Maria Jovita Lopez was born on February 6, 1933, in La Coste, Texas and passed away on June 28, 2022, at the age of 89 in Lytle, Texas. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernesto G. Lopez Sr., son, Ernest V. Lopez Jr., and grandson, Jose Humberto Ramirez. She is survived by her daughters; Criselda (Norman) Glaze, Enitra (Jesus) Juarez, Excilla (Vince) Ramirez, and Yunila (John) Espinosa; grandchildren; Jessica, Jesus Jr., Megan, Jonathan, Ernest III and Christian; great-grandchildren, Britny, Excilla, Kasey, Anthony, Joshua, Joseph, Joshua, Jathan, Javian, Jaeliana, Jaxson; great-great-grandchildren, Eli, Peyton, Braydon, Sawyer, Meredith, Barrett, Bentley, and Hazel, along with numerous nephews and nieces all whom she dearly loved. She will be greatly missed by all her family and especially her grandkids. They will miss her many meals made with so much love. Her witty remarks and or comebacks that filled the rooms with continuous laughter. She loved to be in her yard with her beautiful roses and talking to her neighbors. She also loved attending and watching all her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids events. She has left us with so many fond memories. Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 from 9:30 am – 11:00 am at Hurley Funeral Home Chapel, 14822 Main Street, Lytle, Texas 78052. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am at Hurley Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Lytle Community Cemetery. For personal acknowledgements, please visit www.hurleyfuneralhome.com Arrangements entrusted to Hurley Funeral Home, 14822 Main Street, Lytle, Texas 78052.
Florentina Pedroza Perez, also known as, “Quata”, passed away on Saturday, July 2, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 66 years, 0 months and 12 days. Florentina was born in Natalia, Texas on June 20, 1956, to Gavino Pedroza and Guadalupe Reyes. She resided in Natalia, Texas for 66 years. Florentina leaves behind wonderful memories for all of her friends and family. May she be with God forever. She is preceded in death by her father; Gavino Pedroza, mother; Guadalupe Reyes, and 2 brothers; Jose Pedroza and Estevan Pedroza. She survived by her daughter(s); April Martinez, San Antonio, Texas; Maricella Martinez Nash, Somerset, Texas; Veronica Martinez Cerda/ Jesse Cerda; Natalia, Texas and her Son; Raul Martinez Jr., Natalia, Texas. Florentina’s sisters, Sylvia Garcia/ Tony Garcia Florida; Dora Pedroza; Florida; Christina Davila/ Ricardo Davila; Florida; Maryann Pedroza; Florida. Florentina’s brothers, Twin: Silverio Pedroza; Somerset, Texas; Carlos Pedroza/Lupe Pedroza; Florida; Roman Pedroza/Sandy Pedroza; San Antonio, Texas. Florentina had 11 Grandchildren; Natalie Justine Martinez, Adriana Danielle Martinez, Raul Martinez III, Julianne Martinez, John Anthony Martinez, Meranda Michelle Constante, Jose Luis Constante III, Victoria Nicole Lugo, Christopher Kelly Nash, Zaida Rose Nash, and Ezra Roy Martinez-Leyva. 6 Great grandchildren; Autumn Janelle Martinez, Abby Jade Frias, Taylor McKenzie Martinez, Mayjor Felan, Laurel McConnell, and Hayden McConnell. Services are as follow: Visitation: St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Natalia, Texas 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Rosary: 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Mass: 11:00 a.m. Place of rest, St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Devine, Texas Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Franklin Funeral Home of Floresville, Texas.
Dr. Sam Ridgway, distinguished marine mammal veterinarian and scientist, passed away peacefully at home in San Diego, surrounded by beloved family and friends. Sam was a humble man of heroic accomplishment, with a quick wit, kind heart, and gentle soul. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him. Sam was born in Bigfoot, Texas, son to Morris Shepard and Florence Lipscomb Ridgway. In 1960, he married his sweetheart, Dr. Jeanette Fuller Ridgway, PhD, of Richards, Texas. They enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage before she passed in 2020. Sam is survived by his brother Don Ridgway (wife Jo Layne), brother Sid Ridgway (wife Mary Jay), and their families. He earned his undergraduate and veterinary degrees from Texas A&M University and was a loyal fan of the Aggies’ football team. Sam was commissioned in the Air Force as a veterinary officer for military service animals. Upon moving to California, he became the attending veterinarian for the US Navy’s marine mammals, which launched his career in marine mammal medicine and science. In 1970, he received a Navy fellowship to study under Sir Richard Harrison at Cambridge University, where he earned a PhD in neuroscience. He applied this knowledge to understanding the behavior and physiology of marine mammals, especially bottlenose dolphins. Sam was a founder of the US Navy’s Marine Mammal Program, which he served for more than 60 years. He was the founding President and CEO of the National Marine Mammal Foundation, a nonprofit he helped establish in 2007. Sam was widely known for establishing novel methods to partner with marine mammals in the open ocean, which allowed humans to observe and interact with animals in their natural environment. This led to great advancements in marine mammal behavior, physiology, and acoustics. He was one of the largest contributors to marine mammal science, publishing more than 350 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and books. Early in his career, he published a book called Dolphin Doctor, a name that became synonymous with Sam himself. A large volume of his work focused on cetacean neuroscience, anatomy, and physiology. His book Mammals of the Sea, published 50 years ago, remains one of the most comprehensive textbooks on marine mammal physiology. Sam was affectionately known among his colleagues as the ‘father of marine mammal medicine’ due to his pioneering spirit and ground-breaking discoveries that advanced the health and welfare of dolphins, porpoises, whales, sea lions, and seals. Sam embraced conservation biology and medicine, and he was eager to apply his knowledge and expertise to marine mammals in the wild. His scientific discoveries served as a foundation for the protection and conservation of marine mammals globally. Throughout his career, Sam mentored hundreds of veterinary and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, marine mammal veterinarians, conservationists, and scientists. He cherished his mentor-mentee relationships and dedicated countless hours to his students. He traveled the world to share his discoveries through lectures and meetings, reaching students and colleagues on every continent. He continued to contribute in his final days, enjoying time spent with members of his Early Scientist Program as they discussed results and finalized publications. Sam was revered as a leader in the marine mammal community. He was founding President of the International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM). He served on the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Marine Mammal Commission, on committees of the National Research Council and National Academy of Sciences, and was elected a fellow of both the Acoustical Society of America and American College of Zoological Medicine. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award by Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine; the Lifetime and Clinical Medicine Awards from IAAAM; the Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award of the Society for Marine Mammalogy; and, two Navy awards, the Gilbert H. Curl Award, and the Lauritsen Bennett Award. Despite his impressive accolades, Sam navigated his life with humility and grace. He touched the minds and hearts of his colleagues with his curiosity and light-hearted nature. When Sam showed his strength, it was always in regard to the animals. He was globally respected and admired for his unwavering commitment to the animals in his care and in the wild. During his lifetime, he inspired students and colleagues all over the world to dedicate their careers to protecting, conserving, and caring for marine mammals. In 2020, a StoryFile was created of Sam, inspired by long-time friend and colleague Carolyn Schlundt Melka. The StoryFile serves as a living memorial that allows present and future generations to interact with Sam about his personal and professional life. A memorial service for both Sam and wife Jeanette will be held at First United Methodist Church of San Diego, at a date to be determined. Information about the memorial service will be made available at www.nmmf.org/ridgway. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Marine Mammal Foundation’s Ridgway Fund, to continue Sam’s legacy.
William John Southwell, III was born on January 19, 1933 in Edinburg, TX and went to his eternal home on July 6, 2022 in Hondo, TX John graduated from McAllen High School in 1951, volunteered for the U.S. Army from 1953-1955, and graduated from the University of Texas in 1957. During his career, John was President and CEO of two international companies, a homebuilder and realtor as well as a Financial Consultant. He was on the lay staff of Campus Crusade for Christ for several years. John and his wife, Debbie, moved to Hondo in 2004. Several years later they became CASA volunteers which led them to form HANK, Inc. (Helping Abused & Neglected Kids). John was predeceased by his parents, Bill and Billie Jo Southwell, and his brother, James W. Southwell. He leaves behind the love of his life, Debbie, son John (Penny) Southwell, daughter Dion (Brian) Lawson, son Mark (Nicole) Southwell, brother Steve (Sheryl) Southwell, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at New Fountain United Methodist Church at 1:00 p.m. Please wear bright colors; John wanted this to be a joyous celebration of his life. Services are under the direction of Hondo Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, John’s wish was that tax-deductible donations be made to HANK, Inc. The mailing address for HANK is 450 County Road 246, Hondo, TX 78861.
Your Lytle PD officers kept busy this past week. For the 7-day period that ended on July 10 we had a total of 63 calls for service. That period also included 87 traffic stops with 80 of those resulting in citations and 7 resulting in warnings. Only two property crimes were reported last week. #1 – A 2014 Nissan Sentra was reported stolen. The owner had parked the car at John Lott Park (Adams St. side). #2 – A Bruce St. resident reported that her car was “keyed”. Arrests for the last week: #1 – (Ofc. Diaz & Sgt. Hanson) A motorist stopped for speeding on Main St. was determined to be DWI. He was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. #2 & #3 – (Ofc. Diaz) Traffic stop at 2:40 AM resulted in two juveniles being cited for curfew violation, they were released to guardians. #4 – (Ofc. A. Lopez & Capt. Reyes) Officers responded to a trespasser in the 18000 Blk. of FM 2790 (by the Animal Control Facility). A male was arrested for trespassing and booked into the Medina Co. Jail. #5, #6, & #7 (!) – (Ofc. Cortez & Ofc. Pena) Officers responded to the Whataburger for a disturbance. The end result was one person arrested for DWI and a warrant for DWI, a passenger was arrested for a warrant out of Kendal Co. (marijuana possession), and another person was arrested for public intoxication. Three arrests for the price of one. They were all booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. This is the kind of stuff our officers deal with at 4:42 AM when most of us are home sleeping. Crime of the Week: Aggravated Robbery – On Thursday July 7th at approx. 12:13 AM Sgt. Hanson was on routine patrol. He turned off of Wisdom Rd. onto Ball Rd. and observed a robbery in progress. Two victims were lying face down on the roadway, the suspects jumped into their vehicle and fled. Sgt. Hanson pursued them and they crashed out at Greenwood Rd. and Old Pearsall Rd. The suspects escaped on foot, and we are working to get them identified. It appears our suspect(s) impersonated law enforcement during the robbery. This case is under investigation. The 4th of July Fireworks show was a blast! A bunch of people showed up and endured the heat for a good time. It would appear that the food trucks were a huge hit; I saw long lines and some ran out of product. I got that one wrong, I figured they wouldn’t do that well. My thought process was that people would be cooking out all day and the last thing on their mind would be food trucks. I stand corrected, this makes about the 6th or 7th time I have been wrong on something….so write it down. I talked to a lot of people and they all had positive comments about the event. I stepped outside my comfort zone last week and was a youth camp sponsor for our church. I headed up to Highland Lakes Camp in Spicewood the morning following the fireworks show, my son and two other young men were in my care. I spent three nights in a bunkhouse we shared with about 40 kids and adults from La Vernia FBC, they were awesome. I’m not sure what they feed those boys over there, it looked more like a college football team. I was lucky and had two mattresses; I believe both of them were WWII surplus. Everyone said the food was really good for “camp food”, I didn’t miss any meals. There was a zip line, a pool, a banana boat (there was still enough water in Lake Travis, I’m not sure for how long), awesome speakers and worship music. Like most places these days they were short staffed, but they made do. By Friday morning I was wore out. If I was running that thing the schedule would include nap time.
We had our big family reunion last weekend, and there were cousins galore. We must have three dozen little hooligans between all of us. Family reunions are a little complicated to plan, but it sure is nice to get to actually talk to your cousins, nieces and nephews, aunts, and uncles. Even though many of us live in the same town, we are all busy with other stuff and seldom take that time. This weekend, I learned that one of our little cousins is going to be a veterinarian, surgeon, or doctor, so that’s good to know. She’s only in the fourth grade, but I have no doubt she will be exactly one of those things. I missed the sand volleyball game this year for fear of collapsing after I chased Tucker back and forth between every cousin’s cabin a million times. That resort is lots of fun, but there are A LOT of hills and stairs. It seems that everywhere you go is uphill, both ways. Every day we had a huge buffet of home cooked food and casseroles to choose from, but I am sure we worked it off on those hills. Yes a family reunion is a lot of planning and organization, but it’s well worth it.
The month of July seems to be flying by, doesn’t it? By the time some of you read this it will be within days of being half over. My week has been nice and quiet, no meetings and doing whatever crafts or sewing that I wanted to. It has been very enjoyable, with a little visiting, an evening with a friend playing a board game until all hours and a shopping trip to Victoria. Now, the fun begins with Pokeno on Monday, a funeral and then a meeting on Tuesday and who knows what else the rest of the week! This week, I decided to tell you a little bit about garlic. It seems to be in the forefront in articles that your read telling you that it helps control heart problems and cholesterol, etc. They have even come out with pills so you don’t have “garlic breath” if you follow a regimen to help with any illnesses. When I went into the search mode on my computer, I quickly found that there were nearly 30-million sites concerning garlic. Parts of this article are from United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, parts are from About.com:Home Cooking and some is from Cookbook:Garlic – Wikibooks, collection of open-content textbooks. Garlic is a member of the lily family, as are onions, leeks and chives. The scientific name for garlic is allium sativum. Unlike onions, leeks and chives, garlic is generally used as a spice or a seasoning rather than as a vegetable due to its extremely strong flavor. The word garlic comes from Old English garleac, which means, “spear leek”. Garlic was referred to in the Old World, Egyptian and Indian cultures 5,000 years ago, and there is historical evidence of it being used by the Babylonians 4,500 years ago, and by the Chinese over 2,000 years ago. Until the first quarter of the twentieth century, garlic was not very popular in the United States and was found mostly in ethnic dishes in working-class neighborhoods. But, by 1940, America finally recognized the value of garlic, not only as a seasoning, but also as a major ingredient in recipes Egyptians worshipped garlic and placed clay models of garlic bulbs in the tomb of Tutankhamen. It was so highly prized, that it was used as currency. An old folklore belief was that garlic repelled vampires and protected against the Evil Eye, as well as numerous other beliefs. It grows wild only in Central Asia today. Garlic grew wild over a much larger region, and wild garlic may have occurred in an area from China to India to Egypt to the Ukraine. This is considered its “center of origin”, as this is the geographic region where the crop originated and the only place where it grew wild. Many cooks make the mistake of thinking that the large bulb of garlic you buy is a clove of garlic. This is not true by any means. The whole garlic is called a “head” or a “knob”. Each segment is called a “clove” of garlic. In other words, if a recipe calls for three cloves of garlic, you would use three of the separate segments. Garlic will keep a long time if the heads are stored in a cool dark place. If you keep them in the fridge, they will sprout and taste bitter. Cookbook:Garlic states that garlic heads can be frozen, without ill-effect, or they can simply be stored in a dark cupboard away from moisture. If you buy the garlic braids, they should be hung up to prevent bruising of the cloves. It also states that if you want to store garlic gloves individually and ready for use, the garlic must be either dried or processed. A good way to freeze prepared garlic is to crush or mince it in a food processor and mix it with a little water, then freeze it in an ice cube tray, so that the cubes can be used as needed. It also can be frozen in olive oil, or frozen whole. You should never under any circumstances should you leave garlic in olive oil at room temperature or leave garlic in oil to sit on the counter. Since garlic is grown in the ground, it can be contaminated with botulism spores, which are almost impossible to remove. The spores are generally harmless in their normal state, but because they are anaerobic bacteria, they will grow if the conditions are right – that is, submersed in oil and stored at room temperature. These spores cannot grow in the cold, so freeze or refrigerate it, or store the garlic in vodka, wine or vinegar rather than oil. In this day and age, we no longer really have to use fresh garlic and have our hands and cutting boards smelling of garlic. We can simply use a bottle of garlic from the grocery store. It keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator and the garlic odor does not penetrate the glass, so your fridge does not smell of garlic. You may not believe this, but in one of the sites, there was even a recipe for garlic ice cream! No thank you not for this lady! Most of us just use garlic when we make spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread to go with the dish and in the seasoning of our chili and beans. Spicy Garlic Chicken Skewers Ingredients: Water, for soaking skewers 1 dozen 10-inch bamboo skewers 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 2 tablespoons honey 4 tablespoons ketchup 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons English or Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce Salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste 3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into thin strips Instructions: Soak 12 bamboo skewers in water for at least 20 minutes Meanwhile, in a non-reactive bowl (i.e. glass), mix together the garlic, honey, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper. Toss in the chicken strips and stir until well combined. Cover and marinate 20 to 30 minutes or overnight. Prepare outdoor grill or preheat broiler to high. Thread marinated chicken onto skewers. Cook over the hot cools of an outdoor grill 5 to 6 minutes. Or, arrange on a foil-lined baking sheet and broil 6 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally until well browned and cooked through. Yield: 4 servings. Garlic Broiled Shrimp 2 pounds large shrimp, shelled and deveined, with tails left on ½ cup butter 3 cloves garlic, minced finely Salt and pepper to taste if desired Place cleaned, seasoned shrimp on a foil-lined baking sheet. Melt butter with minced garlic over a low heat and cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Brush shrimp with butter mixture, place under broiler and broil for 3 minutes. Brush shrimp again and turn over. Brush this side and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp are pink. Serve with red sauce, if desired. When my grandchildren were small, my daughter gave me the recipe for this bubble stuff. It would not be long before there would be ten or more children in my yard chasing bubbles. Everyone loved it, and now my great-grandchildren love it also! Super Duper Bubbles 6 cups tap water 2 cups dishwashing liquid (I usually use Dawn®, because that is what I have on hand, but Joy® works really well also) ¾ cup white corn syrup (this makes the bubbles last longer, but can be omitted if you don’t have any) Mix all ingredients in a clean 1-gallon water, milk or juice jug. Stir to mix thoroughly. Pour some of the mixture in a shallow pan on a flat surface outdoors. One of the 8-inch or 9-inch clay or plastic pans (that are used under a flowerpot) works great. An aluminum pie tin works well, but tips over easily! Dip wand into mixture and wave gently through the air. If too many bubbles form on top, blow excess off. This happens if you stir it too much while using it. This mixture can be poured back into the container to use again another day. The best bubble wands for this are the new larger ones that are now on the market at most of the dollar stores. Have fun.
Case Finto (on right) and her mom Candy after getting Case fitted for a new wheelchair and special crutches. Case was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis this year, and the family appreciates anything you can do to help. Her daddy, Waylon, is also battling MS and was diagnosed just one year before her. You can drop off a donation at The Devine News. Please make out any checks directly to Candy Finto. If you would be interested in hosting a benefit or plate sale for the Finto family, please let us know. There is also a Go Fund Me which can be found on Candy Finto’s facebook page.
A young man and woman were pulled over by suspects impersonating police officers around midnight right on the edge of Lytle city limits this past Thursday, July 7th. It happened at Wisdom Road and Ball Road. “They pulled the victims over using red and blue sirens, according to witnesses. One of the suspects was dressed in a police-like uniform and equipment, and he was armed with a handgun,” said Lytle Police Chief Richey Priest. They had the victims lying down on the ground with zip ties when one of our officers on patrol spotted them. Luckily, nobody got hurt.” Upon seeing the Lytle PD officer, the suspects fled in their vehicle. The suspects crashed striking a railroad crossing arm at Old Frio City Road and Pearsall Road. At that point they bailed out and fled on foot. “We have video of what looks like five suspects that fled on foot from the crashed vehicle. They bailed out and ran in all different directions. We do have suspect(s) in this case, and we will be working with the Texas Rangers as we continue this investigation,” Priest added. A purse, gaming console, jewelry and a handgun were stolen from the victims during the armed robbery. We discussed what to do if you ever find yourself in a rural area where you feel uncomfortable and cannot see a clearly marked PD car. “Every situation is different,” Chief Priest said. “If it’s not a marked vehicle and you feel uncomfortable, you might need to just turn on your flashers and slow down until you get to a parking lot or lighted area where you can pull over. Our officers are also aware of that and sometimes we will follow someone until we get to a more well-lit area to make a stop.” Sheriff Randy Brown adds, “You can call the Sheriff’s Office and they can most likely confirm that it is one of our officers. You’ll need to know where you’re at. If you are in Medina County, call Medina County Sheriff’s Department, or if you’re in Atascosa County, you’ll need to call Atascosa Sheriff’s Department. Slow down, put on your emergency flashers and drive to a place where you feel safe.”
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” -Mother Theresa
John and his beautiful wife Debbie, who will carry on and lead HANK Inc. for many years to come. John and Debbie co-founded HANK Inc to serve foster children in Medina County and the surrounding areas in 2010. Mrs. Southwell now serves as the President along with a board of dedicated volunteers.
This weekend family, friends and community will celebrate the life of a remarkable man who impacted thousands of lives in Medina County and the surrounding area. Every year, the late John Southwell, 89, helped provide hundreds of foster children with Christmas gifts. Every week, he went to the store and bought beds, playpens, strollers, anything a foster child needed that the State wouldn’t provide. Every day, he advocated for these kids, building up a homegrown non-profit organization named HANK, Inc., which he co-founded with his beautiful wife, Debbie, who will carry on the mission. I went to visit Mr. Southwell at his home just a few days before he passed away, and even as he struggled so, he was still advocating for these children. He was excited to let me know that HANK will be opening their third community foster home very soon. One of the last things he said to me was “Children are the most precious thing”. I know there will be a special place in Heaven for Mr. John Southwell, of Hondo, Texas. What a legacy he leaves behind. Three community foster homes with 18 warm beds for local foster children in Devine and Hondo. A little love and joy in the hearts of thousands of foster children who received a gift and were touched by HANK over the years, and will continue to be touched for many years to come. A memorial service for William “John” Southwell, III will take place on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at New Fountain United Methodist Church at 1:00 p.m. Please wear bright colors; John wanted this to be a joyous celebration of his life. Full obituary inside. I first met Mr. John Southwell when I was covering County Court as a reporter for the local newspaper. That Monday, the county was donating surplus funds to a non-profit organization named HANK, which stands for Helping Abused and Neglected Kids. We met for an interview shortly afterward. The first thing he explained is that there were 100–200 foster children in our little three-county area at any given time. From that first meeting, I knew right then and there that this was the best charity in Medina County. One of the Mr. Southwell’s goals was to raise enough money to build “community foster homes” in local towns because finding a warm bed for a foster child is so difficult. At that time, a local judge explained that they often have to send kids to foster homes four hours away or even farther because there is simply no available bed for them in our area. With so much hard work, dedication and sincerity, Mr. Southwell’s dream to build community foster homes soon came true. In 2016 they built their first community foster home in Devine. In 2017, they were able to build a second home in the neighboring town of Hondo, Texas, which is where the Southwells live and where HANK, Inc. began. And this year, they will open their 3rd community foster home. Their “little” organization, run out of their home office, has purchased some 15,000 Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, and sets of school supplies. That’s not to mention the thousands of other things HANK has purchased for kids in need over the past ten years. Mr. Southwell was an inspiration to everyone who met him. To see this awesome husband-and-wife team working side by side and everything they have accomplished just blows me away. He became somewhat of a grandfather figure to me over the years, as he did to hundreds upon hundreds of children who recieved a little comfort from HANK at a time when they needed it most. Mr. Southwell was a good business man and an excellent speaker. When he retired, he used those talents to build up HANK, alongside his wife Debbie and many volunteers. He was a man who was quick to tell you when you did a good job and that always motivated you to do more. He was inspirational by his actions and absolutely sincere in everything he did. John and Debbie saw big needs of foster children that weren’t being met while volunteering for another organization, and instead of accepting it, they took into thier own hands and hearts to answer that call, fulfill those needs that aren’t covered by the State for local foster children. What an impact a man can make.
