LOCAL Houston | The City Guide January 2018 | Page 3

LETTER
FROM THE
EDITOR
THE OPENING SHOT
This trailblazing facility is in the middle of
a $5 million campaign to restore and sus-
tain this iconic “cathedral of engineering."
Space Center Houston has raised more
than $4 million toward that goal. To do
your part, visit spacecenter.org/restore.
Happy 2018, LOCAL Houston magazine readers. Thank you for your loyalty as we
go into another eventful (hopefully, less eventful than 2017) new year.
This issue recognizes the Trailblazers in our community – young and old, male and
female – who have made their mark on Houston, some for 50 years or more. This
is a city that is characterized by openness; for the most part, all you need is a good
idea and a strong work ethic, and you are embraced and rewarded. It is this open-
ness that has allowed this month’s Trailblazers to thrive in the arts, music, law, medi-
cine, real estate, science, entrepreneurship and community service.
One of my favorites is Gladys Rogers Goffney, who at 85 years old, is still practic-
ing law on a daily basis. She and her husband raised four children in Fifth Ward/
Kashmere Gardens and every one of those kids went on to Ivy and near-Ivy League
schools for their undergraduate and graduate programs. “Failure was not an option,”
she says. “Failure is never an option.” There’s that strong work ethic I was talking
about. I know you’ll find her story as inspiring as I did. I’m glad we’re telling it.
As always, we have the latest, usable news and information on the city’s food, arts,
entertainment, style and community fronts – from your favorite writers and photogra-
phers who blaze new trails every day.
And speaking of Trailblazers, did you know that LOCAL Houston magazine turns 20
this year? We can thank founder Alex Martinez for that. His vision of a fun and use-
ful downtown publication has grown into the premier city guide that prints 72,000
copies every month, distributed from Sugar Land to The Woodlands and beyond.
Jefe, we salute you.
And now, get to know our Trailblazers. Happy New Year!
Tim Moloney
editor-in-chief
BEHIND
THE COVER
Claudia Gee Vassar is blazing her own trail as the Executive
Director and General Counsel of the new Houston Botanic
Garden. Shot in Jim and Cherie Flores’ gardens at their
house on River Oaks Boulevard, photographer Anthony
Rathbun created a visual story of Vassar’s role running
Houston’s newest and boldest natural cultural amenity.
IT’S ALL UNDER CONTROL.
The Mission Control Operations Control Room in the Mission Control Center during the lunar
surface extravehicular activity (EVA) of Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.
Photography provided by NASA | Shot on site July 20, 1969
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