Thank You Fort Bend for a Fabulous 10 Years!


200-cakeIn November 2004, history was made in Fort Bend County as a new community-oriented publication was launched. Fort Bend Focus Magazine began covering the people, places and happenings in Fort Bend, and now, 10 years later, the magazine and the community it serves has thrived – thanks to our loyal advertisers and readers.

Today, Fort Bend Focus remains Fort Bend’s #1 Read Magazine donating over $100,000 to community non-profits with signature events, profiling Fort Bend’s famous, covering countless community activities and sharing the good news of the place we call home. We’ve won a several awards along the way and received hundreds of e-mails and letters from readers letting us know that Fort Bend Focus’ mission of serving the community remains alive and well. Cheers to the next 10 years!

November 2004

120-novOlympic gold medalist Steven Lopez appeared on the cover of the debut issue of Fort Bend Focus Magazine. At the time, Sugar Land’s martial arts guru was the only taekwondo athlete in the world to win back-to-back Olympic gold. And, Steven wasn’t finished.  He would later win another Olympic medal, and he would appear again on our cover with his famous siblings in 2010 as a sports legend.

Publisher Lisa Fredrickson wrote, “Each month you will hear from me or Michael in this Publisher’s Preview, you will see us at your events, you will see us out in the community, you will see us for years to come.”  And the community did see them – and the magazine – for years to come.


2005

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In 2005, we met some of Fort Bend’s famous:  ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard, former Houston Oiler Bruce Matthews and a soon to be regular, award-winning columnist for Fort Bend Focus Magazine: Alisa Murray. And, we embarked on a journey that we remain committed to today. We turned the October issue pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness and showcased our first survivor Lynne Humphries, a tradition that we proudly continue each October.


2006

120-joey120-bobIn 2006, we celebrated everything from a TV sports journalist to a musical phenom. We caught a pass from NFL quarterback Giff Nielsen and learned all about his “luv ya blue” days and were entertained by a composer and pianist who performed for the likes of presidents, governors and an astronaut or two: Joey Boesch. And, we began honoring a Fort Bend Focus Magazine Man of the Year. Our first recipient? Bob Brown, and we even talked him into donning a Santa hat for the December cover. Ho, ho, ho!


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2007

The year 2007 rang in with a bang – literally.  Missouri City miracle Ann Smith’s home exploded around her, and she walked away with a smile.  She made it both on our cover and the cover of the National Enquirer. Houston Astro Shane Reynolds took the mound for the First Colony Little League as its president. Olympic track stars Leroy and Michelle Burrell, the fastest couple in the world, ran across our cover, and Safari Texas’ Allison Wen was named Fort Bend Focus Magazine’s Man of the Year.


2008

120-crystle120-jewelsMissouri City’s Crystle Stewart was crowned Miss USA, Brenda Pullen saddled up for our Breast Cancer Awareness issue and Fort Bend’s famous auctioneer Commissioner James Patterson won Man of the Year. Perhaps the most intriguing question of 2008 was, “Who are the JEWELS of Fort Bend?”  The Joyous, Extraordinary Women Enriching Lives were named – Carole Brown, Dee Koch, Tami McGuire, Billie Wendt and KK West – in a debut luncheon and style show emceed by Roseann Rogers. This began a seven-year tradition of giving to community non-profits for Fort Bend Focus Magazine – a tradition that continues to this day.


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2009

In 2009, the High-Tech Texan taught us about gadgets galore, and we met a young Chef Rey who would go on to become head chef for the Houston Astros and now, the Houston Rockets. We had a little birthday bash as we celebrated five fabulous years, and we ate a lot of Chef Rey’s famous cheesecakes.  Our JEWELS – Donna Kay Tucker, Ann Smith, Billie J. Neuhaus, May W. Tape and Lizz Sansone – sparkled as always, and we wrote a big check to two amazing organizations:  The East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry, Inc. and Rosenberg Richmond Helping Hands, Inc. We talked baseball with our Man of the Year, John Null, and we helped Fort Bend ISD celebrate 50 years.


2010

120-museum120-autism120-favreThe year 2010 was huge in Fort Bend – as huge as the tyrannosaurus rex named Stan who came to live at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land. We met the Jackson family as they tackled autism with Houston Texans’ dad Scott Jackson calling the plays. We fell in love with Mary Favre, an amazing woman who would become a regular photography contributor for the magazine, as she shared her story about surviving cancer for our October issue. Patti Parish-Kaminski was named Editor-in-Chief, and Lisa began spending more time in the hill country. Can you say foreshadowing? And, our JEWELS were as amazing as always:  Brigit Engleman, Carolyn Banfield, Peggy Duggan, Lynn Halford and Cassandra Wen.


2011

120-donLet’s play ball! The year 2011 brought a name to Sugar Land’s new team – the Sugar Land Skeeters – and we were all bitten by the baseball bug. We celebrated doctor moms in May and doctor dads in June, and our Man of the Year was seen around town in a red Classic Chevrolet convertible full of Christmas gifts. The JEWELS of Fort Bend – Doris Gurecky, Pat Hebert, Cari Middaugh, Judy Schmid and Lucia Street – supported the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, and we helped the Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo celebrate its 75th anniversary. Yee haw!


2012

120-boys120-maineIn 2012, we celebrated a community treasure for 30 years:  The Fort Bend Boys Choir.  We shined the spotlight on two amazing community organizations serving Fort Bend residents:  Texana Center and the new Mamie George Community Center.  And, our Man of the Year Kevin Kline ran away with our hearts.  We retired the JEWELS after honoring 25 incredible women, rounding the group out with Sandra Billingsley, Jacqueline Baly, Mary Favre, Melissa Hayslip and Kathy Huebner, and we began developing our new signature event to support our community.


2013

120-bev120-100Sadly, we lost Fort Bend icon Bev Carter in 2013, and heaven gained a journalistic force to be reckoned with. We showcased Fort Bend County as the newest film mecca in Texas, and things got a little heated when we featured the Sugar Land Citizen’s Fire Academy Alumni Association’s 2014 Firefighters Calendar. Speaking of hot, we debuted the first GEMS of Fort Bend – Generous, Enthusiastic Men Serving – and hosted a chips for charity casino.  Gentlemen GEMS Carl Favre, Joe Gurecky and Scott West helped us assist many Fort Bend families with healthcare by giving a big check to AccessHealth. We celebrated our 100th issue with an award-winning magazine, campaign and event and focused on the 100 Most Fascinating Things About Fort Bend.  Hard to believe we could limit it to 100!


2014

120-gems120-schoolFrom the Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair to the Exchange Club of Sugar Land’s Annual Spaghetti Dinner, we saw it all – and covered it for Fort Bend. We went back to  school, met some beautiful blushing brides, focused on the cure in October and announced our 2014 GEMS of Fort Bend:  Robert C. Brown, III, Neil Banfield and James D. Rice. We hosted another phenomenal GEMS event and raised money for Texana Center. And, best of all, we celebrated our 10 year anniversary!