The Power of Neighboring in Crisis and Recovery

Howell Rideout, a native Austinite born in 1951, graduated from Austin High School in 1969 and went on to earn a degree in Architecture with High Honors from the University of Texas in 1974, becoming a fourth-generation Longhorn. While at UT, he co-led a thesis project to transform Austin’s River & Creek system into a recreational Hike & Bike trail, a vision picked by Lady Bird Johnson, the Chamber of Commerce, and the City Council, eventually becoming Austin’s Bicentennial Project and a defining feature of the city’s lifestyle. His architectural career began at Pfluger & Polkinghorn and soon advanced through leadership roles, including founding his own firm, RTG Partners (now STG Partners), and later co-founding Artisan Group, Inc. in Kerrville. Most of his career, however, was spent with James Avery, where he served as Director of Architecture, then Vice President of Marketing, and finally Vice President of Real Estate & Development, guiding everything from brand strategy to corporate master planning and retail growth. After a 45-year association with the company, Howell retired from corporate life in April 2020.

He currently does a variety of residential design projects and serves on the Board of Directors of the Kerr County Habitat for Humanity. He also serves on the Board of an anti-trafficking ministry, Mercy Gate Ministries and supports daughter, Sarah Woolsey, in assisting San Antonio area churches in developing highly impactful projects through the Good Acres program. Howell currently helps lead flood recovery efforts in Kerrville through Impact Guild’s most recent initiative called ARC- Arcadia Recovery Collaboration.

Beyond his faith, the joys of Howell’s life are his beautiful and gracious wife, Debbie and their daughters, Lauren and Sarah and their families who reside in nearby Dripping Springs and San Antonio. Debbie and Howell currently operate Rio de Arcadia, one of the Texas Hill Country’s most popular B&Bs, which they developed in Kerrville on the Guadalupe River where they host a variety of visitors and events.

If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a climate-ready neighborhood, here are some helpful resources:

• Climate Ready Neighborhoods:

  • Fieldguide: Your introduction to Climate Ready Neighborhoods — Review this guide for how to join the movement of community-based organizations increasing climate resilience in neighborhoods across San Antonio.

  • Community Connections Plan: A key part of building community resilience and climate readiness is connected relationships. Setting up a Community Connections Plan creates a system to build social connectivity and cohesion in the everyday and to have an emergency preparedness system for neighbors to help neighbors in times of disruption and recovery. It is a system to build deeper community, connecting all neighbors who want to be connected.

• Climate Ready Resource Library: A spreadsheet of accessible links and resources to build community resilience (Some San Antonio-specific, many relevant throughout the state/country).

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