By FLORI MEEKS
Gayle and Charles Boggess take volunteering very seriously. It has been a priority for them through much of their marriage.
"This is something Charles and I decided to do many, many years ago," Gayle said.
Since moving to Cinco Ranch in 1996, Charles initiated efforts to organize a fire department for the community. The Willowfork Fire Department, 24655 Westheimer Parkway, went into action in January 2003.
Gayle played a major role in bringing Cinco Ranch Branch Library to north Fort Bend County and enlisted Charles’ support as well. The branch at 2620 Commercial Center Blvd. opened in Katy in March 2004.
"Gayle and Charles are absolutely heroes of the community," said Katy Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ann Hodge. "I guarantee you if it had not been for their work, that library would not be there."
Earlier this year, the chamber named the Boggesses its Volunteers of the Year.
"Gayle and Charles were such visionaries," Hodge said. "They recognized a need and jumped into action. They just give tirelessly of their time."
Gayle and Charles will be recognized during the chamber’s annual gala, A Tribute to Katy," Friday, Feb. 12, at Safari Texas Ranch, 11627 FM 1464.
"We’re absolutely astounded; we’re blown away," Gayle said. "We never, ever performed any volunteer service for the community with the idea of being recognized."
Charles has spent most of his career writing programs and systems for large mainframe computers. He spent nine years working in Cabinda, Angola, for Gulf Oil and spent the final years of his career in San Ramon, Calif. before he and Gayle retired to Texas.
Youth sports
While children David, Jodie, Susan and Charles were growing up, Charles coached baseball, football and softball and served as a director of the Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association.
During his years with SBMSA, Charles led efforts to get permission from the Spring Branch district to construct athletic fields at Spring Woods and Memorial junior high schools.
In California, Charles was involved in school board and city elections, served on the Republican Committee and was a member of the San Ramon Library Foundation, which oversaw the construction of the first Contra Cost County library built in 20 years.
In Cinco Ranch, Charles has served as vice president of the Cinco Residential Property Owners Association, was secretary and investment officer of Cinco Ranch Municipal Utility District No. 9 and served for years as a Fort Bend County Republican precinct chair and election judge.
In addition to leading the efforts to create an area fire department, Charles has served as president of Fort Bend County Emergency Services District No. 2, which supports Willowfork Fire Department.
Charles also is an endowed member and past master of Gray Lodge, the Scottish Rite and Arabia Shrine Temple and served as president in 1999 of the Flying Fez Club, which transports children to the organizations’ hospitals by air.
Fine arts
One of Gayle’s greatest passions is the arts. She served on the Arts Council of the City of San Ramon and organized the first San Ramon Art and Wind Festival, which is celebrating its 19th anniversary this year.
While living in northern California, Gayle was a board member and officer of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, which helps the National Park Service preserve O’Neill’s home in Danville, Calif.
Gayle has guided a number of organizations through the 501C3 application process, including the Cinco Ranch Area Art League, which she helped establish.
She also has been a board member with Cinco Ranch Ladies Club and the Katy Performing Arts Society and has volunteered for the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce.
In 2001, Gayle painted two of the 300 CowParade of Houston cows created to benefit Texas Children’s Hospital. Her pieces were "Mootual Cacti Cow and the "Deep in the Heart of Texas Cow."
Gayle helped bring Cinco Ranch Branch Library to the area as a charter member of the Friends of Cinco Ranch Library.
The Cinco Ranch library project began in 1996, and it culminated with the branch’s opening in March 2003.
Gayle and Charles were among three Cinco Ranch residents honored for their service by the community’s developer in 2006. Newland Communities named three community lakes after them. The third honoree was Christina Apple.
Gayle said she’s grateful for the opportunities she and Charles have had to serve the Katy community. "It was very important we do this," she said. "No community can exist without volunteers."