What makes a hometown hero? The title can apply to many people — a first responder, a doctor or a nurse; a student who volunteers in their free time; a neighbor who helps out their community in need; a founder of a Coastal Bend nonprofit or employee passionate about helping others. The list goes on, but the one thing they all have in common is a steadfast commitment to serving others for the betterment of all. In this nomination-based feature, we share the stories of eight inspiring Coastal Bend residents who dedicate their time to improving our community and the lives of others.
Written By Kylie Cooper & Alexa Rodriguez
Photography by Shoocha Photography
Donna Shaver
Not all heroes wear capes. In the case of Dr. Donna Shaver, some wear National Park Service uniforms—and if you’ve ever wondered who heads up the responsibility of recovering threatened and endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles inhabiting our waters and gracing our shores, it’s Shaver.
Currently serving as the Chief of the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at Padre Island National Seashore, Shaver joined the team in 1980 after being told that “it might be too late to save this species.” She decided then it would be her life’s mission to help recover this species humans almost drove to extinction. The turtles primarily nesting on the beaches of Tamaulipas, Mexico, but an established secondary nest colony is vital to protecting the population in the event of a catastrophe near the primary nesting grounds. With a practically nonexistent budget to start, Shaver has been integral to the growth and continued success of the program.
If you’ve ever had the chance to witness the beauty of the seasonal Kemp’s hatchling releases, an event that draws thousands of onlookers, you’ll understand how moving the work of Shaver and her team really is. “I have spent my working career here, working to make a difference by forming a secondary nesting colony of the world’s most endangered sea turtle species,” she said. “At every release, I see people with tears in their eyes, so moved by the daunting future that lies ahead for these tiny beings that are on their own now.”
Though her efforts are largely focused on the National Seashore, as the Texas Sea Turtle Nesting and Stranding Coordinator, she also leads training efforts for others around Texas working toward the same goal. At the end of the day, the work Shaver does is for future generations––both of Kemp’s ridley sea turtles and their human neighbors.
“My hope,” she said, “is to return these magnificent animals to our waters and shores, so that generations to come can marvel at their beauty and be fascinated by their habits, like I have been so fortunate to see many times through the years.”
Who is your Hometown Hero?
“The incredibly dedicated 100-plus volunteers from our community that provide thousands of hours of assistance with our sea turtle work at Padre Island National Seashore each year. They come from different backgrounds and range decades in age, but each selflessly donates their time to help with the work I devoted my career to. Many return to volunteer year after year and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know them. They have enriched my life and I hold deep respect, admiration and gratitude towards them. They are my heroes.”
Tim Sparks
Described as someone who will be of service to anyone he comes into contact with, Tim Sparks’ compassionate heart and helping hands allowed for the Boys & Girls Club of Aransas County to exist.
As Rockport began to rebuild after Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Sparks realized there weren’t many community centers or programs dedicated to serving at-risk youth or lower-income families. After a bit of research into teenage crime rates in the area, Sparks, along with a team of committed individuals, decided a safe space was needed for kids to grow mentally, physically and emotionally without negative distractions.
Through countless fundraisers, the help of generous donors and volunteers and key partnerships, the Boys & Girls Club of Aransas County opened its doors in May 2024, six years after Sparks and his team began dreaming up the idea.
With various after-school, weekend and summer programs, the Boys & Girls Club provides a much-needed respite for Rockport children to discover new interests; hone different skills; connect; and ultimately realize their potential—which is exactly what inspired Sparks in the first place.
“I believe that in order to build a great community, you must first start with a great foundation,” Sparks said. “Our youth are our foundation and if we can change even one child’s life trajectory into a more positive direction, that betters their life and our community.”
The importance of giving back to others as it was given to you was instilled in Sparks at an early age. He credits his single mother for providing for four boys and The Boys and Girls Club of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he grew up, for shaping this perspective.
Who is your Hometown Hero?
“For the last six to seven years, it would have to be the community of Rockport; people like Josh Nguyen, Martha McLeod, Coach Ron Leyva and our team at The Boys & Girls Club of Aransas County who all have the same vision to reach out, share knowledge and create a safe environment for our youth.”
Cher-ri Peña
When it comes to her motivation behind being the executive director of the nonprofit Tennis Success, Cher-ri Peña’s answer is simple and reflective of her own childhood: “I want to show kids living in similar or worse situations that there is a bigger, brighter world beyond their immediate surroundings,” Peña shared.
Growing up in what she describes as a rough area in North Carolina, Peña, her sister and their hardworking single mother scraped by. She credits her mother for ensuring the siblings stayed off the streets and out of trouble by putting them into as many church and recreational activities as she could. A few decades later, Peña now does the same for children in this community.
Tennis Success provides free, year-round programming focused on tennis, education and healthy living activities to help children whose families qualify for free and reduced lunch develop life skills, build self-confidence, gain a sense of responsibility and understand the value of community involvement. The program’s efforts have led to a significantly higher college graduation rate than the national average for low-income students. And though she wouldn’t take credit for that, Peña is undoubtedly a major component of that statistic.
As the executive director, Peña is responsible for ensuring the nonprofit’s success—from fundraising and running the facility to fostering meaningful connections with the kids in the program. Recently, Peña played a crucial role in Tennis Success’ relocation to its own facility.
Peña wears many hats to get the job done, but at the end of the day, uplifting the children in the program allows for a new generation of hometown heroes to arise. “When our youth thrive,” she said, “they become positive role models and active participants, making our community a better place for everyone.”
Who is your hometown hero?
“My late grandfather, Wilbert Wiggins. He was known for enabling those around him to realize their true potential, ensuring that his children’s friends never lacked for anything, advocating for education of all kinds and genuinely wanting everyone to succeed.”
Abigail Trevino
Abigail Trevino hasn’t let youth prevent her from making a difference. At only 19 years old, Trevino noticed the lack of literacy opportunities for children in our community and decided to use her love for reading to make a difference with her nonprofit organization, The Traveling Library of Corpus Christi.
On entering college during a pandemic, Trevino noticed how COVID-19 affected literacy opportunities for children, so she researched how to start a nonprofit to fill this gap. The Traveling Library became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in April 2021 and has since distributed 20,000 books and counting to students in our community via its mobile library. Trevino knows access to knowledge encourages the exercise of rights, inclusion in society and freedom for all—those are the principles on which she bases her nonprofit. Plus, her love for reading and writing propels her forward in her mission to increase access to literacy in hopes of seeing students “discover new ideas, develop critical thinking abilities and enhance their communication skills through books,” she said.
Trevino’s passion for giving back in such a memorable and influential way is notable on its own, but the fact that she has dedicated her time, energy and resources at such a young age makes us hopeful for what she can accomplish throughout her life. The future is bright for Abigail Trevino, and because of The Traveling Library, it is brighter for Coastal Bend students too.
Though Trevino doesn’t see age as a barrier to success, it has not been without its challenges. “With young age, there come people not taking you seriously,” Trevino remarked. However, she hopes that her story can influence young people to be aware of the progress in our community and be propelled to be active participants in that progress.
Who is your hometown hero?
“My parents, Rachel and Daniel Trevino, have been my constant source of inspiration and support throughout my life. From encouraging my passions to teaching me invaluable life lessons, they exemplify resilience and compassion. Their love and guidance have been instrumental in shaping my values and aspirations, making them my true hometown heroes.”
Colby Rice
Some community members can’t help but use their time, energy and resources to serve. Colby Rice is one of those people. As a volunteer firefighter with the Rockport Volunteer Fire Department (RVFD) for the last two years, he has answered calls to aid in everything from smoke alarm issues to vehicle, brush and structural fires. He also responds to his fair share of EMT assists and motor vehicle accidents. Just last year, out of the 600 calls received by the department, Rice answered 450 of them.
The key word here is volunteer. Rice works a full-time job and does all firefighting work on the side. This year, he will use all his allotted vacation time from his day job to attend training for wide area search and technical rope rescue, in addition to training held every other Thursday by the department.
“In the fire service, we are typically responding to one of the worst days of a person’s life, and we use our training and experience to try and make that day a little better,” Rice said.
Not one to take recognition for his work, Rice attributes his community dedication to his fellow volunteers, who inspire him to better himself and dedicate his time to serve. His daughter has even followed in his footsteps as a member of the RVFD and works as an EMT for Alliance—heroes raising heroes.
Who is your hometown hero?
“Gary Smith is my hometown hero. Gary is a lifetime member of the Rockport Volunteer Fire Department and celebrated his 70th year as an active department member in 2023. Gary’s commitment and dedication to the community is a source of inspiration for me and many others.”
Starla Harris Joslin
Starla Harris Joslin moved to Corpus Christi seven years ago as a single mother of four kids. After overcoming addiction, enduring houselessness and serving prison time, she was looking for a fresh start. No stranger to hardship, Joslin understands the importance of support and compassion for everyone, no matter what they might be going through. She doesn’t see her past as a crutch, but rather an opportunity to empathize with the struggles of others—and, most importantly, lend a helping hand.
Joslin knows something as simple as a haircut can restore dignity, instill positive self-esteem and even influence someone’s ability to secure housing or employment, so she started giving haircuts to houseless people in the community after starting her salon, The Crown Jewel.
After her daughter took an interest in pageants, Joslin noticed the pride and confidence it brought her and saw this as an opportunity to extend that same sense of pride to girls who otherwise might not have the opportunity. This led to a partnership with Corpus Christi Rotary Club and Caring Queens in Houston to facilitate pageants for girls in foster care.
Overcoming hardship to create a better life in itself is a testament to Joslin’s spirit of perseverance, but using her experiences to help others contributes to a more compassionate, inclusive and supportive city, and that makes her a community hero.
Who is your hometown hero?
“My hometown hero is my mom, Sheila Harris. At 74 years old, my mom consistently dedicates her time to giving houseless people haircuts every week, has served two years as a CASA advocate, helps out at Special Hearts for the Arts and is a life group leader at Church Unlimited. My mom’s unwavering commitment through various acts of service and compassion makes her a true inspiration.”
Lamont Taylor
Lamont Taylor is a longtime resident of the Hillcrest neighborhood, a civil rights activist and a cheerleader for the everyday working person. Residents of Hillcrest past and present might recognize Taylor for his engaging personality and constant advocacy for the residents of his beloved neighborhood.
As the founding member of the Hillcrest Resident Association, co-chair of the Citizens Alliance for Fairness and Progress and member of the Board of Directors of the Corpus Christi Black Chamber of Commerce, Taylor has made it his mission to preserve the historically Black neighborhood of Hillcrest. This involves demanding justice and fighting environmental racism, a legacy of segregation in which land-use decisions intentionally concentrate on polluting industries in communities of color.
Since recovering from stage IV cancer and living in the Hillcrest area, it occurred to Taylor that people should know what’s going on in their environment and the potential health problems that can be associated with certain negative environmental factors. With industry growing in Corpus Christi, the Hillcrest neighborhood and its longtime residents and structures, such as the three 150-year-old historically Black churches, are threatened. Taylor knows that erasing neighborhoods erases history, and that is something he cannot abide.
As a retired urban planner with an emphasis on transportation and civil rights with over 30 years of subject matter experience, Taylor is, as he said when asked about the “why” behind his work, “here to advocate for those who do not know what’s going on around them.” His volunteer and philanthropic work revolves around ensuring that generations to come enjoy an environment with clean air and water, two necessities that should benefit all people.
Who is the hometown hero?
My hometown hero is that Corpus Christian who gets up early in the morning and goes and works for his or her family. That’s my hometown hero, that everyday working person.”
Roberto Lopez-Moreno
On paper, Roberto Lopez-Moreno is a hardworking family man and a small business owner. On most days, you’ll find Lopez-Moreno running his company, Moreno Pools––from visiting and working at project sites to the day-to-day operations of keeping operations running smoothly. However, his time spent outside the pool construction business is when his altruistic nature shines bright.
With a passion for giving back, Lopez-Moreno is steadfast in his commitment to providing what he can for others in need. Inspired by his own adversity at varying points in life and his unwavering faith, Lopez-Moreno has organized several mutual aid and community service initiatives. Focusing on children and families, his most recent projects included providing just over 150 backpacks and school supplies to students and cooking a delicious meal for everyone who stopped by the drive.
Last Christmas, Lopez-Moreno organized a group of small business owners to purchase gifts for families who might not be able to afford presents otherwise. Enough items were collected that each child was able to take two or three presents with them. The gift drive was so successful that the second annual edition will be held this holiday season.
“It’s all out of kindness to the families of our community,” Lopez-Moreno said when describing the why behind his philanthropic endeavors. “I want to help the future of our children and for them to have things such as a better education or a special holiday experience.”
Who is your hometown hero?
“My hometown hero is the older generation that has taught me to be humble and giving.”