32
Texas Association of Builders
May/June 2015
Lonestar Newsmakers
In Loving Memory of
Jimmie Faye Reardon Snider
On March 8, 2015, Jimmie Snider, who
served the East Texas Builders Association
for 40 years – 36 of them as executive
officer – passed away surrounded by her
family in Longview, Texas at the age of 84.
Jimmie was a beloved friend and mentor
to generations of East Texans and home
builders association members and HBA
staffs across the nation.
Jimmie loved the home builders association.
She was recognized dozens of times by the
National Association of Home Builders,
the Texas Association of Builders, and the
East Texas Builders Association during her
decades of service to the home building
industry, and her legacy of commitment
will not be forgotten.
Scott Norman, TAB’s executive director,
said upon learning of Jimmie’s passing,
“It’s been a sad weekend thinking about
Jimmie and her decades-long impact upon
our members and, more importantly, each
of us as EOs. I was fortunate enough to
know her way before my days with TAB.
She will continue to be an inspiration
to all of us who knew her and witnessed
her dedication and commitment to the
important facets of her life.”
A few of Jimmie’s association
accomplishments include:
• Attendance at 34 consecutive NAHB Executive
Officers Council Seminars (1977 – 2010) and
election to multiple terms as an EOC Director-
At-Large.
• Receipt of many NAHB Executive Officers
Council Awards, including the “Rachel Manley
Memorial Award” for outstanding achievement
in association management (1993).
• Recognition by NAHB as the longest serving
executive officer in the history of NAHB (2010).
• Election as president of the Texas Executive
Officers Council (1998 – 1999).
• Becoming the only executive officer to receive the
Texas Association of Builders’“Ted S. Schlossman
Lifetime Achievement Award”(2010).
Under her leadership, the East Texas
Builders Association established:
• The “James H. Kilpatrick Scholarship Fund” in
honor of long-time ETBA member and past
president. Since 2002, the fund has awarded
over $100,000 in scholarships to area students.
• The “ETBA Hero” award to recognize members
that make outstanding contributions to the
local association (2008).
The ETBA’s event center bears her name,
and a scholarship has been established in
her memory.
Jimmie was involved in many home
building charities in the Longview area
including: Working Woman’s Dream
Home (1988), Starting Over Project
(1990), Seth Rogers House (1999), and
Kids View Bathroom Project (2005). She
also volunteered with Longview Habitat
for Humanity and raised thousands of
dollars for the organization.
Following her retirement from the ETBA,
Jimmie continued to volunteer her time
and energy to local organizations, but her
greatest joy was spending time with her
family. Jimmie is survived by her husband,
Gaylon, five children, five step-children, 20
grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and
one great great grandchild.
Donations may be made in her memory
to the Jimmie Snider Memorial
Scholarship Fund in care of the East Texas
Builders Association.
Victor Drozd of the Bryan-College
Station HBA was designated a Senior Life
Director of the National Association of
Home Builders (NAHB) by the Board of
Directors at their meeting in Las Vegas,
NV., on January 22.
“Serving the housing industry by
participating on NAHB’s Board of
Directors for more than 20 years is
an incredible accomplishment,” said
NAHB Third Vice Chairman Granger
MacDonald. “NAHB commends Victor
for his dedication to advancing housing
opportunities for all Americans.”
Victor Drozd is the President of
2D Homes in Bryan. He has been a
member of NAHB for over 30 years,
and has served as a voting director
for 20 years.
In order to be designated as a Senior Life
Director, a NAHB builder or associate
member must have attended at least two
board meetings each year for 10 years
before being elected as a Life Director,
then two meetings a year for an additional
10 years to become a Senior Life Director.
Victor Drozd
Named a Senior Life
Director of NAHB
