John W. Gibbens - John was born in Uvalde County on May 21, 1932. He lived with his parents and two brothers on ranches west of Uvalde until he graduated from Uvalde High School in 1950.

He accepted Jesus as his Savior when he was fifteen years old, joining Reagen Wells Baptist Church. John spent two years in the US Army, then returned home and attended Southwest Texas State University where he met his future bride, Lou. They were married in 1956. John and Lou have three children and nine grandchildren. They all live in the San Antonio area, making it easy to get the family all together, which they do frequently. John taught school and coached for three years at the San Marcos Baptist Academy. He worked for the U.S. Civil Service for twenty-six and a half years, retiring in 1988. In 1990, Lou retired after teaching twenty-three years in the public school sector. John was ordained as deacon on July 18, 1993, at Sunset Baptist Church in Mountain Home, Texas. He comments, “God is continuing to bless and protect us as we strive to live for Him.”

He currently serves as the Chairman of the Deacons, and is a member of the Building & Grounds, Finance, Greeter & Offertory, and Lord's Supper Committees.

E.H. Bresett - Born July 18, 1936, in Alamo, Texas, E.H. accepted Christ at the age of twelve. He was married to Miriel on October 10, 1959, in Edinburg, and they now live at 500 Spanish Oak in Ingram. They have a son, Mike, who lives with his family in Illinois and a daughter, Marla, who lives in Florida with her family. E.H. retired from the Edinburg School District on May 31, 1991, after thirty years of teaching and coaching. His wife, Miriel, currently teaches at Nimitz Elementary in Kerrville.

E.H. has been a member of First Baptist Churches in Alamo, San Juan and Edinburg. He was ordained a deacon by First Baptist Church, Edinburg, on January 18, 1976. E.H. and Miriel joined Western Hills Baptist Church on November 4, 1995. E.H. has been an active member of the church since they joined, and is currently the chairman of the Deacons, the Lord’s Supper, and the Baptismal Committees, a member of the choir, the Building and Grounds Committee, and the Church Council.

Leon Cox - Leon was born in Clovis, New Mexico, on June 9, 1936. He spent most of his youth in the Rio Grande Valley at San Juan. He married Margaret, his high school sweetheart, in 1957, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in January, 1960, with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.

Leon has spent most of his adult life in Baytown, Texas, employed by EXXON USA, work which took the family on assignments to New Jersey, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and twice to California. Leon and Margaret have two sons, Drew and Scott, and one daughter, Caren. Drew is a coach in Sonora, Scott is a preacher at Riglea Baptist in Ft. Worth, and Caren teaches in Baytown. They have five grandsons, and enjoy following their schools’ athletic programs.

Leon loves the Lord with all his heart and desires to serve Him. He was saved in 1961 at First Christian Church, Baytown. At the Alliance Bible Church, Baytown, Leon served at various times as treasurer, Sunday school teacher, deacon, elder, and chairman of the board of elders, and sang in the choir.

Leon and Margaret made Kerrville their retirement home and Western Hills their church home in 2002. Since joining Western Hills, Leon has been an active servant of the Lord. He is currently leading the Monday evening Bible study group in an in-depth study of the book of Revelation and the end times. Leon serves on the Greeting and Offertory Committee, and is chairman of the Visitation Committee.

D. Pat Edson - Pat was born in Kerrville on October 17, 1941, and has lived here most of his life. He graduated from Tivy High School in 1959, and married Judy Hitchcock on November 27, 1965. He is a co-owner of Edson’s Kerrcrafters, a furniture building business that was founded by his grandfather, and has made that his life’s work. His wife, Judy, works for KISD at Nimitz Elementary School.

Pat and Judy have two daughters, Judy and Kerri, and one son, Gregg. Judy and her husband own and operate the “Texas Salad and Grill” in Kerrville. Kerri is attending UTSA in San Antonio and hopes to graduate in December,, 2004, with a degree in education. Gregg works full time at USAA and attends ST. Mary’s University in San Antonio. He hopes to graduate in 2005. Pat and Judy have three grandsons and three granddaughters.

Pat and Judy joined Western Hills Baptist Church about six months into its inception. They enjoy the love and Christ-like character of the church and have been active in many different positions within the church. Currently Pat stays busy as the director of Sunday school, chairman of the Sound Committee, secretary of the deacons, and a member of the Building & Grounds Committee. And if that isn’t enough, Pat, Judy, and Pat’s sister, Sharon Williams, clean the church every week!!

Don Steed - Near the beginning of the Great Depression (1931) the third child was born to a share-cropper couple in southwest Arkansas. That child’s earliest recollections were about singing gospel songs, such as “Bringing in the Sheep” and Bible stories told by Mrs. Woods. The Baptist Church was located at a crossroads, sixteen miles from the nearest town. Don accepted Christ into his life at the age of eleven.

Don served four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. During that period, he met Pauline Campbell, then a junior in college, and married her. From this union came three children and five grandchildren. With Pauline working full-time and Don working part-time, and with the help of the G I Bill, they were able to complete Dental School at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Pauline earned a degree from the University as a ‘helper’, as did all the wives of the Dental School graduates! They again entered the Air Force where Don completed a four year residency in Oral and Maxilla-facial Surgery. Don retired from the United States Air Force in 1978 as Assistant Chairman and Training Officer at Wilford Hall Medical Center with the rank of Colonel.

Don was ordained a deacon in 1970 by the Boringuen Baptist Church in Puerto Rico. Don and Pauline have been members of three different churches in Arkansas, five in Texas, one in Ohio and one in Puerto Rico. They were involved in starting mission churches in Dayton, Ohio and in Kerrville, Texas--our own Western Hills Baptist Church. Ever a driving force within the church, Don currently serves on the Baptismal, Finance, and Nominating Committees, and sings in the choir. Don’s rendition of “Old Grogan’s Goat” is always requested at musical fellowships!

Don Talbert - Don was born in the ‘Valley’ and spent most of his life there, growing up and attending public schools and college. Anyone who knows Don is aware that he gives more than an honest day’s labor to any job he undertakes. This has been true all his life. While he was dating his future wife, Joyce, he was going to college, working a full day at the US Post Office, and working a good part of the night at the local cotton gin. But God rewards effort, and for his effort, Don earned a degree in Spanish, was appointed Postmaster (one of two Anglo Postmasters in the Valley at that time), and was blessed with a wife and family whom he cherishes. Married for forty-five years, Don and Joyce have two sons, four grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter, and love being grandparents!

Don was saved at the age of twenty in Mission, Texas. He was ordained as deacon in 1965 by First Baptist Church, Pharr, Texas, and was licensed as a minister through that church in 1973, under the pastorate of our own Brother Jim! Being fluent in the Spanish language, Don preached his first sermon in Spanish and has preached in both English and Spanish for the past thirty years, primarily in R V parks.

Don retired from the Postal Service in the Valley, and is currently contracting with the Postal Service to run the Post Office in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

Don and Joyce’s lives are constant witnesses for the Lord. They are focused on serving Him in all that they do, and sharing His word with all whom they meet.

Maurice Newton - Maurice Newton was accepted as deacon of Western Hills Baptist Church in June 2004. He was born in Electra (Wichita County) Texas on February 7, 1924; Maurice was born again on 1936 under the influence of Rev. Miller, a Presbyterian minister in Joinerville, (Rusk County) Texas. He accepted the mantle of Baptist in 1939, under the influence of Dr. C. Gordon Bayless, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pampa, Texas, and was baptized by him. Maurice was one of fourteen new deacons ordained on December 1, 1968, at First Baptist Church in Pampa, and served there as the chairman of deacons in 1971,

Maurice served as deacon of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas from 1972 to 1986. From 1986 to October 2003, he served as deacon of Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville.

Maurice and his wife, Pat, joined Western Hills Baptist Church in October 2003. Pat has been at his side for 60 years, always supporting, never discouraging.

In Maurice's words, "I haven't always been what I should be as a Christian. I haven't always been Where I should be as a Christian, but fro the time I was saved until right now, there has never been a time that God didn't have HIS hand on me. I love JESUS, however no one can ever love like Jesus. The longer I serve HIM, the sweeter he it is!

Meet our Yokefellows

Fred W Messer/Team Leader - Fred was born September 2, 1937, on a cotton farm outside Bartlett, Texas, in southeast Bell County. He was saved while attending Key’s Valley Baptist Church, and was baptized in the Lampasas River.

Fred decided very early in his life that he wanted a career in vehicle repair, and pursued that for some forty-six years. Moving to Kerrville in 1963, he opened an auto repair shop which he operated for thirty years.

Fred joined Western Hills Baptist Church in 1988, and was appointed a deacon in 1997. He is a co- treasurer of the church and teaches the Adult III Sunday School class. Fred serves on the Building & Grounds and Greeter & Offertory Committees.

Fred is active in the Gideon Camp in Kerrville, currently serving as secretary. Very interested in and knowledgeable of all history, and particularly that of Texas, he is the current president of the Fredricksburg chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. Fred is a part-time employee of Bealls Dept. Store in Kerrville.

Fred loves Western Hills and the church family, and our God who gives us all we have.