SGT. JOHN GONZALEZ RETURNS TO POST AT WORTHAM CENTER
C &E's Reigning Employee of Year Completes Military Tour of Duty in Kuwait

March 14, 2003 -- It's not often that Houston's traffic is proclaimed a welcome sight, but six months in the desert tends to make a soldier appreciate certain aspects of urban living.

• Photo Gallery
• May 13, 2002 Press Release

John Gonzalez, a sergeant in the U.S. Army reserves and maintenance supervisor at Wortham Theater Center, recently returned from military service in Kuwait with a new perspective.

"After seeing nothing but tanks, helicopters and sand for months, everything here looked different," Gonzalez said. "Even driving down the Gulf Freeway - seeing all the traffic - was a welcome sight."

On March 10, Gonzalez returned to his civilian job at Wortham Center, where he supervises a crew of 19 workers who keep the downtown building in near-pristine condition. His co-workers and City officials, including Council Member Annise Parker, welcomed Gonzalez back with a reception.

Gonzalez is good at his job - both of them. Last May, he was named the Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department's 2002 Employee of the Year. Three days later, he reported for military duty and eventually shipped out to Kuwait.

Gonzalez is attached to an Air Cavalry unit and reports for reserve duty one weekend a month with his section. In Kuwait, his unit of 140 men provided support and maintenance for Black Hawk and Apache helicopters for 179 days.

"As a reservist, you cannot be assigned to serve more than 180 days overseas if war has not been declared," Gonzalez said. "If war had broken out while we were already in Kuwait, our tour could have been extended. We had been preparing for that since December. That was the hard part - not ever knowing if you were staying or going."

But make no mistake, war or no war, military duty is hazardous. Safety is absolutely paramount.

"We treat every mission like it's the first time out," Gonzalez said. "We have meetings before each one and talk through the entire mission."

Terrorism was another concern, he said.

"You're safe on the base, but once you went beyond the gate, you had to be very careful," Gonzalez said. "With two guys in a vehicle, the one in the passenger seat is responsible for the safety of himself and the driver. Stopping at a traffic light is a very vulnerable moment for a man wearing a U.S. Army uniform."

Gonzalez, 25, is a native Houstonian who graduated from Lamar High School. He and his wife, Nidia, have two children, Aaron, 6, and Caylee, 2.

PHOTO GALLERY

Council Member Annise Parker was the keynote speaker at reception to welcome home John Gonzalez.

Wortham Center employees honored their favorite soldier by putting his name on the marquee.

Among those attending a reception honoring John Gonzalez were, from left, Eldridge Peugh, representing Council Member Carol Galloway, Joe Collazo, representing Council Member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, Gonzalez, Council Member Annise Parker and Dawn Ullrich, director of the Wortham Center.

John Gonzalez embraces longtime City employee Avis Wirth.