacrifced for him and his siblings; his wife and two of his brothers work with him. The two locations offer high-quality tailoring for men and women at affordable prices and have built quite a loyal following in Fort Worth. Talk about a family business!
THE HICKMAN LEGACY
how one family revitalized the stockyards
by Tabetha Weeks
Have you ever watched the Herd trot through the Fort Worth Stockyards in the twice-daily cattle drives? Or danced under the neon lights at Billy Bob’s? Maybe you have relaxed in rustic luxury at Hotel Drover. What if I told you one family is behind it all? A family whose commitment to legacy has transformed Fort Worth into a Western icon?
The Legacy of Holt Hickman
The Hickman family has dedicated generations to preserving the history and infrastructure of Fort Worth. It all began with Holt Hickman’s deep love for the area.
About nine million people from all over the world visit the Stockyards every year. Visitors come to see the cattle drive, the historic Cowtown Coliseum, and the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum. The Hickman family played a huge role in preserving every one of these.
From
Rundown to Renowned Destination
The Stockyards had its beginnings with the arrival of the railroads in Fort Worth in 1876. The area quickly became a place where cattle, hogs, and sheep could be sold, slaughtered, and packed. Today, the Stockyards have turned into a booming tourist destination known around the world. The district is a signifcant contributor to Fort Worth's tourism economy, which had an economic impact of over $3.5 billion in 2024, according to Visit Fort Worth. But it was not always this way. Just decades ago, the area was falling into disrepair. In 1988, Billy Bob’s dance hall fled for bankruptcy and closed its doors. The streets were lined with deteriorating buildings, and few ventured to this side of town.
Where It All Started
Growing up, Holt lived with his mother in Weatherford, Texas. But when he would visit his father, Cecil, they would head to the Fort Worth Stockyards to buy and sell cattle.
Holt crossed the Metroplex to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he swam for his fraternity, Kappa Sigma, in intramural sports. He was discovered by SMU Hall of Fame swimming coach Red Barr and was given a full-ride scholarship. In his junior and senior years, he was the fastest freestyle swimmer in the Southwest Conference.
In 1954, after graduating from SMU, Holt married his high school sweetheart, Jo Aycock. But Fort Worth had a hold on Holt. Holt and Jo’s daughter, Brenda Hickman Kostohryz, shared, “The Stockyards
have always held a special place in my father’s heart. It was always the Stockyards and us.”
When Holt heard about Billy Bob’s closing down, he partnered with Don Jury, Steve Murrin, and Billy Minick to reopen the honkytonk.
“That’s where it all started,” Brenda recalls. “He started with reopening Billy Bob’s, then he invested in the revitalization of the Stockyards, and he helped bring the cattle drive to the Stockyards."
Restoring the Past, Building the Future
Between the 1980s and the 1990s, Hickman began buying derelict buildings, including the Livestock Exchange Building and the Mule Alley warehouses. Holt's goal was to preserve the Western heritage of the area while also making it economically sustainable.
“Business and family were the most important things to my dad,” Brenda recalls. “He was always at all the grandkids sporting events and birthdays. He took me and my girlfriends to Vegas for my 21st birthday. That’s just the kind of man he was.” Brad, who graduated from college with a degree in business, initially ran the manufacturing division before transitioning to real estate. His son, Brad Jr., has since joined him.
“My dad loved my mom and the Stockyards,” Brenda recalls when thinking about her father’s legacy.
Modern Development with Historic Roots
Holt established the Fort Worth Heritage Development Company before his death. This joint venture between Hickman Companies and Majestic Realty Co. was designed to preserve the area’s Western heritage while introducing modern amenities.
He envisioned the Stockyards as a walkable, familyfriendly district full of history, shopping, rodeos, and cowboy culture. In 2001, Holt and his wife Jo played a signifcant role in bringing the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Recognizing the potential to enhance Fort Worth's Western heritage tourism, they bought the museum. They moved it into the historic horse and mule barns on Exchange Avenue, which they had restored as part of their broader revitalization efforts.
A Legacy Carried On
Brenda and Brad continued the partnership with Majestic Realty, building on their father's efforts with a $175 million project that transformed the historic horse and mule barns into a vibrant district flled with shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. In 2021, they opened Hotel Drover, a luxury boutique hotel that blends rustic charm with modern comfort, serving as a centerpiece of the Stockyards' revitalization.
To preserve and honor their father’s legacy, Brad and Brenda are investing in the next chapter of the Stockyards story with a $630 million vision that blends Western tradition with modern hospitality. This next phase includes improvements to the Cowtown Coliseum, the Fort Worth Herd Facilities, and two below-ground parking garages. The plan will also add 300,000 square feet of commercial space, 500 hotel rooms, and about 300 apartments.
More than ten years after his passing, Holt's son and daughter continue to carry on his legacy. Brad Hickman and Brenda Hickman Kostohryz have worked for the family business since graduating from college.
Brenda worked in the real estate division for nearly 40 years before partially retiring. “It was always known that I would graduate and work on the real estate side of the business,” recalls Brenda. “He taught me to work hard and treat everyone equally.”
Shaping Fort Worth’s Future
This family business has not only shaped the Fort Worth of today; it continues to shape its future. With each project, the Hickmans honor their father's memory, ensuring that the Fort Worth Stockyards remains a destination where the past is celebrated and the future is welcomed with a friendly "howdy."
Photo courtesy of Brenda Hickman Kostohryz
At Beeline Home, our mission is simple: make homeownership easier and more enjoyable by providing total home care that's proactive, relationship-focused, and built on honesty and integrity You deserve more than the broken system of reactive, sales-driven service and four-hour appointment windows focused on isolated problems
Our Home Concierge team cares for the homeowner as much as the home Each Concierge client has a dedicated Concierge who performs preventive maintenance, handles or coordinates repairs, and is available to address questions and concerns
Our licensed heating and air conditioning team is service oriented, not sales focused We work with our Concierge team to ensure our clients are comfortable and their systems are working efficiently
Whether you need help with a single project or repair or want the peace of mind that comes from the Concierge experience, we’re here to help
MATT FERGUSON, FOUNDER
