Community Corner
Tomball Remembers President Bush's Visit During 2007 Centennial
It took several letters over 4 years from the city's Centennial Committee to the former president to nail down a firm yes, but they got one.
TOMBALL, TX — A small town with fond memories of President George H.W Bush will join with thousands of their fellow Texans on Thursday to bid farewell to the 41st President of the United States when his funeral train passes nearby.
They will remember the man who represented them in Congress in the mid 1960s, but they will also remember the man who came to the town’s Centennial celebration in 2007.
“He spoke at the chamber banquet in 1972 when he was our congressman,” said Bruce Hillegiest, president of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce. “I remember back then when he came, but no one knew he’d be president someday.”
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Hillegiest’s predecessor, Diane Holland, who passed away in 2016, had friends who were close to the Bush family, but it was Holland, who was president of the city's Centennial Committee, who wrote letters to Bush.
After exchanging letters over four years, President and Mrs. Bush agreed to attend.
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Hillegiest said because of Bush’s ties to the Tomball community, it seemed obvious to a lot of people who remembered Bush the congressman, to invite him to the city’s 100th anniversary.
President Bush attended the celebration in Tomball in November 2007 at Tomball Municipal Stadium, which drew about 7,000 residents, just as he’d promised.
“He came right away,” Hillegiest said. “Bush was a favorite here, and it was obvious that he should be our special guest.”
On Thursday, Fagan and other city leaders will be on hand as Bush 4141, traveling on the Union Pacific Rail Line.
A large American flag has already been placed on the bridge to pay tribute to the president Tomball knew well.
The Bush 4141 funeral train will pass through the Tomball area and cross FM 2978 at E Hufsmith at approximately 1:15pm.
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Image: Courtesy Mayor Gretchen Fagan
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