roaming longhorn cattle, they established a sizable ranch,
and after the Civil War began driving trail herds north
to better markets. Each generation since has known the
importance of raising great cattle and riding good horses.
Today our economy continues to be ever mindful of
the quality of cattle and horses that is necessary to build a
good business.
Tom B. Saunders II saw the first indoor cutting contest
in the Northside Coliseum. His brother Will won 2nd
place and $25, and “bragging rights” in the stockyards.
Tom B. Saunders III, one of the founders of the National
Cutting Horse Association, created the first Cutting Horse
Chatter monthly report and was also inducted into the
NCHA Hall of Fame.
Still raising good cattle and horses and promoting the
horse industry, the last three Saunders — Tom B. IV, a top
hand and top horse judge; Thomas V., a reputed hors e-
man who has represented the American Quarter Horse
Association and Texas A&M in Argentina, Paraguay and
Uruguay in building the industry; and grandson Jordan
Williams, seventh generation and a Texas Tech Equine
Team member who won the national collegiate equine
team championship four years in a row — are still at it on
the Saunders Ranch, making top horses and doing what
they know will help Parker County preserve the prestige
of producing top performing horses and great cattle.
It is in honor of this family that the award given to the
Cattleman of the Year is called the Tom B. Saunders
Award.
Larry Fowler Law Enforcement Hero
Award
Sheriff Larry Fowler has been Parker County’s top cop
for nearly two decades, and we all appreciate his hard
work making the streets safer and allowing all of us to
sleep a little more soundly at night. His distinguished
career began with his graduation from the Federal Law
Enforcement Academy and a stint with the US Marshals
Service.
He finally returned to Parker County as our sheriff.
His tough love with lawbreakers and compassion for
those who have been wronged is legendary, so there are
big boots to fill for the recipient of the Larry Fowler Law
Enforcement Hero Award.
Jerry Durant Driving Parker County
Forward Award
12
At 23, Jerry Durant took his savings and bought a shut-
tered Chevy dealership in Weatherford. He then worked
from sunrise to after sunset to make Jerry’s Chevrolet
synonymous with great ideas, dynamic customer care and
“paying it forward.” He gave 80 acres of prime real estate
to build a high school that generations of young people
would be proud to call their school.
Then Durant stepped up to the plate again, donating
funds to build a Health Science Center for Weatherford
College in honor of his friend Don Allen. He recently
donated another 30 acres for a senior center so that older
folks would have someplace wonderful to go and that
they would enjoy. He made countless other generous
contributions so Parker County would be better and its
residents happier and proud.
For this reason, the Jerry Durant Award for Driving
Parker County Forward is given each year to honor those
who go to extraordinary lengths to make this county a
better place to live.
Zan Prince Community Leadership
Award
A gracious leader with financial acumen is how to
describe Zan. She’s politically active; Zan was at the
helm of the local Republican Party from 2004 to 2018 as
its party chair.
She’s a charter member of the Bush Legacy
Republican Women, while also serving on the boards of
five community banks, including First National Bank of
Weatherford. Her talents there have had a strong impact
on the hometown feel of that financial institution where
customers feel at home.
She serves on a number of charitable boards while she
also quietly helps those in need.
Zan is a stunning example of a community leader —
strong, kind and wise.
Philip Hobson Innovative Entrepreneur
Award
Philip Hobson, and his lovely wife Linda, had
the vision to establish an air-conditioning and heat-
ing company back in the day when people had to be
convinced that they needed air conditioning. Today, the
company he founded has over 300 employees and servic-
es customers all over North Texas. All of his children and
most of his grandchildren are involved in the company,
Comfort Experts.
Five years ago, the Hobsons recognized a condition in
the market, namely that very few skilled air-conditioning
and heating technicians were entering the job force. The
problem arose that when older technicians would retire,
there would be no one to take their places. Philip and
Brett Hobson were instrumental in establishing the Perfect
Technician Academy to develop and train students to be
ready for entrance into the industry.
In addition to growing and establishing a ground-
breaking company that provides well-paying, secure
careers for Parker County and surrounding areas, Hobson
built the business while he was instrumental in establish-
ing “The Promise” in Glen Rose, and supporting numer-
ous civil and philanthropic endeavors.
See The 2018Who’s Gonna Fill Their
Shoes Honorees — page 18
and scenes from the event on page 108