John Kelly

This past month our community had to say goodbye to Boots Gaubatz, the extraordinary mayor of Fair Oaks Ranch. Although we must rejoice that he is now receiving his eternal reward, we miss him greatly because of all he has done for Boerne ISD and his entire community. 

Our schools enjoy the good favor and graciousness of an entire city because of him. Without Boots, there wouldn’t be a Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary School and therefore its later designation as a National Blue Ribbon School. And BISD wouldn’t now possess new land for another elementary school (near Deitz Elkhorn and the Van Raub building) if it wasn’t for Boots. 

Over the past decade and longer, Boots ensured that the people living in Fair Oaks Ranch knew the needs of our school district’s children. His was not a passive voice. He took a stand – and as always, his stand was powerful, positive, clear and well informed. Sometimes he took my breath away with his boldness. You didn’t have to ask twice where he stood – and it was always on the side of the school children. 

A few years ago, BISD sought voter approval of a large bond election to build badly needed school facilities. I wrote a seven-page, densely written newsletter for distribution to citizens. Boots read the newsletter and invited me to come to his city council meeting so that I could talk about the coming election. When it came to my item on the agenda, Boots began by giving a summary of the district’s facility needs. He did so off the top of head without notes. By the end of his 15-minute explanation, my jaw was dropping. Boots had apparently memorized every important fact and figure from the newsletter and had articulated every single point that needed to be made. When he finally turned to me, I was pretty much speechless – as there was nothing left to say. This was merely one of many amazing and similar encounters I had with Boots. 

Boots would generally invite me to his office when there was a coming item of great interest to the city – and which required my comprehension and perhaps the school district’s cooperation. He would offer me a cup of coffee, sit down and roll out a map to show me in great detail all that I could possibly need to know. He would point out future obstacles to his plan and the effects that success and failure would bring. His passion for doing good for his city was always present, and meeting with him was always a joy.

Any time I was in a larger setting with him, he was the most knowledgeable and well-prepared person present. He knew the issues and implications for his city and how they might affect other entities including the county and the schools. In our last meeting with him (five weeks ago), local leaders discussed the possibilities for a community college presence in Boerne. When I asked him about his health, he was his usual optimistic, sincere presence.  

He often saw further into the future than others. For example, he realized that the Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary School was quickly filling and that we would eventually need a second school for the surrounding area. After consulting with us, he met with others and BISD soon had an opportunity to purchase land at a good price in a choice spot. He guaranteed the city utility connections needed and paved the way for that future school. 

Several years ago, our community learned that Boots cancer was very serious and that he would have to undergo more-drastic treatment.  The prognosis was not good. With many others across the Boerne community, we prayed for Boots, telling God we needed him for at least a few more years and that perhaps, like Hezekiah, our wish could be granted. Miraculously and mercifully, we then saw a rejuvenated Boots back at City Hall, working on a blizzard of present and future needs. The time he spent between cancer episodes and treatments was truly an extraordinary display of strength, selflessness, and perseverance. Then God called him home one last time. 

Attending his funeral service at the packed Lutheran Church, hearing Pastor Schulte’s beautiful sermon on his life, and winding my way along a long motorcade route thereafter to the gravesite, I saw hundreds of people whose lives he touched.  The length of the procession required another 100 cars or so to stop by the side of the road and wait patiently as his body passed through the land he loved. And God granted us a clear and beautiful day to remember him with. 

In short, I have never met or admired a better leader at the federal, state or local level. I told him so a number of times over the past few years. Now that the Lord has taken him, I have some solace in this:  June Gaubatz remains. In her capacity as his life partner, she has been a kind and good ambassador for her city and our elementary school – and thus the spirit of his work lives on. 

I join thousands of others expressing gratitude for the life of Boots Gaubatz. We miss him greatly.