FBISD athletes earn academic honors - Page 5
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WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 1, 2020
By George
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 44 • No. 72
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2020
County judge defying odds to make a difference By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
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KP George has spent his whole life beating long odds. He’s now trying to make his mark and a difference in Fort Bend County while inspiring others that success is possible with hard work, faith and perseverance. “When your purpose is pure, God is going to open the door for you,” he said. “… I always believed God put us here for a purpose.” George now sits in a cushy office at 401 Jackson St. in Richmond after being elected last year as Fort Bend County Judge, but his journey to that seat has been far from easy. He grew up in the small South Indian village of Kakkodu that had no running water or electricity. Receiving an education meant George, now 55, and his six siblings must walk barefoot to the village's schoolhouse and do homework by the light of a lamp in the family’s straw hut.
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Suspected tractor thieves arrested From Staff Reports
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office recently made two arrests in an 18-month-long investigation into stolen tractors and heavy equipment. Nelsin White, 33, of Needville and Erik Jackson, 32, of Rosenberg were arrested and charged with third-degree felony theft on Dec. 17. According to a news release from FBCSO, that’s when detectives allege the pair was attempt-
SEE SUSPECTS PAGE 3
White
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But his humble roots never deterred George, the Star of the Year for his ground-breaking impact on the community, from pursuing big goals. He is a devout Christian who leaned on his
faith even as a boy. “I always had a desire to succeed and had God in my heart,” he said. George’s desire to live out the American Dream began coming to fruition when he moved to the United States in 1993 on a work visa. He moved to Fort Bend in 1999 and later served on the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees for more than four years before being elected as the first minority county judge in 2018. He has made a home in Sugar Land with his wife, a math and science teacher at Drabek Elementary, and three kids. His son, Rohit, recently graduated from Hightower High School and is in medical school, while his oldest daughter, Helen, is a nurse and his youngest daughter, Sneha, is a senior at Elkins High School. All of that would not be possible, however, without the guidance of his father – a truck driver who George said always pushed him and his siblings to strive for something greater. “I will always have gratitude for my father, because a lot of people from that village never went out like us,” he said. “After (finishing school), you went into your family’s business, whatever that was. But my father always insisted we go to school. He wasn’t able to do it, but he wanted us to do it so we could have a better life.” A dream is born It didn’t matter that George, who remembered getting his first pair of slippers around fourth or fifth grade and then not having a second set of good clothes until 10th grade, didn’t have material means at the time.
Clockwise from right are Fort Bend County Judge KP George with his wife Sheeba, daughter Sneha, daughter Helen and son Rohit. KP George has made waves in Fort Bend and beyond after being elected as county judge in 2018. (Contributed photo)
His father had a vision. “That’s the whole reason I’m sitting here right now. He always told me that education was something someone can never take away from you. Once you have it, it is yours,” George said. “He was always telling us, ‘If you don’t like it here, this is the way out.’ His vision for us made all the difference. Me and my siblings have reached various places largely because of that.” Once here, George made every effort to become en-
trenched in the Fort Bend community even before going into public service. He helped establish the Hightower High School Academies’ Booster Club in 2013 and served as its first president. He has also served in the Sugar Land Rotary Club, the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and local Indo-American groups. However, he knew there was still more to be done. So in 2014, he made his first foray into public service
by running for the FBISD school board, inspired by a desire to engage the lessheard voices. “I thought representation for any community was extremely important,” George said. “A lot of these (minorities) keep it to themselves if they have an issue – but now people feel comfortable coming and talking to me. Previously, that connection was not there for them. I al-
SEE GEORGE PAGE 6
Mo City introduces assistant city manager From Staff Reports
In a recent announcement on its website, Missouri City said Glen Martel is “no stranger to tackling obstacles.” Community leaders hope his military experience will help continue Missouri City’s ascension in Fort Bend County. Missouri City recently hired Martel as its assistant city manager in July and officially introduced him earlier this month. He brings 35 years of experience in the Nevada Air National Guard and the United States Air Force. “We are very grateful to have Glen Martel join our staff,” city manager Anthony Snipes said in a statement released by the city. “His experience and
Martel
leadership will help us take Missouri City to the next level.”
Jackson
While new leaders are introduced to all ongoing projects, some projects re-
quire heightened attention. Martel said one project stands out above the rest – the expansion of the Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant. “We’re about halfway through that right now, so at the end of that, we’re going to have all the water we need,” Martel said in a news release. “I have been involved with projects like this in the past so the projects themselves are not new, although some of the methods are a little bit different.” Martel said adding fresh eyes to not only a project of this magnitude, but also for growth in general, can prove to be a big benefit as the city continues to build out. Martel also serves as Brigadier General and Chief of Staff in the National Guard, and he is responsible
for implementing all policies and planning for 1,200 airmen. Because of his success in managing, his new role with Missouri City oversees the public works department, development services department, and the parks & recreation department. And though Martel has been entrusted to help Missouri City grow and improve, he knows it takes everybody to buy in to achieve that goal. “I’m looking forward to working with the citizens and please continue to be involved,” he said in a message to residents released by the city. “That’s the only way we can continue to make Missouri City better. Any ideas you have and any opportunities for improvement you have, please bring them to me and I’m more than happy to talk with you.”
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