LCRA awards $25,000 grant to Central Texas Veterans Memorial

 

New pavilion will provide shelter to visitors meeting to honor veterans

May 1, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • LCRA awards a $25,000 Community Grant to help add a pavilion to the Central Texans Veterans Memorial in Brownwood.
  • The pavilion will provide visitors with much-needed shade and relief from the Texas sun.
  • The grant is one of 41 being awarded through LCRA’s Community Grants program through June. LCRA will accept applications in July for the next round of grants.
An LCRA representative presents a $25,000 grant to the Central Texas Veterans Memorial for a new metal pavilion. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Roland Soto, Brownwood Parks/Recreation and Community Facilities director; Dennis Rumfield, Veterans Memorial vice president; David “Doc” Reid, Brown County commissioner, Precinct 3; Cooper Hogg, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Larry Traweek, Brown County commissioner, Precinct 4; Harold Stieber, Veterans Memorial president; HD Jones, Brownwood council member; Al Barrara, Veterans Memorial board member; Stephen E. Haynes, Brownwood mayor; Ray Tipton, Brownwood deputy city manager; Amanda Chapman, Early Chamber of Commerce membership director; Amy Whitmer, Brownwood Economic Development and Tourism assistant director; Wendy Lawson, Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce executive director; and Jill Ruder, City of Brownwood executive administrator.

BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Central Texas Veterans Memorial soon will construct a steel and metal pavilion to provide a shaded space for visitors to use as they honor our country’s veterans, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The LCRA Community Grant, along with $175,000 in matching funds from the organization, will create a permanent, weather-protected space for community events, commemorations and educational activities as visitors gather to pay tribute to veterans and participate in memorial programs throughout the year.

“Support for a permanent cover at the Central Texas Veterans Memorial ceremonial courtyard enables our mission of preserving history, honoring heroic sacrifice, fostering community pride and spirit, recognizing the important contributions of all veterans and ensuring their legacies are remembered,” said Dennis Rumfield, vice president of the Central Texas Veterans Memorial.

The addition represents an important investment in the long-term preservation and accessibility of the memorial.

“The pavilion will provide shade and protection for the courtyard and its monuments from the elements, including heat and rain, ensuring the memorial can continue to host ceremonies and commemorative events throughout the year,” Rumfield said. “It will also help safeguard visitors who come to the memorial as a place of refuge and healing, while creating a welcoming space for future generations to gather in remembrance.”

This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at www.lcra.org/grants.

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves communities across Texas by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting wholesale electric power, providing clean water supplies, operating telecommunications infrastructure, and owning parks for outdoor recreation. LCRA delivers power, water and infrastructure that support the region’s growth and quality of life. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA receives no state appropriations.

Contact Info

Clara Tuma
512-578-3292
[email protected]
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