Preservation Rosebud Welcome Rosebud High School Alumni

The 45th annual Rosebud High School Golden Years reunion was held in Rosebud on Saturday, April 11, 2026, and members of Preservation Rosebud opened the museum for a reception to honor them. President Les Heugatter greeted the arriving guests. Over sixty visitors mingled with friends and Preservation Rosebud board members Greg and Marla Wallace, Fran Heugatter, James Prothro, Alfred Martinez, and Joe and Sharon Saunders.

New Lifetime Members Annette Engel and Margarita Martinez joined the celebration. Special guests were Lifetime Members Richard Schigut, Doris Kleypas Hoelscher, and Donald and Carole Schmidt, who always support Preservation Rosebud, and this year left a generous donation in memory of Leola Lindeman Komar, Class of ’52.

Always a bright spot at the reception were “The Parks Girls” Jo-Carol Parks Fabianke and Kathy Parks Clayton, also Lifetime Members. Nan Hensel Bailey was there to renew her yearly membership. Charles Hensel, Class of ’49, was the wisest graduate present, traveling from Duncanville to reunite with family and friends.

Carol Stock dropped by before going next door to open the Stubbs Memorial Room at the D. Brown Library. Visiting the Memorial Room is a Golden Years tradition.

Other guests who signed in were: Ken Hensel, Linda Hensel Agee, Harlen Wunsch, Royce Hudson, Doug and Ann Garrett Sonntag, Wayne and Mary Lou Lieman Garrett, Gail Tarver, Mary Hering, Coach Bobby Pollard, Carroll Warschak, Carol Bruggman Bienski, Samantha Bienski, Jesse and Carolyn Martinez, James Lucas, Dennis Hensel, Carrell and Kathy McIntosh, Sarah McIntosh Fryatt, David Tamez, Pete Tamez, and Galen Huddleston.

Carrell McIntosh, Class of ’64, and wife Kathy came from Cleburne, Texas. They had their picture taken in front of the dentist’s chair he sat in as a child.

Carrell recalled being a scared little boy sitting in Dr. Trubee’s chair. Sarah McIntosh Fryatt, Rosebud-Lott Class of ’71, wanted everyone to know she helped her husband build an airplane in a hanger in Castroville.

On the Friday, April 10 workday, the museum was buzzing with activity to prepare for visitors. Wayne and Betty Heugatter came from Belton to add quilts made by Lillie Kuhn Strickler and Bernice Strickler Heugatter to the new display. Iris Sharp had previously stopped by with two beautiful quilts. Thanks to Betty Heugatter for lovingly folding and placing these family treasures, which included Dresden plate and Class Nine Patch designs. Les and Fran Heugatter had come the day before to set up the new quilt display, inspired by Preservation Rosebud’s February field trip to the Milam County Museum.

Sharon Saunders did her usual expert job of Hoovering, leaving the office area spotless. She carefully covered the office equipment stored there with plastic sheeting donated by Carson Wallace at Hensel Hardware. Greg Wallace jumped in to get the vacuum cleaner working again by cleaning out the canister. Marla Wallace vacuumed the conference room and display area as well as printing signs for the displays. Fran Heugatter put Nan Bailey’s broom donation to good use and set up the refreshment table.

Ken Hensel is always ready to help where he’s needed. He made the glass front door sparkle as well as dusting the displays. Les Heugatter and Joe Saunders did a great job washing the firetrucks and fire bay doors. James Prothro shined the fire bay windows, inside and out.

James Prothro and Greg Wallace set up the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway display, including James Prothro’s precise stenciling on the newly painted side of the railroad cart, restored to its original condition with oak flooring from a Rosebud home on Main St. An original rail inscribed “Carnegie steel” was added to the display after a good washing by Les Heugatter. Greg Wallace and James Prothro arranged for the rail to be cut to fit the cart. The historic rail was found by James Prothro on his James Bayliss Buck farm in Travis.

Preservation Rosebud members often come away from an event with a heartwarming story, like the man on a bicycle who lost his wallet last November at the 100 Garage Sales and was overjoyed when Marla Wallace returned it to him. This was no exception. A nice family from Houma, Louisiana stopped by the museum with a very special request. They had traveled to Rosebud looking for bluebonnets. It was their father’s wish to have his ashes spread near Rosebud in a field of bluebonnets. Les Heugatter had to disappoint them – it’s been a poor year for bluebonnets. But wait, there was someone who might know – local artist and Rosebud celebrity Sharon Saunders, who was able to direct them to a patch of the flowers along Hwy 53. It wasn’t long before they returned to thank her. They had located a nice spot full of blooms.

It was the family of Robert Ocker, RHS Class of ’61, who passed away on March 25, 2025 at the age of 82. Robert’s wife Ann Ocker and children Quint Ocker and wife Denise, daughter Lindsay Ocker, and daughter Beth Smarada were so happy to fulfill his final wishes. Thanks to Quint Ocker, who made a generous donation to Preservation Rosebud. Before they left, the group had another spot to visit – the old city jail located west of the museum. Sharon Saunders gifted the family with one of her unique bluebonnet arrangements. The Ocker family expressed their gratitude for the hospitality shown them, got a lunch recommendation, and headed for HWY 77 Café.

Refreshments for the reception included Marla Wallace’s signature buttermilk pound cake, always a hit at any gathering, fresh strawberries, raspberry filled cookies, and a Tres Leches caramel bar from Alfred Martinez and James Prothro. Coffee was brewed by Les Heugatter, and iced tea was provided by Alfred Martinez. A large tray with a variety of cookies was added to the table by Joe and Sharon Saunders. Gold tablecloths were placed by Fran Heugatter. Alfred Martinez set up a monitor to display photos of past Preservation Rosebud events.

Internationally known artist Sharon Saunders added beauty to the large conference table by creating several lovely arrangements of native flowers found in her garden in Travis. The large centerpiece was an intricate blending of prairie parsley, bastard cabbage, shallot blooms, parsley hawthorn, yellow Texas star, and collard flowers. Two smaller vases of bluebonnets, paintbrush, and purple vervain were placed on either side. Becky Meacham ordered a lovely rose and daisy arrangement for the sign in table. Audra Palmer of Westphalia Roots delivered the bouquet in a lead crystal vase.

Upstairs, a work demonstration by James Prothro and Alfred Martinez included preparing the second half of the ceiling in the archive/restoration workshop area for final painting. Several guests joined them to see the progress in the renovation of the second floor.

Preservation Rosebud continued to be open until 3:00 p.m. to welcome the community of Rosebud to a free museum day. The volunteers enjoyed a midday break when Les Heugatter and Joe Saunders picked up lunch at the Cougar Pizza Station. The chicken caesar wraps have quickly become a favorite.

Several friends from Rosebud stopped by that afternoon. Barbara Stallcup Borden saw the displays for the first time. She was recruited to take the group picture and everyone agreed that the former “Miss Calallen High School” made a great photographer, so pretty in pink. Special thanks to Mark Pelzel of “The Rosebud News” who stopped by to take photos of the displays and to see the latest happenings at the museum. We always look forward to seeing him at these events. Other visitors who signed in were Dusty Rays and Matt Gauke, who saw the open house announcement in “The Rosebud News.”

It was Marla Zipperlen Wallace’s vision to open the doors of the museum to returning alumni. This open house tradition began in 2014 when Preservation Rosebud hosted the RHS Honor Class of ’64. Since then, this event has become part of the reunion agenda, offering a place to gather before the events at St. Ann’s Center begin.

Preservation Rosebud plans to hold an open house for the 50+ Rosebud- Lott High School Classes of ’71-’76 when they meet in August. The building will also be open for extended hours to offer a free museum day to the community.

Preservation Rosebud operates solely from grants, individual contributions, and volunteerism. Please join us and over 50 life members in our commitment to preserving Rosebud’s history.

Those wishing to make a donation may contact Treasurer Alfred Martinez at P.O. Box 792, Rosebud, TX 76570. Lifetime memberships are $200. Annual memberships are $20.

Thanks to everyone who made the reunion reception such a success. Please follow Preservation Rosebud on Facebook for all the latest events and updates.