Congratulations Class of 2013! Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 June 6, 2013 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 38, No. 18 Parade honors service The Leader would like to remind readers of the annual South Belt Independence Day Parade, on Thursday, July 4. Now in its 26th year, the event HFD’s Robert Bebee, 41, dies a hero will wind from Beverly Hills Intermediate to San By James Bolen Houstonian to offer their prayers for the families A 1990 Dobie shift, according to Capt. Kevin Martinez, who Jac College South. Participants are encouraged to Longtime South Belt resident Robert Bebee of these fallen fi refi ghters.” graduate, Bebee, said he intends to frame the note for display. decorate their vehicles and floats, as prizes will be awarded in various categories. was one of four Houston fi refi ghters to die Fri- According to offi cials, the fi re started around 41, dedicated his In addition to Station 51, Bebee served out of All community and nonprofit groups may sign day, May 31, while battling a fi ve-alarm fi re in a noon in an adjacent restaurant, then quickly life to public ser- Stations 37, 40, 10 and 48. up for the parade at no charge. A $50 fee is charged motel near the Southwest Freeway at Hillcroft. spread to the Southwest Inn in the 6800 block vice, fi rst work- Many have taken to Facebook to pay their re- for business entries. Entry forms are available by The blaze, which injured 14 more, marked of the Southwest Freeway. The four were killed ing as a deputy spects to Bebee. emailing [email protected]. The forms the deadliest day in the 118-year history of the when the motel’s roof collapsed. The fi refi ghters for the Harris “Bebee was one of those people that every- are to be filled out and returned to the Leader office Houston Fire Department, offi cials said. had entered the building under the false assump- County Precinct body gravitated to,” commented Facebook user at 11555 Beamer, faxed to 281-481-5730 or emailed “Today is going to go down as the worst day tion there were civilians trapped inside. 2 Constable’s of- Angie Johnson. “He was so easy going. Didn’t by July 2. For convenience, entry forms may be in the history of the Houston Fire Department,” It took more than 150 fi refi ghters roughly fi ce, before mak- have a mean bone in his body. He never skipped dropped through the mail slots located on each side Mayor Annise Parker said. “We ask for every three hours to bring the fl ames under control. ing the switch to out on a chance help somebody, just had that of the front office doors. become an HFD spirit to always look out for others, like a ‘We’re fi refi ghter in Au- all in this together’ attitude. He made stupid and Graduation issue inside gust 2001. boring things fun and funny. I’m not the least bit Look inside for the Leader’s special high school Fellow firefighters honor Bebee Bebee began surprised Robert Bebee is going out recognized graduation section. Graduates from Dobie, Clear his HFD career as Robert Bebee a hero. Those of us he helped along the way al- Brook, South Houston, Clear Horizons Early a fi refi ghter/EMT ready saw him as one. Now everyone will.” College high schools and Lutheran South Academy but was promoted to engineer operator EMT in Several Facebook users have changed their are featured. December 2007. At the time of his death, Bebee profi le pictures to the HFD badge in Bebee’s was studying to become a captain. honor. Sagemont Civic Club meets In December 2004, Bebee took on a second The Houston Astros also honored the fallen The Sagemont Civic Club will hold its job, joining the Jersey Village Fire Department, fi refi ghters this week by wearing a special patch monthly meeting Monday, June 10, at 7 p.m. where he served for six years. on their uniforms during their homestand against at the new Sagemont Park Recreation Center While he worked primarily out of HFD Station the Baltimore Orioles. located at 11507 Hughes Road. 51 on Bellaire, Bebee never strayed too far from “Our prayers go out to the families and friends the South Belt community. This past month, Be- of the fi refi ghters who lost their lives or were in- bee volunteered his time to help fi refi ghters from jured in last week’s tragedy,” Astros President Highland Meadow to meet Station 70 on Beamer collect funds for their an- Reid Ryan said in a statement. “We all owe a The Highland Meadow Homeowners Asso- nual Fill-the-Boot fundraising campaign to fi ght debt of gratitude to all of our fi refi ghters, who ciation board meeting will be Wednesday, June muscular dystrophy. While at the station, Bebee risk their lives to keep others safe.” 12, at 7 p.m. in Meeting Room F at the Parker left a note expressing a desire to work overtime Tuesday’s pregame ceremony included a mo- Williams Library, 10851 Scarsdale Blvd. For in the area, should any other fi ghfi ghters miss a Continued on Page 2A information, visit www.ciaservices.com. Dobie 10-year reunion set The Dobie High School Class of 2003 will hold Brother John honored its 10-year reunion June 7-8. The group will meet for happy hour at Fox and Hound Smokehouse on Friday at 6 p.m.The main event will be on Saturday at the Tasting Room Uptown Park at 8 p.m. Registration is $35 per person and $65 per couple. For more information or an RSVP form, email [email protected] or call Sarah Kalala (chairperson) at 281-757-3124. Fellow fi refi ghters gathered Sunday, June 2, to honor their fallen brother Robert Bebee, Faith Baptist sets VBS whose casket is shown being wheeled into Niday Funeral Home. Bebee, 41, died in the Faith Baptist Church, 9850 Mango, will hold line of duty Friday, May 31, while battling a fi ve-alarm fi re in a motel near the Southwest Vacation Bible School June 11-14, from 6:45 to 9 Freeway at Hillcroft. The blaze was the deadliest in the Houston Fire Department’s 118- p.m. All ages are welcome – infants through adults. year history. See related letter to the editor on Page 2A and photos on Page 6A. To RSVP or for information, call 281-748-6445. Photo by Marie Flickinger Kirkmont 1 meets June 12 Kirkmont Section 1 Association will meet Wednesday, June 12, at 7:30 pm. at the Kirkmont Shaver repairs set to begin Municipal Utility Building, across from Moore Elementary. All residents are welcome to see what The long-awaited project to reconstruct South ou and a new detention pond. is going on in the neighborhood or to voice a com- Shaver Road from the Gulf Freeway to State The project is a joint venture between TxDOT, plaint. Highway 3/Old Galveston Road is slated to be- the City of Houston and the Harris County Flood gin Monday, June 17. Control District. The estimated cost of construc- AFJROTC holds car wash The announcement was made late last month tion is $13.5 million – 80 percent of which will Dobie High’s Air Force JROTC unit will host a at a preconstruction meeting hosted by the Tex- be funded by the Federal Highway Administra- car wash Saturday, June 15, at Snowie’s, Beamer at as Department of Transportation to discuss the tion and 20 percent of which will be funded by Scarsdale, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Funds will help construction schedule, safety and contract agree- the City of Houston. cadets with JROTC Leadership School. Donations ments of the project. James Construction has been awarded the will be accepted at the car wash for a minimum Infrastructure improvements include widen- contract to do the work. of $5 per vehicle. Tickets will also be presold by cadets. No rain checks for presold tickets. ing the road from four to six lanes with raised Work on the project will take place during the medians, curb and gutter drainage, sidewalks, fi ve-day work week with lane closures only be- Leader seeks photos street lighting and improved underground utili- tween the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sagemont Church’s Dr. John Morgan (right) was honored at a ceremony Thursday, May ties. The project also includes storm water ca- The project is expected to be complete in late 30, for being the Pasadena Independent School District’s 2013 Distinguished Alumnus. A The Leader is seeking readers’ 2013 vacation pacity improvements for a portion of Berry Bay- 2014 or early 2015. photos for publication. A first- and second-prize of 1959 Pasadena High School graduate, Morgan was recognized for transforming the once Schlitterbahn tickets will be awarded monthly dur- small Sagemont ministry into one of the largest in the state. Under Morgan’s direction, the ing June, July and August to the best submissions. church’s congregation has grown from a mere 16 members to more than 17,000. Shown Each month’s first-place winner will be awarded Home demolished, but not garage above with Morgan at the event are PISD Superintendent Dr. Kirk Lewis and Morgan’s eight tickets, while each month’s second-place win- wife Beth Morgan. Photo by Marie Flickinger ner will be awarded six. All submissions should include where and when the photo was taken, as well as identify each person in the picture and tell the story about the trip.