LoneStar Heritage Foundation
THE BEGINNING
In 2018, three local history enthusiasts gathered for lunch in Fredericksburg to discuss the profound changes unfolding in their beloved hometown. As they shared their observations, it became clear that not all transformations were beneficial, particularly for local residents. The quaint charm of Fredericksburg was being overshadowed by an overwhelming influx of visitors. Traffic congestion, parking shortages, and strained emergency services were becoming commonplace, and unfortunately, crime rates began to creep upward.
Recognizing the urgent need for a shift in focus, the trio contemplated how emphasizing heritage tourism and celebrating local history and stories might help preserve the Texas way of life. With a shared passion for Fort Martin Scott—a historical site rich with stories—they envisioned it as a potential catalyst for revitalizing interest in local heritage tourism.
Motivated by their vision, they took action. They approached city officials and key stakeholders with a compelling proposal: entrust the management of Fort Martin Scott to the Texas Historical Commission. This initiative aimed not only to preserve history but also to enhance community engagement and economic stability through responsible tourism.
Fast forward five years later—what began as a simple lunch conversation has blossomed into reality. While these three individuals cannot claim sole credit for this significant decision, their advocacy undeniably contributed to its fruition. Their story serves as an inspiring reminder that when passionate individuals come together with purpose and determination, they can indeed make a difference in their community’s future.
TODAY
The LoneStar Heritage Foundation was created to preserve and promote the rich history and culture of Texas. With this in mind, LoneStar Heritage Foundation exists to partner with state, county & local agencies, Texas history organizations and public & private schools in a collective effort to inform visitors, new residents and native born Texans alike, about the greatness of our unique state and her people, thereby preserving and perpetuating it’s legacy for generations to come.
By working together under the LoneStar Heritage umbrella, Texas History organizations will be included in the LoneStar Heritage marketing programs that feature extraordinary, immersive and unforgettable experiences, thereby instilling a sense of place and leaving visitors with enduring memories.
LoneStar Heritage Board of Directors
JAMES McCRAE
Executive Director
Veteran of the US Air Force and former CEO of South Texas Hearing & Balance Clinics, Jim brings sixty years of leadership experience. He served as a gubernatorial appointed chairman on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Board. Jim is a past chairman for the City of Fredericksburg Fort Martin Scott Advisory Board. Still a Fredericksburg resident, he is a passionate advocate for heritage tourism while actively promoting the preservation of the Texas way of life.
DOUGLAS FLETCHER
Chairman
Douglas J. Fletcher III , is a 1972 graduate of Texas State University. During his 50 year career he has been a farmer and rancher. Douglas started Fletcher Service Co. which distributed agricultural products to farmers and ranchers, oilfield products to the oil and gas industry and propane gas for domestic and commercial users. In later years, he was CEO of Mi Tierra Enterprises which developed land for residential and commercial uses. He has served as Chairman for The Maverick County Soil and Conservation District, Chairman for the Farm Service Agency local committee and director for the Maverick County Irrigation District. Douglas is a fifth generation Texan and strongly supports Texas History and Texas Values.
TED SEVERNS
Chairman Elect / Treasurer
Ted is a Retired LAPD Sergeant II with thirty-three years in Law Enforcement. He served as Past President of The Motion Picture Officers Association, is a California POST Certified Instructor and a Graduate of the West Point Leadership Academy. Ted is a Son of The Republic of Texas and current Vice President of the Fredericksburg Muesebach Chapter #48. He is a proud direct descendant of the Founders of Stephenville, Texas.
NICK BRIZENDINE
Secretary
With a wide variety of entrepreneurial business experience, Nick has worked in such industries as travel and tourism, marketing, forensic science and real estate . This includes 40+ years as sole proprietor of Destinations Unlimited, Director of Marketing for Conquest Airlines, Sales Manager for Teleservice Resources – a division of AMR Corporation/American Airlines, broadcast media advertising – KNOW & KCSW Radio in Austin and fast food industry marketing, advertising and operations – Sonic Drive-Ins of Austin. Nick is a retired forensic scientist – DPS Austin Crime Lab firearms and toolmarks examiner. He also has real estate experience. As a third generation Texan, Nick has a deep appreciation for the history and settlers of Texas which is something that he feels needs to be passed down to the younger generations of Texans.
LEE CASBEER
Board Member
TOM DOELL
Board Member
Tom is a retired CPA and began his career in the tax department at Peat Marwick & Mitchell in Dallas. In 1983 he formed the Tom C. Doell Company to focus on the acquisition of pre-development raw land in North Dallas, eventually, he became a developer, and with partners, built the North Dallas Jetport in Frisco, Texas. Tom is an instrument rated private pilot and has been flying for over 30 years. He is retired and enjoys flying his own airplane, spending time at his ranch, fly fishing, skiing and traveling. Tom is a past Chairman of the Board and President of the Texas Historical Foundation (THF) and continues to serve on the board. He also served on the board of the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Dallas. The museum owns one of the finest aircraft collections in the world. . Tom also served on the board of the Former Texas Rangers Foundation (FTRF) and as chairman of the building committee. Tom is also a founder of the Seaquist House Foundation. The foundation is now in the process of restoring the 1885 mansion.
ERIC HAMMERSEN, Ed. D.
Board Member
MAJ. GEN. LEE HENRY, USA Ret.
Board Member
Combat Veteran of the US Army and former Global Account Director for various global enterprise software companies. Lee brings forty plus years of management and critical thinking experience from his various military command assignments from platoon up to Infantry Division. Passionate about maintaining a customer for life focus as a foundation of his civilian management philosophy. A Fredericksburg resident who is passionate about family activities in the great outdoors and Texas history.
JAMES KISTLER, AIA
Board Member
RICHARD LAUGHLIN
Board Member
Richard is the Owner and President of Laughlin Homes and Restoration, Inc. Richard started the firm in 1984 after serving as a lead carpenter on the restoration of the Nimitz Hotel, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Project, in Fredericksburg. He is a third-generation builder and fourth-generation resident of Gillespie County. Richard is a Certified Graduate Builder and Certified Green Professional. The company has been a staple of the Hill Country over the last 34 years. Richard has a national network of material providers to find the right elements for any home. He has developed long-standing relationships with many local contractors whom he trusts to carry out his designs. Richard remains active in his community and was named the 2013 Fredericksburg Chamber Man of the Year, received the 2011-12 Rotary Club Vocational Service Award, and had the 123rd Gillespie Country Fair dedicated in honor of his 16 years of service (1989-2004). Richard resides in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Sarah McCrae comes from a family of educators. She has 23 years of service as a teacher and administrator in Texas Hill Country public schools. She received a BA in Mathematics and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Schreiner University. In addition, she earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lamar University. Born and bred in San Antonio, Texas, she currently calls Kerrville home where she is an Adjunct Professor at Schreiner University, continuing to share her passion of teaching and learning.
SARAH McCRAE, Ed. D.
Board Member
MICHAEL POE
Board Member
Michael attended United Electronics Institute, earning an associate degree in Electronic Technology. His career began at Teledyne Avionics in Earlysville, Virginia. As Teledyne shifted into the hearing healthcare market, Michael played a key role in designing middle ear analyzers (tympanometers). He then moved to Austin, Texas to market and sell the Teledyne products he had helped design. That business was sold to Starkey. In 1993, Michael was invited to speak at the Hearing Aid Audiology Society of Australia on the topic of Real Ear Measurements. He relocated to Sydney where he continued to speak at industry meetings and teach courses on emerging advancements in hearing care. Michael resigned from Starkey and returned to Austin where he began consulting with MedRx Inc., a company known for its advanced audiological equipment. During his time there, he designed Live Speech Mapping, a groundbreaking innovation in Real Ear Measurements that allowed hearing care professionals to fit and fine-tune hearing aids using live, real-time speech. He traveled world wide, promoting and teaching Live Speech Mapping. After leaving MedRx, Michael continued consulting in the hearing healthcare industry, lending his expertise to companies such as Auditdata and Inventis. Today, Michael and his wife Marsha live on a ranch near Fredericksburg, Texas. They raise a variety of exotic animals—including zebras, Rocky Mountain elk, Scimitar oryx, Nubian ibex, axis deer, fallow deer, and, as he puts it, "way too many whitetail deer."
SCOTT SHEPARD​
Board Member
MIKE STARKS
Board Member
ROBERT WEENING​​​​
Board Member
Rob is a senior finance executive with over 40 years' experience in running finance, accounting, treasury and loan servicing operations. Rob is currently the Chief Administrative Officer and CFO for a firm that manages approximately $800 million in assets for a private credit income fund located in Fredericksburg, TX. While Rob has only been living in Texas since 2020, he is a strong advocate for the traditions that have made Texas a great place to live and work.
LEE SPENCER WHITE
Board Member
Lee Spencer White is an independent researcher, preservationist, and consultant for the History Channel, Dearg Films, and the BBC. Lee is the founder of the Alamo Defenders Descendent Association and is its current President. Lee lead the awesome task of restoring the Samuel Walker gravesite and saving the 101-acre historic cemetery district which contains the graves of such notables as Sam Maverick, Texas Ranger Rip Ford, as well as Buffalo soldiers. Lee and former state representative Kyle Biedermann were co-chairs for the Gillespie project. Gillespie County became the seventh county in the state of Texas to approve placement of the bronze plaque on county property. Lee and her husband Larry reside in Fredericksburg.
RICHARD CROWELL, M.Ed.
Advisor Member
Richard is a fifth-generation Texan and dedicated educator with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. Richard has enriched the minds of students across New Mexico and Texas, including roles at McMurry University and the Texas Education Agency, Region 14 in Abilene. He also taught in Odessa's public schools. In 2002, Richard and his wife moved to her family ranch in Southwest Llano County. The ranch has been in his wife’s family for over 150 years. Richard continues to work the ranch as a cow-calf operation. Hill Country and West Texas history have long been Richard’s passion.
DOYLE MOELLERING​​​​, TxDot Ret.
Advisor Member
WALTER MOLDENHAUER, AIA​​​​
Advisor Member
Walter is an experienced professional with a background in architecture, project management, and consulting. He is the former Small Business Owner of Architecture by Moldenhauer and consultant at Zurvita. Walter was a Project Manager/Architect and made significant contributions to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Proud alumnus of The University of Texas at Austin, he attended Fredericksburg High School and is a native of Stonewall, Texas.
STEPHEN SCHMIDT​​​​, Ph.D.
Advisor Member
As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of World Class Quest, Stephen teaches leadership skills and provides organizations with the tools they need to improve their business process capabilities. He is a retired US Air Force Lt. Col. and B52 pilot with previous experience as a Tenure Professor at the US Air Force Academy. Stephen was also a Founder of Air Academy Associates, a multimillion dollar, international consulting company. Stephen has worked as an adjunct faculty for Motorola Six Sigma Research Institute, Incarnate Word University, University of Texas (Austin), the Defense Systems Management College, and Alamo Colleges training for the City of San Antonio. He is the owner and developer of Enchanted Springs Ranch, a working ranch, film location, special events venue and tourist attraction.
Our Mission
— Encourage and support development, promotion and interpretation of heritage tourism through storytelling that excites and motivates.
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— Provide the tools to tell the stories of Texas and inspire audiences to learn and preserve the stories that shaped Texas for us today.
— Garner support of public and private schools, including home schooled, to strengthen Texas heritage education experiences.
Our Vision
The goal of the LoneStar Heritage program is to bring awareness to PRESERVING THE TEXAS WAY OF LIFE.
About Heritage Tourism
