A vibrant, hat-wearing daughter of Westhoff, Debra Boros, dreamed of her beloved hometown rekindling the business environment that she experienced growing up.
When she got the chance to purchase a landmark building of her early years, she jumped on the opportunity, in characteristic Debra style, to build a beautiful place for her family and her community.
“She was a dreamer but also a doer,” Cheryl Bunjes, her friend, said. “She wanted her son Kendrick to have an office in Westhoff, and she was looking all over for property that would work. And she wanted to make Westhoff great again.”
Last November, Boros purchased the former Home State Bank building on the corner of Houston Avenue and Highway 87 to renovate as an office building for BrandX, her son’s real estate firm.
Her longtime contractor, Noah Ariza, got busy dealing with the leaky roof and complete renovation. Meanwhile, Baros and Bunjes hunted for the perfect pieces in stores throughout the region to furnish the building in her singular style.
Every room, even the restrooms, needed a chandelier. To each lighting fixture, bought at a resale store, she added crystal dangles that magnify the light.
Locally crafted, wooden side tables inlaid with turquoise adorn the entry and hallway. The conference table, desks and couch reflect a solid sense of strength and warmth. Each decorative piece, such as a southwest feather painting, reflects her favorite things.
And the leaky ceiling of acoustic tiles? Totally raised and wrapped in wood strips, like a hug.
The building reflects the warmth and generosity of Baros, who wore many hats, both literally and figuratively, in DeWitt County. A longtime CISD educator and administrator, she also established the Cuero ISD Education Foundation and served as a board member of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent and the Cuero Community Foundation. She was the Director of the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum, President of the Cuero Country Club, President of the Westhoff American Legion Auxiliary, and handler on the Cuero Turkeyfest race team. In her church, she played the organ at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
Boros was unable to enjoy the opening of her dream building because she passed away on February 11, soon after it was completed. She had been in treatment for cancer, and had even rung the recovery bell as “Cancer Free” on December 10.
Bunjes finished off the interior design because she knew what Debra had purchased and put in storage.
Now the Boros family is ready to share Debra’s dream building, the new offices of BrandX Land & Ranch as well as Bar-Hil Ranches. On Thursday, September 5, from noon to 7 p.m. all are invited to a comeand-go grand opening of this special building in Westhoff.
