Conroe Founder's Day

02/20/2026

What an incredible evening at Conroe Founder’s Day 2026 at Conroe Founder’s Plaza.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to honor Isaac Conroe and celebrate the city that continues to grow from his vision. Seeing our community gathered together on this day was meaningful and inspiring.

We are deeply grateful to all who helped lead and shape the ceremony:

Thank you to Lyn Hawthorne Howard for her leadership, and to our Conroe Founder’s Day Board for the countless volunteer hours invested behind the scenes. Events like this happen because dedicated people care deeply about Conroe.

Thank you to the Conroe High School, Conroe ISD JROTC Color Guard for presenting the colors with professionalism and pride, and to Scouts Troop 1517 for their participation and Pine Tree Seed distribution, a beautiful symbol of Conroe’s continued growth.

We are grateful to Dr. Wallace Shook and Dr. John Wayne McMann for the opening and closing prayers, and to our talented singers Sophia Von Koschembuler and Anita Stevens for leading the National Anthem and closing musical selections.

Thank you to our elected officials and dignitaries who participated in proclamations and remarks, including Councilman Howard Wood, Shana Arthur, Kevin Brady, Commissioner Robert Walker - Montgomery County Precinct 1, and Will Metcalf. We also appreciate the support of Conroe City Council members Harry Hardman, Howard Wood, and Shana Arthur.

A special thank you to our guest speaker Arthur Andy Rapoza for sharing the short history of Isaac Conroe, and to Mike Bowden and family, descendants of Isaac Conroe, for being part of the ceremony. We are also thankful for all speakers and participants who contributed to making the evening meaningful.

Congratulations to Judge Kathleen Hamilton, our 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Her years of service and dedication to this community truly embody the spirit of Conroe.

We proudly recognized our 2026 Citizen of the Year nominee finalists: Evan Roberson, Rodney Pool, and Todd Bartholet. Simply being nominated is an honor. It reflects a level of impact, leadership, and service that does not go unnoticed by the community.

And congratulations to our 2026 Citizen of the Year, Todd Bartholet. As a lifelong resident of Montgomery County and a steady servant leader in Conroe, Todd has consistently stepped up to support others. Through business leadership, charitable efforts, disaster relief initiatives, and his commitment to protecting and strengthening our hometown, he leads with humility, integrity, and action. His heart for Conroe is evident in everything he does, and we are proud to recognize him.

Thank you to every sponsor, volunteer, participant, and attendee who helped make this year’s Founder’s Day such a special and memorable event. Special thank you to Jon Forde for capturing the photographs for this event.

Conroe continues to grow not only in size, but in strength, service, and heart. 🌲❤️

02/15/2026

𝐀𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫, 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐛 𝟏𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

See you at 𝐼𝑠𝑎𝑎𝑐 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑟𝑜𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟’𝑠 𝐷𝑎𝑦！
⭐️Thursday, Feb 17
⭐️4:00pm
⭐️Founder’s Plaza Park (corner of Metcalf/Main)

See who is awarded Conroe’s 2026 Citizen of the Year and receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

𝐹𝑅𝐸𝐸！

02/13/2026

𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐚𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐫𝐨𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲’𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐛 𝟏𝟗 𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤

The Isaac Conroe Founder’s Day is Thursday, February 19, starting at 4 pm at Conroe Founders Plaza Park, 205 Metcalf.

This is a free event with elected officials, period costumed docents from the 1800’s, pine seeds to be handed out, and descendants of Isaac Conroe who was born in February 1835, and died at the age of 62 in August 1897. Isaac Conroe was the seed that planted the city and the pine trees are representative of him as founder.

As the event begins, the Conroe High School ROTC will perform a presentation of the flags, with Anita Stevens, one of the docents in period costume will sing the National Anthem. Conroe City Council members will assist with the pledges and the City of Conroe proclamation. Our local, state, and federal elected officials will be on hand to share the celebration of Isaac Conroe, born 191 years earlier.

The first Founder’s Day was celebrated August 2nd, 2018, at the historical Isaac Conroe Homestead, now the City of Conroe Transportation Services, at 202 Ave A. in Conroe. After three August events it was decided to move the event to February the month Isaac Conroe was born versus the day he died. This year the event will be held at Founders Plaza Park as it aligns with the theme and it will offer the opportunity to continue the growth in the park for the namesake of Isaac Conroe, the founder of the City.

As part of the festivities, one person will be honored as the Conroe Citizen of the Year based on contributions from the community and agreed upon by affirmative acclimation by the Isaac Conroe Board of Directors. There will also be a Lifetime Achievement Award presented to an individual who has made significant improvement to the lifestyle of the residents of Conroe.

Isaac Conroe is the founding father of the City of Conroe. Isaac Conroe coerced the railroad to make a stop in the town, and it was named the "Isaac Conroe Switch". He later built a sawmill and the famous white wooden house on 202 Avenue A, which is considered the birthplace of Conroe. This house served as his family's residence, the first Courthouse, the first Post office, and the first Postmaster was Isaac Conroe.

Docents who will be present at the Isaac Conroe Founder’s Day include Elaine Collings, Anita Stevens, Charlotte Belin, and Caimy Harbison.
Special appreciation and thanks to our sponsors Bank of Montgomery, the City of Conroe, Crown Cork and Seal, Debbie Glenn of The Red Brick Tavern, Conroe Fire Department, The Blossom Shop, our talented vocalists-Sophia VonKoschembuler and Anita Stevens, I Love Conroe, and the local historical societies. The Board members of the Conroe Founders Day nonprofit appreciate their support!

⭐️Learn more about Conroe Founder’s Day by following the page: https://www.facebook.com/conroefoundersday, or the website: https://conroefoundersday.org. The Montgomery County Memorial Library has a book available “Captain Isaac Conroe by Kristin F. Smith.

https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/events/article/isaac-conroe-founder-s-day-celebrate-city-s-21350111.php

02/13/2026

❤️ 🤍 💙 THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 CONROE FOUNDER’S DAY SPONSORS! ❤️ 🤍 💙

City of Conroe - Government
Visit Conroe, Texas
Joe's Italian Restaurant
BOM
Guadalaharry’s
I Love Conroe
Bomber Energy USA
Experience Historic Downtown Conroe
Taylorized PR

We are incredibly grateful to the businesses and organizations that make Conroe Founder’s Day possible each year. Because of your support, we are able to honor Isaac Conroe and celebrate the history and spirit of our city in true Texas fashion.

From community leaders and local businesses to downtown champions and hometown partners, your investment in Conroe matters, and you are appreciated.

📅 Join us Thursday, February 19th
📍 Conroe Founder’s Plaza – 205 Metcalf St
🕓 Ceremony begins at 4:00 PM

This annual celebration will honor Isaac Conroe, recognize descendants of Isaac Conroe, City & State leaders, highlight the history of our founder, feature a period dress style show, and present the Conroe Citizen of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards.

After the ceremony, we encourage you to take a short drive to the Historic Isaac Conroe Homestead just a few blocks away and reflect on where it all began.
Let’s come together in Downtown Conroe to celebrate our roots and the community that continues to grow because of them 🌲

02/03/2026

Thank you, I Love Conroe!

🎉Mark your calendars for Thursday, Feb 19 at 4pm for the Conroe Founder’s Day celebration at Founder’s Park in Conroe- the corner of Metcalf and Main Streets.

Conroe Founder’s Day 2026 takes place February 19 at Conroe Founder’s Plaza in Downtown Conroe, honoring Isaac Conroe, local history, and community leaders in true Texas spirit.

01/27/2026

2025 Conroe Citizen of the Year was Joe Haliti of Joe’s Italian Restaurant.

Who will it be in 2026? 🤔
Come to the event Thursday, Feb 19 at 4:00pm and find out!

A Conroe restaurateur and businessman known for his generosity and support of first responders has been named the city's 2025 Citizen of the Year.

01/21/2026

🧡The public is invited to the annual Isaac Conroe Founder’s Day celebration Thursday, Feb 19 at 4pm.

🏠The event will be at Founder’s Plaza Park, 205 Metcalf, Conroe.

🧡The event will last about one hour, followed by tours of the oldest home in Conroe and former temporary courthouse from 1889-1891. A local Conroe citizen will also be honored as the “Citizen of the Year” during the event.

Free admission!

Photo: Lyn Hawthorne Howard who created Conroe Founder’s Day (nonprofit) sitting beside her sculpture of Isaac Conroe. Yes, she did this!

01/18/2026

Please fill out the short form below to nominate a Conroe Citizen of the Year that will be announced at the Conroe Founder's Day event that will take place at Founder's Plaza on February 19th in Downtown Conroe.

Last day to nominate is end of day tomorrow January 20th.

Nominate anyone you believe is worthy of this title and award.

3 nominees will be chosen from all of the submissions and the nominees as well as the winner will be announced during the event.

Requirements

1. The nominee must live in the City of Conroe.

2. The nominee can be a male or female.

3. The nominee cannot be a previous Isaac Conroe Citizen of the Year winner.

4. The person must be a person in good moral standing that has contributed their time, efforts and or resources helping to make Conroe a better place.

Past Winners for reference.

2022 Larry Foerster
2023 Susie Pokorski
2025 Joe Haliti
2026 TBA

Sincerely,

Conroe Founder's Day Board

Requirements 1. The nominee must live in the City of Conroe. 2. The nominee can be a male or female. 3. The nominee cannot be a previous Isaac Conroe Citizen of the Year recipient. 4. The person must be a person in good moral standing that has contributed their time, efforts and or resources helping...