Dr. Hoo Kim is an engineering professor at LeTourneau University. He and his students created this robot to scare geese off golf courses. The formula is written on the whiteboard behind him.
Dr. Hoo Kim is an engineering professor at LeTourneau University. He and his students created this robot to scare geese off golf courses. The formula is written on the whiteboard behind him.
Laura Gonzalez works as a school psychologist at several East Texas school districts.
Laura Gonzalez works as a school psychologist at several East Texas school districts.
Carlee Rose Cilk drives a fire truck for the Longview Fire Department.
Carlee Rose Cilk drives a fire truck for the Longview Fire Department.
Madolyn Scott was a retired music teacher and a political activist. She passed away in October. 2020.
Madolyn Scott was a retired music teacher and a political activist. She passed away in October 2020.
Dr. Andy Mack is an oral surgeon and the mayor of Longview.
Griff Hubbard is the Product Line Agent for Amtrak’s Texas Eagle Route for the state of Texas. He is the fifth generation in his family to work on the railroad.
Griff Hubbard is the Product Line Agent for Amtrak’s Texas Eagle Route for the state of Texas. He is the fifth generation in his family to work on the railroad.
A woman in white sits among a group of women dressed in red white and blue
Dana Blair, seated center, is the longtime director of the famed Kilgore College Rangerettes.
Marcos Nuñez is a skilled craftsman specializing in ceramic tile and wood flooring.
Marcos Nuñez is a skilled craftsman specializing in ceramic tile and wood flooring.
Will and Pat Ruegg, shown with their daughter, Freyja, own the popular Lil Thai House in downtown Longview.
Will and Pat Ruegg, shown with their daughter, Freyja, own the popular Lil Thai House in downtown Longview.

It was 2018 when I made the pitch to photographer O. Rufus Lovett as we sipped beers at the Lone Star Ice House. With our hometown of Longview approaching its sesquicentennial in 2020, I said, let’s embark on a project to document our fellow Longviewites, from all walks of life. I’ll interview them, and you take the pictures.

Rufus—a nationally acclaimed photographer whom I’ve collaborated with multiple times during my 40 years as a journalist—readily agreed, and we were off and running on a project we titled @longviewtx150. We solicited names of possible subjects from the newspaper, Facebook, and suggestions from friends. Our goal was to provide a snapshot of Longview’s diverse population. We would feature some of the people whose names are often in the news. We would also do our best to include people who work hard and rarely receive recognition.

Our project was not, by any means, the “150 Most Influential People in Longview,” or the most interesting, or the most anything. It was simply our best effort to display the diversity of our community, to tell their stories through words and environmental portraits.

We were nearly finished when the pandemic struck, and everything closed down. Most of Longview’s sesquicentennial events were postponed or cancelled—including our July 2020 exhibition at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts. But we pushed the project forward, working remotely and at safe distances — phone call and emails for me; Rufus photographing from 15 feet away, wearing a mask.

Now, 2 1/2 years later, we’re finally ready for the debut of the project, including an exhibit and the publication of an accompany 136-page coffee-table book called @longviewtx150.

Decades ago, my father created the commemorative plate for Longview’s 1970 centennial, which was the inspiration for our sesquicentennial project. Back then, he enlisted me to help with printing bumper stickers for the occasion. They said, “Lucky Me, I Live in Longview,” with a shamrock included. The same sentiment thrives today, 50 years later. We are, indeed, lucky to live here.

@longviewtx150 Book and Exhibition

The portraits and profiles of @longviewtx150 will debut April 16 at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, along with the publication of the book of the same name. VeraBank paid for the book’s publication, allowing all proceeds from the book’s sales to be donated to the Women’s Center of East Texas. The LMFA exhibit runs until July 3. Books can be purchased online at longviewtx150.com.

Harold and Mary LeTourneau own a design and manufacturing company. Harold built the submarine pictured below.
Harold and Mary LeTourneau own a design and manufacturing company. Harold built the submarine pictured below.
Dr. David Jayakar, a thoracic surgeon, specializes in minimally invasive techniques and is nationally known for his skills.
Dr. David Jayakar, a thoracic surgeon, specializes in minimally invasive techniques and is nationally known for his skills.
Wray Wade owns a local barber school and serves on the Longview city council.
Wray Wade owns a local barber school and serves on the Longview city council.
Dr. Bill Bussey, a retired dentist, was instrumental in kicking off the nationally known Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview more than 40 years ago.
Dr. Bill Bussey, a retired dentist, was instrumental in kicking off the nationally known Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview more than 40 years ago.
Janis Canion is a retired educator long active in the community.
Janis Canion is a retired educator long active in the community.
Dorothy Horne continues to write movingly about her late husband’s experience with Alzheimer’s.
Dorothy Horne continues to write movingly about her late husband’s experience with Alzheimer’s.
Clent Holmes is director of Thrive, a program that targets middle-school students with an after-school program and athletics.
Clent Holmes is director of Thrive, a program that targets middle-school students with an after-school program and athletics.
Les Hassell and Michael Cavazos are longtime photographers for the Longview News-Journal.
Les Hassell and Michael Cavazos are longtime photographers for the Longview News-Journal.
Dr. Julie Fowler is the retired dean of Kilgore College-Longview.
Dr. Julie Fowler is the retired dean of Kilgore College-Longview.
Frank and Ellen Herbert are retired teachers and local artists.
Frank and Ellen Herbert are retired teachers and local artists.
Allen Nichols and Lulu Van Tuckett are tattoo artists and musicans.
Allen Nichols and Lulu Van Tuckett are tattoo artists and musicans.

Get the Magazine

Save up to 62% off the cover price

Subscribe

Sign Up for Our Newsletters

Sign up for magazine extras, upcoming events, Mercantile specials, subscription offers, and more.