Ken Strange named Patriot of the Year

#8 SEPT. 19, 2019

Ken Strange can add one more title to his already lengthy community resume. Last week, Strange was named the Patriot of the Year at the annual Wimberley Patriot Day Ceremony at EmilyAnn Theatre and Gardens.

“This is extremely humbling for me,” Strange said. “When I look around out here, I see all the hard workers that make this community work so well. I am just a tiny part of that team. We work together as a team. This is not one person, I promise you that. We have the most fortunate community probably in the state of Texas and maybe in the nation with the hearts of the people who are standing here today.”

The ceremony was part of the memorial for victims of the September 11 terrorist attack and honored first responders who lost their lives. It included a salute to all local first responders and members of all branches of the military. Representatives were on hand from the Hays County Sheriff’s Department, Hays County Constables Precinct 3, Wimberley Fire and Rescue and Wimberley EMS.

The Patriot of the Year award is given to a person who served in the United States Military and then continued service to the Wimberley community afterwards.

Strange has served on the Wimberley ISD school Board since 2008, with many of those years serving as president. He served in the United States Air Force for four years and in 1989 made a decision that would forever change the course of his life—he joined the Wimberley Volunteer Fire Department. In 1991, Strange joined Wimberley EMS as a volunteer and was hired as a full-time paramedic in 1996 and ascended to director in 2004.

“For his honorable service to our community and his continued service to our community through his work as Wimberley EMS Director, member of the WISD School Board for 11 years, and owner of a small business in Wimberley we honor Ken Strange today,” Roger Parker said at the Patriot Day Ceremony. “His service to our country, our community and to the youth of Wimberley has been an inspiration to all in the Wimberley Valley.”

Strange teared up when he thanked his family for their support including his wife Yvette.

“Most of all I want to thank my beautiful wife,” Strange said as Yvette stepped forward to support her husband has he struggled to hold back his emotions. “I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without her. She keeps the home fires going when I am out running the streets. She keeps the house going. She has helped me raise these two beautiful children.”

Strange’s son Kennedy is a senior at Wimberley High School and his daughter Hallie is a junior.

“Wimberley ISD joins the community in never forgetting the tragic attack on our country on 9/11, and all of the team is especially honored to congratulate Ken Strange, a dedicated WISD trustee, whose diligent service has had a very positive impact on education in the Wimberley Valley,” said Dwain York, Wimberley ISD Superintendent of Schools.