Tony Guidroz is the newly hired Director of Economic Development/Tourism for the City of San Saba and will be working with W. Owen Parks, the President of the Economic Development Committee. Tony's job includes management of the Civic Center, the two RV parks, Peddlers' Day, and promoting tourism. He will also encourage and cultivate industries and businesses for more employment to the area. Peddlers' Day will have a name change to Pecan Capital Trade Days (PCTD) and there will be more arts and crafts vendors, local garden produce, and entertainment scheduled. PCTD, and other local events, will be publicized as far away as Austin, Waco and Killeen. Tony is very enthusiastic about his job and its amazing opportunities.

When the job was posted, Tony and his family were living in Opelousas, Louisiana, and looking for employment and wanted to move to his wife's hometown of San Saba. Their prayers were answered and thankful that God directed them to be here close to family. His wife, the former Debra Johnson, daughter of Mary Lindsey of San Saba and Jimmy Johnson of Houston, was raised in San Saba and moved to Cherokee the middle of her senior year. Debra's father has a home in the Bend area and is in the area quite often. Debra also enjoys being here with her sisters, Donna Blossman and Diane Higgenbotham.

The rest of the family making the move is 13-year-old Ryan, a 7th grader at San Saba, and 9-year-old Logan, a 4th grader at San Saba, as well as Sugar, their faithful Cocker Spaniel. Their 23-year-old son, William, is a supervisor of a pipeline crew and lives in Carrolton, Missouri, and their 28-year-old daughter, Jessica, lives in Fort Worth with their three grandchildren. Debra also found employment in the area as a part-time registered nurse at the San Saba Nursing Home and the hospital in Llano. An interesting thing about their move is that they are living at 1006 West Storey, a home where Debra's parents use to live.

Tony's mother and step-father live in Opelousas, La., and his father lives in West Monroe, La. He has one brother, three half-sisters, one half-brother, three step-brothers, and four step-sisters. After graduating from high school, Tony attended Texas State Technical College for two years studying computer networking and conflict mediation. While in college, Tony was the Student Government President. He was in the marketing business, a "morning show" radio broadcaster, and manager of a radio station. He started early being responsible working as a prep chef for Dairy Queen at the age of 12. His hobbies are drums and singing, including rock, blues, country, cajun bands, and gospel. Tony has made arrangements to be a part of the entertainment at the Cow Camp Cook -Off on Saturday, June 21st, playing drums and singing with Durwood Stride & Texas Best Band, comprised of three members of the Bob Wills Original Texas Playboys Band.

Since Tony is new to the area, he stated that the Spring Visitor's Guide, published last week in the San Saba News & Star, will be a tremendous help. Tony's office is at the Civic Center. He enjoys meeting and talking to people for ideas and input and getting to know the area, so stop by for a visit or you can call him at 372-5440.