Conroe Celebrates Founders Day, Announces Citizen of The Year

CONROE, TX -- It was a beautiful day at the Isaac Conroe House, this past Saturday, a perfect afternoon outing with a light breeze, as Conroe Socialite and Founders Day Organizer Lyn Howard, invited the public to come and celebrate Isaac Conroe, the man, and celebrate his life and legacy. And after two faulty microphone switch outs, and the warmth of the Sun, a great time was had by all. The event was held in front of the house of Our Town’s Founder, located at the intersection Ave A & N 1st St in Conroe, the second floor of which acted as the town’s first post office and courthouse. The event, originally held in August, was moved to February 11th this year, but with heavy rains, was postponed until March 15th, with its acceptable weather, although a little warm in some spots during the ceremony.

The descendants of Isaac Conroe were in attendance with Conroe and Bowden surnames, along with elected officials, and docents in period-costumes from the 1890’s. Reenactors representing Confederate and Union Forces, both participated in the ceremony, with the Rebels posting their flags center in front of the porch, and The North firing off volleys to remember the man who served their Army. The Founders Day event honors the birthday of the city’s namesake, but there is no conclusive date of his February 1835 birthdate. The old homestead now houses the City of Conroe Connection Transportation Services headquarters, and was sold outside of the family name in the 1980s. It wasn’t until Lyn and her husband Carl purchased the 1885 Conroe home, around 2015, renovated it, and hosted the inaugural Founder's Day event in 2018, before subsequently selling it to the City of Conroe for safe keeping.

“Today’s ceremony was a little long, but we will adjust for next year,” said Howard. “This was the first time we had a speaker give a complex history on Isaac Conroe. Conroe was a fabulous, renaissance man, who came to Texas and made such a wonderful contribution to our state.”

Howard went on to praise Conroe’s ability, being from the north in the postwar south, to be able to return to Texas, and gain the respect and admiration of the people of Conroe and Montgomery County.

City Councilman David Hariel spoke on the growth of Conroe over the last 43 years he has been a resident, while Howard introduced members of the Founders Day Board, the UDC docents, as well Mayor Duke Coon, who read a Founders Day Proclamation by the City.

"You saved this home for us,” said Mayor Duke Coon, in praise of Lyn and Carl Howard. “We thank you for protecting the integrity of this home for the City of Conroe, so that it may remain a symbol of Isaac Conroe for all time.”

Mike Bowden, the great great grandson of Isaac Conroe, whose grandmother was born in the house, spoke about the Conroe family and his time spent in the house. He remembered riding out September 1961’s Hurricane Carla in the house, and spent many days hanging out at his grandparents house, staying overnight in the back room, as a boy in the 1950’s. Bowden showed a little piece of Isaac Conroe’s personal history, his daily diary, a tiny book from his Civil War Days, which actually had a short notation on March 15th, 1864, about driving some wagon to a location.

Historian Arthur Andy Rapoza, the guest speaker, spoke on the life and times of Isaac Conroe, from his birth in New Jersey to his move to Chicago, then onto the Civil War, where he met his future wife in Washington D.C. before leaving for the field of battle. Conroe was wounded when a shot went through above his left lip, and exited out by the base of his neck. It’s a wonder he wasn’t killed, and the incident later prompted him to grow a large mustache to cover the scar. He mustered out of the Army in Texas, went back to D.C. to marry his girl, and moved back south to start his lumber and Conroe legacy.

Councilwoman Shana Arthur read a Proclamation from the City she relayed back in October, when the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War honored Conroe at his gravesite in Houston. Lyn Howard then read Posthumous Commendations for influential Montgomery County citizens who have passed during the past year: Judge Dennis Watson, Texas Flag Lady Pat Spackey, Former Conroe Mayor Carter Moore, and businessman Tony Gullo. Family members received a plaque in honor of their loved ones' service to the community. A LifeTime Achievement Award was presented by Councilman Harry Hardiman to local Hall of Fame DJ Mary McCoy, while Chairman of the Founders Day Committee, DeAndre J Guin, the Director of Engagement for Montgomery County Meals on Wheels, announced previous Citizens of the Year: Historian Larry Forester (2022), and Young Texas Artist President/CEO Susie Pokorski (2023/24). Guin also announced the nominees for 2025 Citizen of the Year: Annette Spikes, widow of Coach Grady Spikes, who remains very activity in the community following the unfortunate death of her husband over 20 years ago; Councilwoman Marsha Porter, who was a longtime coach at Conroe High, and a member of the city council; and Joe Haliti, owner of Joe’s Italian, who has fed many thousands of meals to first responders in trying times facing Conroe and Montgomery County over the years. Guin announced Mr Haliti as the 2025 Citizen of the Year.

“This is the largest turnout we had at a Founder’s Day event,” said Guin. “It was great and the weather was perfect.”

With the change of months in the celebration of Isaac Conroe to February, Lyn Howard, has determined it is best to hold the ceremony on a Saturday to give the best chance for a hearty attendance possible for the community in the future.