Staff report 

Longtime Hays County volunteer and Historical Commission Chair Kate Johnson was honored by the Hays County Commissioners Court as the first recipient of the new Kate Johnson Award for Volunteer of the Year. The Commissioners Court also named November 10, 2015, as Kate Johnson Day in Hays County and called upon the people of Hays County to gratefully acknowledge her voluntary service. The packed courtroom gave her a standing ovation.

“Hays County has always relied on citizen volunteers as extensions of government to fully serve our citizens,” Hays County Judge Bert Cobb, M.D., said. “Volunteers are a critical force for our county and the Court wants to implement an annual award to recognize those volunteers. No one deserves it more than Kate Johnson, and naming the award for her is fitting and right.”

According to the proclamation Kate Johnson has voluntarily served tirelessly on many organizations and committees to protect and preserve the history of Texas and Hays County in particular, and her service has brought recognition and honor to Hays County.

Family, friends and Historical Commission members (she chairs that commissioner) helped organize the surprise award, and local film maker Richard Kidd presented a video he made that shared the story of Johnson’s path to involvement with and love for Texas – especially Hays County – history. As it turns out, while growing up history was not her passion! Luckily for Hays County, she found that passion and Hays County has greatly benefited.