San Angelo Chamber Honors Community Leaders at 109th Annual Banquet

SAN ANGELO, TX - San Angelo’s business and civic leaders gathered Thursday night to celebrate community achievements at the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce’s 109th Annual Banquet.

The event, held at the McNease Convention Center, recognized outstanding contributions from individuals and organizations across the city. Awards were presented for innovation, business leadership, and community service, with Dr. Bob and Jean Ann LeGrand receiving the evening’s highest honor for their decades of dedication to San Angelo and Angelo State University. Other honorees included Thieman Investments, Free Rein Coffee, and Congressman August Pfluger, all recognized for their leadership and service to the community.

The following is a list of the awards that were presented at the 109th Annual Banquet on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

Outgoing 2024 Chairman Chris Evatt made the following presentations:  

Outstanding Member 

Awarded to: Thieman Investments 

Thieman Investments, co-founded in 2016 by Joe Thieman and his father, has become a trusted name in financial planning and investment services in San Angelo, Texas. Rooted in a commitment to helping clients achieve their financial goals, the firm draws on Joe’s expertise in Economics and Personal  Financial Planning, gained at Texas Tech University, and his years of hands-on experience. 

At Thieman Investments, personalized service and expert advice are at the heart of every client relationship. The firm’s dedication to making a tangible difference in clients’ lives has earned it a reputation for excellence in the financial industry. 

Beyond its financial services, Thieman Investments is deeply engaged in the local community,  supporting nonprofits and organizations like the West Texas Rehab, San Angelo Performing Arts  Center, and The Children’s Advocacy Center. This commitment reflects the firm’s belief in giving back to the region that shaped its success. 

Outstanding Director 

Awarded to: Brittany Reichenau 

Brittany Reichenau is a CPA with 19 years of experience across both the public and private sectors. For the past three years, she has served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Gandy Ink, bringing her extensive expertise to the company. 

Over the past year as the Chamber’s Treasurer, Brittany’s guidance helped navigate complex financial challenges, ensuring the Chamber’s stability during a critical time. Thanks to their strategic vision and commitment, we not only overcame these obstacles but also positioned ourselves for growth and success that would have otherwise been unattainable. Her efforts have left a lasting impact on our organization, paving the way for a stronger, more vibrant future. 

Innovation Award 

Awarded to: Free Rein Coffee 

In August 2022, Free Rein Coffee acquired Long Horn Coffee, setting the stage for remarkable growth and innovation. Within just 14 months, they successfully expanded nationwide through their online sales platform. Building on this momentum, 11 months later, their products launched in approximately  1,500 Walmart stores and multiple H-E-B locations across Texas. Additionally, they established a strategic partnership with HTeaO to feature their specialty coffees across their locations, further enhancing their market presence. This rapid expansion and commitment to innovation have positioned them as a leader in delivering exceptional coffee experiences. 

Chairman’s Award 

Awarded to: Congressman August Pfluger 

I am honored to present the 2023 Chairman’s Award to the San Angelo Congressman August Pfluger. Congressman August Pfluger grew up in San Angelo, TX, and graduated from the U.S. Air Force  Academy before serving in the military for twenty years as a decorated fighter pilot and squadron commander. In Congress, he serves on the Homeland Security Committee and the Energy & Commerce Committee. His local offices have helped solve more than 3,500 problems that people in our community had with government agencies and returned over $10 million to the people they serve. 

Special Merit Award 

Awarded to: Angelo State University 

The Special Merit Award is presented to individuals, businesses, or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to our community. This year, we are proud to honor Angelo State University for its invaluable partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce. Through collaboration, innovation,  and shared vision, Angelo State University has played a pivotal role in driving initiatives that enhance economic development, support local businesses, and strengthen the fabric of our community. Their commitment to excellence and community engagement truly deserves this recognition. 

Outstanding Young Professional of the Year 

Awarded to: Nolan Sosa 

Born and raised in San Angelo, Texas, this individual has demonstrated unwavering dedication to their community. A distinguished graduate of Angelo State University, they earned both Bachelor’s and  Master’s degrees in Business Administration, graduating Summa Cum Laude with Highest University  Honors. Recognized with the Outstanding Graduate Award and Delta Sigma Pi honors for academic excellence, they are currently a Ph.D. candidate in Human Resource Development at the University of  Texas at Tyler. Professionally, they serve as Assistant Vice President at Shannon, overseeing key functions including people operations, external affairs, and governmental relations. Their career includes leadership roles in municipal government and active involvement in the community. They serve on several boards, including the Concho Valley Workforce Development Board and the San  Angelo Chamber of Commerce. Outside of work, they are a skilled martial artist, a proud family person,  and a dedicated advocate for San Angelo’s growth and well-being.

Celebration of Diversity Award 

Awarded to: M.A.N.O. 

The Celebration of Diversity Award honors organizations that exemplify a commitment to fostering inclusion, equity, and cultural understanding within our community. This year, we proudly recognize  M.A.N.O. (Minority Alliance Network Organization) for their unwavering dedication to celebrating diversity and empowering individuals from all backgrounds. Through their impactful programs and initiatives, M.A.N.O. has created meaningful opportunities for collaboration and understanding,  making our community stronger and more united. Their work inspires us all to embrace and celebrate the unique contributions that diversity brings to our lives. 

Phil Neighbors Spirit of San Angelo Award 

Awarded to: Justin Jonas 

Named for the late Phil Neighbors, Phil passionately served our great city as the Chamber President and CEO for 10 years with distinction and dedication. Phil was a gentle soul, who loved our city and worked tirelessly to serve Chamber members and advance the Chamber’s mission. He was a man of strong faith, and always had a warm smile and firm handshake for both friends and strangers alike. Justin Jonas earned his graduate degree from Angelo State University in 1998. He resides in Christoval with his wife, Bridgette, and their son, Levi. For the past 18 years, he has served as the Executive  Director of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association, during which time the organization has experienced remarkable growth. Under his leadership, the livestock show is now ranked 4th in the nation, and the rodeo is ranked 6th—an impressive achievement for San Angelo, the only city in the top ten rankings with a population under one million. The Stock Show and Rodeo has become the largest economic driver for the city, generating an estimated economic impact of $78 million annually,  further solidifying its importance to the region. 

Retiring Directors – Service Awards 

• Michele Babiash, Old Central Firehouse 
• Justin DeLoach, Children’s Advocacy Center 
• Roderick Mayberry, R.M. Electrical Contractor Inc.  
• Ricky Villareal, Shannon Medical Center 

The following award was presented by 2023 Citizen of the Year recipient, Kathleen Brasfield: 

Citizen of the Year 

Awarded to: Bob and Jean Ann LeGrand 

“It’s my honor to announce the COY. So many have done so much to make San Angelo the city we love. This year’s recipients continue that tradition of vision, generosity, and kindness.  

So many lives have been touched directly or indirectly—so many will benefit in the future. It’s amazing how acts of kindness and generosity have unintended positive consequences.  

Let me give you a hint—our COY is a couple—does that narrow it down? Here’s another hint—one was born and raised here, one was not—but thankfully, that one chose to come here and make it home. 

She grew up on a farm south of San Angelo. He grew up in North Carolina. 

She is a graduate of Wall and Angelo State. He is a graduate of Page HS, Wake Forest, and Bowman Gray School of Medicine and completed residencies in surgery and neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University. 

She earned an Associate of Nursing at ASU and worked as a nurse at several hospitals until 1993.

He served in the Air Force as a flight surgeon from 1970-1972, receiving 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses,  3 Air Medals, and a Bronze Star during his one-year tour in Vietnam. He came to San Angelo in 1976.is  

I’m sure you’ve guessed by now—our Citizens of the Year are Dr. Bob and Jean Ann LeGrand. Let’s take a look at how they’ve touched so many lives and how and why their legacy will live on. 

Both Bob and Jean Ann love San Angelo, Angelo State University, and the Concho Valley. They respect the land and its history. Their homeplace which is where Jean Ann grew up, the LeGrand Headwater  Ranch near Sonora, and the Devil’s River—all are testaments to protecting wildlife and the ranching heritage we all appreciate. Their quest for knowledge never ends—whether it’s learning about wasting disease in deer, feral hog control, or water conservation. Jean Ann served a 3-year term on the Texas  Parks and Wildlife White-tailed Deer Advisory Committee. They seek to understand and find answers to hard questions. They both enjoy the Ranch and enjoy sharing it with their friends and family. 

Bob and Jean Ann loves Angelo State—they’re very proud of ASU—its growth, its economic impact on  San Angelo and the Concho Valley, its sense of family, and its emphasis on core values. Their commitment to ASU spans many areas and programs. In the early 2000s, they recognized the need for a space designated for alumni and visitors. That led to the LeGrand Alumni and Visitors Center in 2003. That  Center today is a gathering place for Ram Jam, meetings, receptions, watch parties, and an ASU Outfitters  Store. That facility is a hub for home football, former students passing through the city, for anyone looking for ASU apparel. 

Bob LeGrand loves sports. I’m not sure what he enjoys more—the competition or getting to know the student-athletes and coaches. You’ll see him at football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, any sporting event. And he always has some friends with him. Jean Ann enjoys sports too. She was involved in sports at Wall HS as a student during the pre-Title IX days when women were too dainty and weak to play full-court basketball and run more than 300 yards or so—you know the drill. Granddaughter Katelin put a lot of those myths to rest! In 2008, Bob and Jean Ann created the first-ever scholarship endowment for athletics at ASU. What a game-changer for us. Most people are not familiar with how athletic scholarships are funded. Yes, the institution provides some funding but private endowments and financial support are critical to full funding per NCAA limits. Without an arsenal of scholarship dollars, you’re fighting a recruiting battle with limited resources while those you’re recruiting against have more ammunition.  

Bob and Jean Ann also understand the importance of quality facilities. In preparation for hosting the 2009  NCAA National Track Meet, they provided funds for the renovation of what was then the Multipurpose  Sports Complex. In 2014 they donated funds to upgrade that complex and purchase a video scoreboard so the Rams could play football in what is now LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Field.  Having those home football games on campus is huge! We had no presence at San Angelo Stadium.  Playing on campus completely changed the atmosphere for our players coaches and fans. Most recently they donated funding for the LeGrand Soccer Complex, including a new Clubhouse with all the bells and whistles technology and planning can provide. Included in the renovations were a scoreboard, bleachers, and other upgrades that allow the soccer coaches to compete for quality recruits and a positive atmosphere for all involved, including fans. In the interest of full disclosure,  granddaughter Katelin has left her own legacy on the ASU soccer program. She had no idea her grandparents were involved in the facilities improvements until they were almost complete. Jean Ann and Bob were “all in” in supporting her and her teammates during her ASU career—whether it’s the squawking rubber chickens, the Tide bottles full of pebbles, or the tutus on special game days. It isn’t every day that you see neurosurgeon grandfather Bob in a tutu in public but you don’t want to miss it. 

Jean Ann’s passion and ASU spirit made quite an impression on visiting teams and fans, especially when she got her posse of friends she’s stayed close to since high school involved in her shenanigans. 

Jean Ann is a force. Most of you are familiar with the Phil George Blue and Gold Auction and Dinner held every year in August. It kicks off the sports seasons, and the school year, and is the primary fundraiser for ASU Athletics. When we started that event many years ago, the athletic department coaches and  staff plus Ram Club members and volunteers did everything. We were so fortunate that Jean Ann and her sister Diana Huling joined us early on. Those two are responsible for laying the foundation for the tremendous event you enjoy now. Those two women—they are dynamos! Their drive, their attention to detail, their vision, their energy, they’re amazing! You get those 2 women together and mountains will be moved!  

Of course, Bob and Jean Ann’s love for ASU extends well beyond athletics. Every year, dozens of students benefit from their academic scholarship endowment. The LeGrands understand the importance of graduating with minimal or no debt. ASU prides itself on the opportunities for students to do that—quality education equal to any in the country without the sticker shock on graduation day for those who choose to take advantage of those scholarships. 

Bob has served on the Board for Children’s Advocacy Center and he and Jean Ann were supporters of  Hope House. Bob also served on the Board for West Texas Rehab, and the LeGrands are responsible for the LeGrand Boardwalk on the San Angelo West Texas Rehab Campus. 

Jean Ann and Bob are active members of Holy Angels Catholic Church. They are members of the Papal  Order of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. They are also involved in the Walk to Emmaus. 

Jean Ann has served as a 4-H leader, and hospice volunteer, and has served on the ASU Foundation Board as well as the Board of the Laura Bush Foundation Institute. She has served on the ex-Students  Association Board of Directors, including President Emeritus. Jean Ann was awarded an Honorary  Doctorate of Humane Letters from Angelo State University. To say she is an accomplished painter and seamstress is an understatement. She is also a published author of the Franz Block Family History which is in the Library of Congress. Always learning, always inquisitive—she’s been learning German for fun—who does that? 

Bob is also one of those inquiring minds. He’s curious and always learning. He learned from his dad the importance of taking care of others and of giving back. He learned his work ethic at an early age when he had a paper route. He got up at 5 am, delivered his route of 100 papers at 1 cent each, and made  $1 per day. He didn’t get rich but he learned to show up and do what was necessary. That lesson served him well when he came to San Angelo and started his neurosurgery practice. He was the ONLY  neurosurgeon in San Angelo from 1976 to 1992. He was on call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  During his career, he brought many new techniques to San Angelo. Bob served over 40,000 patients in central, west, and southwest Texas. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Neurological  Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Association of  Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Southern Neurological Association,  the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. 

Bob and Jean Ann love adventure—he is an avid sportsman who loves to fish, hunt, and hike, and Jean Ann is game to try anything. Family is important to them and they’ve shared many of their adventures with their family—rafting, chasing eclipses, building memories. Bob and Jean Ann have climbed mountains—South Base Camp in Nepal, north Advanced Base Camp in Tibet, and Kilimanjaro. They’ve been to the Arctic and Antarctica. They’ve hiked in Bhutan, Mongolia, England, Wales, and Spain, as well as many European, South American, and Asian countries.  

Luckily for us, they always return to San Angelo and the Concho Valley where they continue to make a  difference every day for now and for many years to come.”