LOCALS LOVE US: Volunteerism earns praise from The Picayune readers
Robert and Cecelia De La Garza show off their award for the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce volunteer of the year. The couple's accolades continued as The Picayune readers selected them as the Marble Falls-area volunteers of the year in the annual 'Locals Love Us' ballot. The full list of winners will be published in an upcoming edition of The Picayune. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — When Robert and Cecelia De La Garza settled in Marble Falls about eight years ago, the couple just wasn’t ready for the stereotypical retirement lifestyle.
“We’re not the type in retirement who would just sit around and watch TV,” Robert De La Garza said. “We like to be out doing things. She enjoys being out among people. She’s a people’s person.”
Cecelia De La Garza smiled and laughed.
“We like being around other people,” she agreed.
Soon, the couple were regular volunteers for the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce. And they aren’t just here-and-there volunteers. If there’s a chamber event, it’s a good chance the De La Garzas are there doing something.
During the 2014 Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce banquet, visitor center manager Jean Eades presented the De La Garzas with the volunteer of the year award. Then, The Picayune readers voted the couple as the “Locals Love Us” favorite volunteers for the Marble Falls area. Readers selected their favorites in numerous categories for communities in Llano and Burnet counties.
“It’s kind of shocking,” Cecelia De La Garza said about the “Locals Love Us” award. “We didn’t know that people even noticed what we were doing.”
Her husband agreed. He pointed out, with the chamber award, they had an idea of who was responsible for selecting them. But the “Locals Love Us” honor comes from a much wider body of voters.
“It’s so nice to be appreciated,” he added.
While the couple lends a hand at many chamber events, including LakeFest, Paint the Town and Walkway of Lights, their favorite volunteer activity is working at the Visitors Center, now located at 100 Ave. G.
“It’s a great chance to help people from out of town, and we get to meet so many others,” Cecelia De La Garza said.
The couple believes in volunteering. They said volunteering is a way to give back to the community.
“It definitely keeps you active,” Cecelia De La Garza said.
Look for the complete list of “Locals Love Us” winners in an upcoming edition of The Picayune.
daniel@thepicayune.com