Mural town

On Aug. 28, nationally recognized mural artist, Sam Welty, will arrive in our fair city and begin two weeks of mural projects. The brainchild of this project is David Melton, chairman of Rockdale Earth Day, who wanted to create something that would beautify our town.

Melton’s planning for this project started in January and he has taken to the streets to present it to as many people and businesses as possible. And, man, did they respond in a positive way. Seems people really like this idea for Rockdale.

Our editor, David Money, is going to do a feature story in the coming weeks, but Melton and Rockdale Earth Day members wanted to thank the folks who made this project possible.

Dan and Joan Ratliff with Rainbow Courts will be providing one of their beautiful rooms for Welty for the entire two weeks, and Perry & Perry Builders are providing a mechanical lift and power washing. Rockdale Signs and Photography will provide welcome signs for Welty at each of the mural walls.

Welty has to eat while he’s here and a lot of Rockdale’s restaurants have generously donated meals. They include Kenny Schneebeli with Big Boy’s BBQ, Brett Boren with Brett’s Backyard Bar-B-Que, Corona’s, Susie Bustillos and Ricky Munoz with Rockdale Dairy Queen, Mr Gatti’s Pizza, La Cocina Familiar, Lee Lee Parsley with Lee’s Landing, McDonald’s, New Oriental Kitchen, Pizza Hut, The Ranch, Subway/Texas Burger and Denise Monzingo with RISD will provide meals to the artist and student helpers.

And for a project like this, monetary donations are always needed and here is a list of very generous people supporting this mural project.

Friends of Rockdale Earth Day (donations of $1 to $99) are Suzy Ammon, Anna and Nathan Bland, Jan Beery, Denise Brock, Mario Casarez, Peggy Eckman, an anonymous donation in honor of Gertie and Aggie, First Presbyterian Church, Denise and Kent Givens, Mary and Moses Mata, Jay Newsome, Donnie Rinn, Nathan Bland with Rollo Insurance, Elena Ruiz, Susan Vertullo, Paula Waak, Mary Ware and Barbara Wright.

The Century Club members (donations of $100 to $499) are All Saints Episcopal Church, Lacy and Jason Barcak, Geri and Bob Burnett, Kara Clore with Strategy Consultants Group LLC, Sharon Cloud, Ricky Coppedge, Kalen and Dani Donnelly-Kerlin, Joyce Dalley, Leslie Davidson with Pud Owens Realty, Deta and David Donnelly, Jared Dunn, Shirley Miller-Lee with First Materials and Technology.

Also, Maria Flores, Valerie Frazier, Jennifer and Alan Lazarow, Matilde Garza, Monique Gebhart with Pud Owens Realty, Warren Gillie and Don Gooding, Barbara Holly, Veronica Gonzalez and Luis Lugo, Angi and Rafa Lara, Ruben Jack and Susan Long, Dave and Reynaldo Mata-Melton, Judith Matula with Pud Owens Realty, Rockdale McDonald’s, Shelley and Jim Eanes with Midway Grocery.

Also, Barbara Nelson, Donna Nichter, Rick Powell, Rockdale Building Materials Center, Rockdale Federal Credit Union, The Rockdale Reporter, Rockdale Rotary Club, Kathryne Roddam with Keller Williams Realty, Ann Schnerr, Carolyn Shirley, Jackline Thorton, Wendie Upson, Barbara and Lon Williams, Laura and Dave Wilman and Jackie Thornton.

Patrons (donations of $500 or more) include Alpha One Chevrolet Buick, Attorneys of Texas Title, Classic Bank, Mona Butala, Brad and Cassie Caffey with Caffey Corner, Robin Faulkner, Michelle and Randy Fletcher with Rockdale Welding Supply, Peggy and Collier Perry, Joan and Dan Ratliff, Ann and Casey Stanislaw, Vision Historic Preservation Foundation, Chris Whitaker, Rick Wilson with Wilson Tile and Lynn and Steve Young.

Major support was provided by the generous folks from the Rockdale Downtown Association and the Rockdale Municipal Development District. —K.W.C.