Joel Deretchin is awarded special recognition

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors proclaimed June 21, 2010 "Joel Deretchin Day" for his many years of service, dedication and leadership to The Woodlands, Texas. The Woodlands Township’s Board of Directors gave honor to him with a special Proclamation.

 “The Board of Directors of The Woodlands Township commends Joel L. Deretchin for his countless contributions to the creation of a lasting foundation for The Woodlands community, thereby making The Woodlands one of the most emulated planned communities in the world,” said Bruce Tough, Chairman of the Board, The Woodlands Township.

For more than 33 years, he worked for The Woodlands Development Company and its predecessors, and served in every aspect of the community in The Woodlands, from governance, education, social and religious services to non-profit and philanthropic organizations and economic development.

For many years, he led the community associations, having served as president of The Woodlands Community Association, The Woodlands Association, The Woodlands Commercial Owners Association, The Woodlands Community Service Corporation and The Woodlands Fire Department.  During this time, he also oversaw the development of the award-winning parks and recreation system in The Woodlands.

In addition, Mr. Deretchin helped found 18 of the 19 Conroe ISD schools in the Woodlands, The University Center, The John Cooper School and the Villager newspaper. He also chaired many not-for-profit boards, including Interfaith of The Woodlands and Montgomery County Youth Services. He was the founding president of Congregation Beth Shalom.

He has been named Citizen of the Year, a Hometown Hero and a Paul Harris Fellow. CISD named the Joel L. Deretchin Elementary School in his honor.

“His leadership and dedication to The Woodlands has truly been outstanding,” Chairman Tough said. “The Woodlands is a world-class community and much of this can be attributed to his vision, his leadership, his commitment, and his love of The Woodlands.”

PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING DEDICATION TO THE WOODLANDS

A Proclamation of the Board of Directors of The Woodlands Township of Montgomery

and Harris Counties, Texas, in honor of Joel L. Deretchin, for his leadership, dedication to community, commitment, wisdom and knowledge over the past 33 years.

WHEREAS, Joel L. Deretchin made a study of municipalities and turned it into a multifaceted lifelong career, working on seven planned communities before settling in The Woodlands in 1977, and;

WHEREAS, Joel L. Deretchin has been associated with The Woodlands Development Company and its predecessors for 33 years, and;

WHEREAS, Joel L. Deretchin has overseen the development of a community management and governance system which has grown from a population of 1,500 to more than 92,000 today, and;

WHEREAS, Joel L. Deretchin has been involved in every aspect of community development in The Woodlands, including governance, education, social and religious services, non-profit and philanthropic organizations and economic development, and;

WHEREAS, Joel L. Deretchin has dedicated countless hours as president and member of the boards of The Woodlands Community Association, The Woodlands Association, The Woodlands Commercial Owners Association, The Woodlands Community Service Corporation and The Woodlands Fire Department, and;

WHEREAS, Joel L. Deretchin has overseen the planning and development of the award-winning parks and recreation system in The Woodlands, and;

WHEREAS, Joel L. Deretchin has been involved in the planning and early development stages of 18 of the 19 Conroe ISD schools in The Woodlands, and helped found The University Center, The John Cooper School, The Academy for Lifelong Learning at Montgomery College and The Villager newspaper, and;

WHEREAS, Joel L. Deretchin K-6 School was named in his honor, and;

WHEREAS, Joel L. Deretchin has been a director and has chaired many non-profit boards including Interfaith of The Woodlands and Montgomery County Youth Services, and;

WHEREAS, Joel L. Deretchin has been named one of the original Hometown Heroes of The Woodlands, The Chamber’s Citizen of the Year in 1990, and a Paul Harris Fellow by The Woodlands Rotary Club, and;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the Board of Directors of The Woodlands Township of Montgomery and Harris Counties, Texas, commends Joel L. Deretchin for his countless contributions to the creation of a lasting foundation for The Woodlands community, thereby making The Woodlands one of the most emulated planned communities in the world, and now proclaims June 21, 2010 as Joel L. Deretchin Day in The Woodlands, Texas.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this, the 17^th day of June, 2010.