Meet Your Houston Patch Editor — Is He Really A Texan?

Ok, so I’m an immigrant. I’m documented and I have my papers. I think I’m legal. The State of Texas says I’m legal, but am I really a Texan? Even better, am I a Houstonian?

Like so many people in the Lone Star State, “I got here as fast as I could.” I was born and raised next door in Louisiana, moved to Big D when I was 19, joined the Navy and got an honorable discharge four years later.

I went to community college in Dallas, graduated from the University of Texas and I’ve lived in this great state more than half my life. But am I a Texan yet?

I have been a journalist in Texas the last 18 years, including The Dallas Morning News and newspapers in Austin and the Brazos Valley. I’ve covered Olympians and Paralympians for Team USA — many of the athletes fellow Houstonians.

My newest career path in life is Houston Editor for Patch.com. The focus of my job is to tell your stories of triumph, greatness, sadness and even the weird.

If you live in The Heights, River Oaks, Galleria area, Bellaire, Meyerland, Midtown or anywhere in Houston proper (inner loop), then I want to share your stories with your community. And by virtue of the web, it’ll be a chance to share your stories with the world.

So many people have so many theories about what it takes to become a Texan. Were you born here? How many generations of your family lived here? Do you put beans in your chili? Do you remember the Alamo? Do you prefer Lone Star or Shiner Bock? Baskin Robbins or Blue Bell? Cowboys or the Texans?

To sum up my Texas existence — and I’ve got quite a resume — I’ll give you some of the highlights and let you decide.

I waited tables at an El Chico’s in Dallas, went to Midnight Yell Practice in College Station, ate a chicken fried steak in Johnson City and walked The Strand in Galveston.

I’ve covered more than 300 Friday night football games in Texas, my significant other went to Odessa Permian in the 80’s, I’ve interviewed Nolan Ryan and once had cocktails with the late Rooster Andrews. I went to sports agent Leigh Steinberg’s 30th Super Bowl Party last February downtown.

The Alamo has seen me. So has Dealey Plaza — where Kennedy was shot. I saw a game at the Astrodome, did spring break in South Padre, danced at The Broken Spoke and had too much fun on the Corpus Christi Bay.

I took Texas history and Texas geography. I once memorized all 254 Texas counties and their seats, just for the fun of it. I once ran for county commissioner and lost by 80 votes in a primary and I lived in Austin during the Bush-Gore recount of 2000.

I’ve been to Willie’s Picnic, West Fest, Conroe’s Cajun Catfish Festival, Navasota’s BluesFest and the Keep Austin Weird Festival. I’ve organized barbeque cook-offs, karaoke contests and 5K races.

I’ve rubbed elbows with Chuck Norris at a martial arts event, helped him promote his new water bottling plant and swapped lies and tales with his ranch foreman.

I had Thanksgiving Dinner with family on Lake Conroe, went to the Texas Renaissance Festival on Halloween and visited Washington-on-the-Brazos for Texas Independence Day — that’s March 2 for you newbies.

I’ve walked the Riverwalk in summer, taken photos of bluebonnets in spring and listened to Robert Earl Keen and Pat Green CD’s by campfire in the fall.

The only fishing I do is offshore. The only hunting I’ve done lately is flipping through TV channels. I don’t wear a Stetson, nor do I own a pair of Wranglers or cowboy boots.

My accent is southern, but not Texan. My ancestry is deep-rooted in the South, but not Texas.

I bring a culture that’s not Texan to Texas. I’m part of the melting pot that makes our city and state so great.

I love the history of this area and I love the people. I like to say that I’m a proud Texan, even though I haven’t been here a generation yet.

Whether or not you call me a Texan — which I hope you do — I’m having a blast in this educational journey of becoming one and adding to its lore.

I may be an immigrant, but I feel like a naturalized Texas citizen.

So help be a part of our growing area. Help me tell your stories, share your photos and memories as we all journey through this life together in the best city, in the best state and in the best country.

Because, in my mind, we’re all Texans.