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A Debt of Gratitude

On June 19th, the Senior Officers and members of the 2019 Executive Committee hosted a luncheon
for the Past Presidents of the Greater San Antonio Builders Association (GSABA) to celebrate our
Association’s 75th Anniversary. It was an honor and a privilege to have so many Past Presidents
attend and to get to know the leaders who served GSABA before me.

Leading a Non-Profit Association isn’t for the faint of heart. GSABA has a rich legacy of dedicated
men and women who have stepped up year after year, to invest in the Association, making us who
we are today. As we all know, the building and construction industry has both good years and
Jeff Buell challenging years. Each President has invested their time and talent in GSABA and each of them has
President left their legacy and molded us into who we are today because of their investment in our future.

James (Jim) Uptmore, Sr. was proud to be the oldest President in attendance. Jack Uptmore, Jim’s son served as President in 2011 and
currently serves as the Chair of our Housing Center Trustees. Mr. Uptmore, Sr., along with Paul Sword, were the men who had the vision and
stepped up to contribute to our building campaign which made it possible for us to have the magnificent office building and ballroom we
call the Housing Center today.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the Uptmore-Sword Trust along with the material, labor and monetary contributions of dozens of other
GSABA members. When people enter our foyer at the Association, they are in awe of the number of names of our past and present
members on the wall recognizing them for their generous contributions.

While Lloyd Booth served the year before Mr. Uptmore, Sr. in 1965, Mr. Uptmore, Sr. is proud to boast that he is the most Senior President.
Lloyd Booth follows in his footsteps as being the second most Senior President! Mr. Booth started Prestige Homes in 1959 and they just
celebrated their 60th anniversary in the building industry. Prestige Homes is now led by Todd Booth, Lloyd’s son and they built in the 2018
Parade of Homes.
It was so nice to see Jerry Smith, Sr. and Jerry Smith, Jr. at the luncheon. Jerry Smith, Sr. served as President in 1972 and 30 years later, his
son, Jerry Smith, Jr. served as GSABA’s President in 2002. Jerry Smith, Sr.’s wife, Sharon, also served as President in 1993 and has the distinct
honor of being the only woman President to date of our Association.
Laddie Denton with Denton Communities served as President in 1991 and his Father, Lloyd Denton, Sr. served GSABA as President in 1962.
Laddie and his team at Denton Communities will host the 2020 Parade of Homes in Cantera Hills next May and we are grateful for their
continued partnership with the Association. Laddie has hosted several Parades of Homes and continues to support the Spring Tour of
Homes as well.
I want to take this opportunity to thank my friend and colleague David Bohne, the CEO of Broadway Bank, and his team for hosting the
luncheon for the Past Presidents. It was a fabulous venue and the Broadway team helped us put on a first-class event. We are grateful
for their support. Of note, Broadway Bank celebrated their 75th anniversary in 2017-congratulations to the leadership and employees of
Broadway Bank.
In closing, I want to invite you to join me at the Summit Awards on Saturday night, July 27th at the Omni Colonnade Hotel where we will
celebrate the best of the best in the residential homebuilding and development industry. You can make your reservations online at www.
sabuilders.com or you can call the Association at 210-696-3800. We expect to sell out soon so make your reservations today!

Thank you for the opportunity to serve
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn as your 2019 President,
more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”
― John Quincy Adams

6 JULY 2019 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION