GISD breaks ground on Tom Lester Jr. CTE Center campus

Gonzales Independent School District honored the life and legacy of alumnus and former board member Tom Lester Jr. by naming the new Career & Technical Education Center and Ag barn for him during a groundbreaking ceremony Friday, May 16.

Lester passed away in August 2021, but his presence was very much felt during the ceremony, during which his family members joined GISD trustees in turning over a symbolic shovel of dirt to mark the beginning of construction on the $19.6 million project, which is expected to be completed by fall 2026.

“On behalf of my family and myself, what an honor it is to be here and for this new building to have my dad's name on it,” said Trey Lester. “On the way here, we were talking and saying how moving this is and how special this is. This is truly special, and it means a whole lot to us.”

Lester noted his father “worked extremely hard to get what he had and to be where he was in his life.” A 1987 graduate of Gonzales High School, the tall, gregarious Tom Jr. worked as a rancher, chicken farmer, businessman and was heavily involved in his hometown, serving on numerous local and state boards, including a 12-year stint on the GISD Board of Trustees, during which the property the Tom Lester Jr. CTE Center will be built on was purchased.

“Above all of that, he was the rock to our great family,” Trey Lester said. “This town has been great to our family and to our businesses and my dad would be proud to know that his name is going on a building that's going to help give greater opportunities to the youth of our town and to help foster the great things still to come for Gonzales.

“For me, my sisters, my mom and my grandparents, I know there isn't a day that goes by without us thinking about my dad. It's hard to wake up and realize he's not here, but to think of the amazing impact he's had on so many of our lives — and now the future lives with this building. His legacy will continue to live on, and he will still get to impact so many.”

GISD Board Vice President Ross Hendershot III, who served as president when the CTE building project was designed and let for construction, spoke about breaking ground “not on only a structure of brick and mortar, but a structure of vision, commitment and a future filled with promise.”

“It's my distinct honor and privilege to reveal the name of this remarkable project, a name that reflects our values and a legacy we hope to build for generations to come,” Hendershot said. “His name carries with it deep meaning. Tom Lester Jr. was a true champion of GISD. He was a graduate of Gonzales ISD, and served as a board member from 2006 to 2018. He believed in every student and every staff member. He truly poured his heart and soul into service for this district. I was blessed to be able to serve alongside him and call him friend.

“I know this will be a place where dreams are shaped, futures are forged, and our shared purpose comes to life. Thank you again for your presence and support. Here is to the beginning of a truly extraordinary future.”

GISD Superintendent Dr. Dana Arreola called the ceremony “more than the start of a construction project.”

“It represents a significant step forward for not only our district, but a brighter future for our students,” Dr. Arreola said. “This future state-of-the-art facility is a testament to our commitment to innovation in education and to preparing our students with the skills and experience they will need to thrive in today's competitive job market. Thank you again to our board of trustees for their leadership and their dedication to this vision and thank you all for being here to celebrate this exciting milestone.”

Gonzales ISD Education Foundation president Josh Gray spoke about also being a member of the Gonzales Area Development Corporation, which had the foresight to help the school district acquire the land on which the center will sit about six or seven years ago.

“Thinking about this whole situation and what this facility means to Gonzales, there's a couple of things that came to my mind that I have circled here, and it's responsibility and opportunity,” Gray said. “I just had the chance to go and tour some of these other charter schools, some of these other facilities, before the planning for this groundbreaking. We got to go see (Michael E.) DeBakey (High) School (for Health Professions) in Houston, and there was a Construction Careers Academy in San Antonio. And seeing the commitment that those communities made to those programs was unbelievable and what I want to see out of this community is that same commitment to these kids.

“This community is already graduating kids with certificates and training — that's already happening. This is just an opportunity to say, ‘Hey, as a community, we're behind you and we're going to say that this is important, and we want you to have the most modern facilities that you possibly can so that, one day, you can come back to this community and be a productive member and be helpful.

“Believe me, when there's a leak somewhere or the electricity goes out, it's almost a miracle to find somebody that is well trained and to solve that problem so that we can go about the rest of our lives,” Gray added.

Gray issued a challenge to the business community to “help engage with this program and help build a pathway for these kids while they're going through these programs and after graduation, so that we not only give them the skills, but we give them a vision for their lives.

“Hopefully they become productive members of their own family and then productive members of this community,” he added.

Former student Cooper LaBuhn, who graduated from GISD in 2023, currently attends Baylor University as a pre-veterinary student with aspirations of attending Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine in 2026.

“In my time at GHS, I was heavily involved with the CTE program,” LaBuhn said. “Throughout my high school education, I studied livestock and wildlife extensively. I was able to obtain numerous wildlife and ecology certifications, a boating education and a Texas state floral license, which comes in handy more than you think. Through FFA, I developed skills in public speaking, public relations, parliamentary procedure and team based leadership.

“However, perhaps the most vital assets that I gained through CTE were the relationships that I formed. Some of my most influential educators, teammates, peers and friends were all met through the Ag and CTE programs. I always felt like I had a welcoming community in which I was surrounded by like-minded people anytime I was in the Ag building, as evidenced by my career choice.
“The opportunities provided by the CTE program allowed me to develop and practice skills that are prevalent not only in my daily life, but in my chosen career,” LaBuhn added. “Beyond knowledge of livestock, the veterinary education program requires poised speaking ability and a willingness to learn, both of which are cultivated through this program. What's truly special about the lessons and skills learned through a CTE program is that it builds a foundation for really any aspiration.”

LaBuhn said the CTE program and Ag programs at Gonzales High School not only build “successful and confident students” but also “viable and prepared community workers who are ready to move into high need positions within the workforce, a needed commodity in order to keep a small community alive.”

“As a citizen who has plans to move back to this town that created my strong roots, I can't wait to see the growth in the skill sets of students graduating with pre-health certifications, meat processing skills, veterinary assistant certifications and high level welding and auto mechanic certifications,” LaBuhn added. “We Apaches will continue to sustain the success of our little town, and hopefully possess the motivation and knowledge to help it grow and prosper.

“The facilities that will be constructed where we stand here at this moment will provide hundreds of students with the chance to learn about their skills, interests and futures through even more opportunities than are available now, I can only imagine the number of lives that will be changed for the better.”