Two weeks ago, we asked: Who are the Crossroads' most fascinating people?
You responded with more than 60 candidates, a group that ranges from surgeons to auctioneers to home inspectors.
We tallied the votes to whittle the list to 25.
Now, we ask that you rank your Top 5 candidates, drawing from the 25 names on the "Crossroads Most Fascinating" list.
Simply rank your Top 5 in order of how fascinating you find the candidate: No. 1 for the region's most fascinating, No. 2 for the second most fascinating and on to No. 5 for the region's fifth most fascinating person.
Voting for the series ends Wednesday, July 8.
After the final votes are counted, and the list is whittled to the Top 10, the newspaper will begin work on in-depth profiles about each, beginning with the 10th most fascinating person.
The profiles will publish in August.
'CROSSROADS MOST POWERFUL' CANDIDATES
Joe Adams - Cuero auctioneer who commentates Gobbler football games and performs charity work.
Keith Akins - University of Houston-Victoria assistant professor and terrorism expert who infiltrated the Klu Klux Klan.
Manju Sachdev-Chandna - Victoria pediatrician and model who is starting a new medical TV show.
Frank Crain - Longtime lawyer, former district judge and state representative. Eighty-eight-year-old known for ability to recall details about Victoria's great historical events.
Amy Danchick - New, young local pastor and Victoria Fire Department chaplain. She is also devoted to healthy eating and exercise.
Sylvester "Sly" Diggs - Victoria police officer whose brand of humor, and on-the-job encounters, keep friends and coworkers in stitches.
Jeff Flowers - The father of emergency medical services in Victoria. Now, the pioneer works at the Jackson County Hospital.
Dennis Grizzle - Well-traveled athlete who held high state tennis rankings. Former Region III director.
Joe Hanselka - Longtime home inspector, pest control business owner. His unique, humorous style informs and entertains would-be home buyers.
Tim Hudson - International traveler, former U.S. State Department analyst, songwriter, author and university president.
Billy Lagal - Born in South Korea, adopted by U.S. Army parents. He finished college and now helps students, who like him, normally wouldn't continue their education.
Bum Phillips - Goliad rancher. Former National Football League head coach and father of current Dallas Cowboys head coach, Wade Phillips.
Allan Miller - Longtime wrecker service owner. Helps communities by, in part, purchasing animals from livestock shows. He bought 23 this year.
William Moeller - Fifty-year local lawyer, lay minister, and community theater advocate. He's also member of a barber shop quartet and hunts deer, arrowheads.
Harold Nichols - Victoria Art League advocate who teaches from his home and compound in south Victoria.
Robert Oliver - Wealthy world traveler who retired in Cuero and now spearheads building of new museum.
Clara Ramos - Victoria Hispanic rights activist who fights for people who live in the shadows.
"Pepper" - A fixture on Victoria's streets. Known for regularly walking across the city. Akin to the famous Venice Beach performer, Harry Perry.
Omar Rachid - Lebanese immigrant who has volunteered at many local organizations. He worked in Afghanistan and knows Islam. Full of stories and experience.
Dorothy Smith - Local business owner, bike enthusiast. She has a collapsible bike she stores in a suitcase. She travels the world, biking different areas.
Friench Tarkington - Operates Victoria's only private vineyard. On one acre in south Victoria County, he manages more than 500 vines.
Emilio Vargas Jr. - Attended segregated schools in Goliad, joined the military and returned to work for landmark civil rights laws.
Raphael Venegas - Retired college Spanish teacher who organizes "Day of the Dead" exhibits. He volunteers at the Jewish Temple and sponsored student trips to Mexico.
Shane Wallace - Eleven-year police officer who, in three years, helped two fellow police families recover from bad times by raising thousands of dollars. He also takes food to homeless people while on patrol.
Yusuke Yahagi - Former international banker and now private-practicing heart surgeon who works with city officials to spur economic development.
To vote for your Top 5 "Crossroads Most Fascinating" candidates:
Take the survey by visiting www.VictoriaAdvocate.com/fascinating.
E-mail fascinating@vicad.com.
Post in here.
Contact Gabe Semenza, Advocate public service editor, at 361-580-6519.
Send mail to Victoria Advocate, c/o "Fascinating," 311 E. Constitution St., Victoria, Tx., 77901.
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56 Comments
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Comments
Bum Phillips
September 22, 2009 at 12:03 p.m.(not to be confused with Bum Pepper)
Be careful who you vote for and recommend as Victoria’s Crossroads Most fascinating people! This should be for true people who have helped the community grow and adapt for our children and our children’s children. Although Job requirements that some get paid for do betray them as some hero type, have these people gone above and beyond in all of their life efforts and not just work? The mask could cloud how many people have been hurt, how many homes have been broken and how many innocent children have suffered b/c of some so called hero’s selfish acts. I’m just saying, Karma has funny little ways of working its way out. Gary Moses is my vote
September 22, 2009 at 11:58 a.m.i voted for pepper.
June 30, 2009 at 10:37 p.m.have anyone ever carryed on a conversation with him?
he is not a stupid man hes very intelligent he just cant speak to clear because he has no teeth.
and he is very good with children.
txzambo - the woman with a tiara is the princes of Victoria. We elected her just before you got here. She is up for re-election sometime next fall. He son is a banking executive downtown, but he won’t let here use the crosswalk. Not really sure why…….
June 30, 2009 at 4 p.m.X
am on pins and needles wondering how the vote is going. I've got chills.
June 24, 2009 at 9:35 a.m.This comment was removed by the user.
June 16, 2009 at 9:59 a.m.Who won the run-off election???
June 13, 2009 at 8:23 p.m.My vote is with Shane Wallace. There are not many unselfish, considerate people in the world that would that go above and beyond to help others. He also risks his life everyday to ensure a safe community so not only is he 'Crossroads Most Fascinating' but a "hero"... Now if this was 'Crossroads Most Unusual' contest.. my vote would go to Pepper or the Tiara Lady.
June 13, 2009 at 7:05 p.m.yeah my vote goes to pepper. indefinitely.
June 9, 2009 at 11:30 p.m.Should be Gary Moses.
June 9, 2009 at 11:13 p.m.I remember her, geez hadn't thought of her in years.
June 9, 2009 at 6:41 p.m.Texasmom...kinda like Delta Dawn?
June 8, 2009 at 11:31 p.m.Hey folks, Im new to town, but I keep seeing this funny lady. she walks all over town in a strapless top, leggings and a tiara.......who is she?
June 8, 2009 at 6:58 p.m.Shane Wallace sounds like someone we might want in politics! He takes care of his own'!
June 8, 2009 at 12:03 a.m.who is Gary Moses? I'm not originally from Victoria but I've seen him waving at everybody everywhere I've seen him! Made me feel dumb one time at Ryan's he was waving at someone behind me and I was waving at him wondering who the hell is he? He seems like a nice guy but a little too friendly for my likeing!
June 7, 2009 at 11:59 p.m.The one thing I admire about Shane Wallace is this. I went to high school with him in Giddings. Shane was all state in track and had many scholarship offers througout the state. Instead of taking them, he stayed in Giddings to help his mother. Shane's parents divorced when we were in middle school and he lived with his mom. Instead of taking the scholarships, he chose to stay in Giddings and work to help his mom out.
June 7, 2009 at 9:38 p.m.I have given Pepper half what he asked for once or twice, he didn't get upset even when I didn't give him anything. He just said ok and moved on to the next person.
June 7, 2009 at 5:50 p.m.Didnt get to finish my last post. With what I said about Pepper, I dont take him seriously. As long as hes been here surely if he was a time bomb it would of gone off by now, wouldnt he? I dont think as many people fear him as ochocinco says.
June 7, 2009 at 4:21 p.m.Better yet, Pepper Moses Texas
June 7, 2009 at 3:57 p.m.Lets just rename Victoria Gary Moses
June 7, 2009 at 3:57 p.m.I vote for Omar
June 7, 2009 at 3:52 p.m.darlins64.....I have been in Ramsey's and other public places where Pepper comes in talking out loud about that things that make no sense and even flinched at a guy to the point it obviously scared him. I remember being at Church's chicken and Pepper came in there talkin about dynamite. Anyways, I agree with loveourmilitary. I like the Unsung Heroes idea.
June 7, 2009 at 3:42 p.m.Did the Advocate do some articles on "Unsung Heroes"? That sounds like a good thing for a lot of these people like Shane Wallace. Those who quietly go along the way doing good for others. I don't know about the Santa Claus.
June 7, 2009 at 1:38 p.m.darlins64
April Brandon is hilarious! I love reading her blogs. Me too on Gary. I really don't know too much of the others. Of course Bum Phillips is a front runner for me too and Peter Rojas is another good one. I missed the voting two weeks ago I guess.
June 7, 2009 at 1:14 p.m.Dr. Rojas was ahead of his time Victoria did not produce too many Tejano surgeons! thank those that fought for Tejano rights but some decided to act on their own!
June 7, 2009 at 1:12 p.m.what about Dr. Peter Rojas he was born and raised in the area! he sets a good example by his accomplishment of becoming a surgeon!
June 7, 2009 at 1:09 p.m.LOM, I nominated Gary Moses and Aprill Brandon -- As well as Francis Adlehardt....
Of the list of nominess, I don't recognize anyone but Pepper!
Ochocino, you know for a FACT that Pepper is a danger to our society --- how??? What proof do you have to back this up?
That's what I thought ----
June 7, 2009 at 1:04 p.m.Fascinating: To hold the attention of by being very interesting or delightful; charm; captivate.
Well, Pepper can hold your attention that's for sure! lol A story from a family member makes me laugh everytime I think of it. One day he was seen running down Houston Hwy. pushing a lawnmower he had taken from the front of a pawn shop...I heard he was just gettin it down the road! Not even taking the time to look over his shoulder or worry about the traffic! lol Even though it's sad he's in the state that he is, interesting he is. But the rest of the definition charm, capitivating, delightful, I don't think so. There are truly others on this list that would fit that description. Pepper will go down in history as a "fixture" to remember. I think Omar Rachid fits that description. And what about Brother Gary Moses?
June 7, 2009 at 12:47 p.m.Pepper shouldnt win this. He's a danger to society if he gets off his meds and you guys are backing him? Whats the world coming to. These other people have worked hard to acomplish what they have and this guy lives off the government. Lets be real.
June 7, 2009 at 12:10 p.m.Pepper all the way. Where did y'all find these folks?
June 7, 2009 at 11:22 a.m.1. Pepper.
June 7, 2009 at 11:22 a.m.One day awhile back a friend of mine saw Pepper walking north on Navarro close to Detar and stopped and asked Pepper where he was going, Pepper said to the mall, my friend asked if he wanted a ride and Pepper responded with," Naw man, I am in a hurry". Victoria used to have a lot of other character's walking around, but most are gone now.
June 7, 2009 at 7:45 a.m.Ummmmm......Pilot, well, seeing as how I want to spare you the shock you will get upon opening an actual print edition of the VicAd, I will just tell you here and now that it is all you imagined and worse. Yes, the contest is in there, bold and center, and AB is also on the FRONT PAGE occasionally, along with silly skateboarding pictures, the most powerful contest still running, the fatal funnel.......OH, my head hurts now.
So where would the actual news that deserves to be on the front page, you ask? Well, when you find it, tell me and we'll both know.
June 7, 2009 at 2:25 a.m.I've never actually met her, but I can't help thinking Aprill Brandon might be a good nominee. She'd be a great commentator on KAVU once a week to discuss movies or something of community interest. If she's as funny in person as she is on paper, she'd be a hit.
June 6, 2009 at 11:57 p.m.Pepper , never heard of any of the others.
June 6, 2009 at 11:23 p.m.Joe Adams, Joe Hanselka, and Keith Akins
June 6, 2009 at 11:08 p.m.