Heritage Association of San Marcos
Like us on Facebook!
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Founders and Past Presidents
    • Heritage Online Store
    • Officers & Board of Directors
    • Heritage Patrons
    • Committees
    • Our History >
      • History 1975-1988
      • History 1991-1997
      • History 1998-2002
      • History 2003-2005
      • History 2006-2011
      • History 2012-2014
      • History 2015-2017
      • History 2018-2019
    • Newsletter
    • Oral History Collection
    • Governing Documents
    • Support Heritage
    • Contact Us
  • Heritage Guild
    • Past Guild Chairs
  • Awards
    • Annual Heritage Awards
    • Landmark Awards >
      • Landmark History 1976-1990
      • Landmark History 1991-2005
      • Landmark History 2006-2018
      • Landmark History 2019
  • Tours and Events
    • Heritage Home Tour
    • Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner
    • Arbor Day Ceremony
    • Veramendi Plaza Award of Honor
    • Treasure Sales
    • Easter Egg Hunt & Festival
    • Heritage Connects
  • Plaza and Museums
    • Veramendi Plaza
    • Charles S. Cock House
    • Dr. Eli T. Merriman Cabin
    • Riverwalk Memorial Grove
  • Join

The Arbor Day Ceremony in the
​Riverwalk Memorial Grove 


Picture
Heritage Arbor Day is an event of the Heritage Association planned and conducted by the Riverwalk Park Committee to honor a deceased distinguished citizen who made outstanding contributions to the enhancement of life in this commu­nity. A significant historical and cultural tradition since 1979, it is held outdoors each year at the Memorial Grove in Veramendi Plaza in November.

Potential nominees are individuals who have made outstanding and enduring contributions to the community. They are distinguished by selfless effort and dedicated leadership to improve the lives of their fellow citizens.  Selection is made by the Riverwalk Park Committee from nomina­tions received from any citizen of the community and/or the committee.  Traditionally, only one honoree has been named each year.
​

1)   Nominees need not have been members of the Heritage Association.
2)   Nominees must have lived in the area for at least five years.
3)   Death must have occurred between January 1 and December 31 of the previous calendar year.
​
4)   Reasons for the nomination must be made in writing to the Chairman of the Riverwalk Park Committee.

Soon after the Arbor Day recipient is named, the city Parks and Recreation Department will plant a native tree in the Memorial Grove for the celebration which will take place in November. The committee works with the family to prepare the program.  At the ceremony a bronze plaque will be presented to the family then placed at the base of the tree identifying this Heritage Arbor Day honoree as a contributor to the history and wellbeing of our community.

Photos from the 2022 Arbor Day Ceremony honoring Frances and Ted Breihan:


Individual memorial trees have been planted since 1979
​to posthumously honor the following citizens of the community:

Virginia Hightower, 1979
Walter Buckner, 1980
Herbert Yarbrough, 1981
James Dell Cummings, 1982
Robert C. Van Gundy, 1983
Dr. Buford Williams, 1984
The Rev. H. Ellis Thomas, 1984
Dempsey Serur, 1985
Dennis McCoy, 1986
Addison Buckner, 1987
Terry L. Jacks, 1987
Joe Vasquez, Jr., 1987
Oscar Calvin Smith, Jr., 1988
R. Eugene Phillips, 1989
Helen Holcombe Allen, 1990
Tula Townsend Wyatt, 1991
Elizabeth Hofheinz Martindale, 1992
Joe Nicola, Sr., 1993
H. Y. Price, Jr., 1994
Robert J. Pollard, 1995
Thomas J. Yoakum, 1996​
​Bob Kercheville, 1997
Ambassador William H. Crook, 1998
Theodora Scrutchin, 1999
Joe G. Rodriguez, 2000
Lydell Clayton, 2001
Jack Lindstrom, 2002
Dr. William L. Moore, 2003
John Cooper, 2004
Luciano Flores, 2005
Max Souby, 2007
Carl W. Anderson, 2008
John Morrissett, 2009
Steve R Gregg, 2010
Dr. Gwen K. Smith, 2011
Edwin Mutschlechner, 2012
Emmett McCoy, 2013
Willie Higgs, 2014
Martha D. Jackson, 2015
​Bob Sappington, 2016
​Dorothy "Dottie" Sims, 2017
​Ofelia Vasquez-Philo, 2018
Bruce Ingram, 2019
​Patty Sherrill Sullivan, 2020
​Marie Jager, 2021
Ted and Frances Breihan 2022

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.