Ten-time winners were crowned in nine categories: Bank, Car Wash, Chicken-Fried Steak, Dry Cleaner, Furniture Store, Internet Service Provider, Mother’s Day Out Program, Orthodontist and Realtor. For the fifth time, we’ve noted the highest-ranking local winner in categories where a franchise landed the top spot. From successful family businesses to popular chains, Waco is a fascinating mix. Join us in congratulating these establishments and professionals for their achievements…

Find the full results on page 126 of the May 2012 Wacoan magazine

For $1 or $2, you can get a small corn tortilla stuffed full of grilled meat and topped with onion and cilantro and served with a hot sauce or two. Spend a few dollars for a bagful, and you’ve got a fresh, tasty meal. There are taco trucks in numerous spots in town, though they’re usually found in South Waco, on 17th and 18th streets and on LaSalle Avenue. — KT

Find the full article on page 142 of the May 2012 Wacoan magazine

Find the full article on page 148 of the May 2012 Wacoan magazine

Jim is originally from Texarkana but moved here just after the tornado of 1953. His sole purpose in coming to Waco was to become a Baylor Bear, and he graduated from Baylor University in 1958. Since then, the entrepreneur and his wife of nearly 27 years have actively supported his alma mater as well as numerous other organizations in the community, such as Historic Waco Foundation, McLennan Community College, the Waco Mammoth Site, Art Center Waco, Cameron Park Zoo, Hedonia Club of Waco and Waco Cotton Palace.

Hawkesdene includes six acres of land and a 15-thousand square-foot residence. The house is home to Jim and Nell, but it was never built to be just for them. Throughout the year, the Hawkins are hosts for various fundraisers, charities and social events. Hawkesdene has also welcomed several political figures, including former President George W. Bush, Governor Rick Perry, former Senator Rick Santorum and former Governor Sarah Palin, of which the latter two actually spent the night as guests of the Hawkins.

“We use it all the time [for entertaining],” Nell Hawkins said. “That’s the only reason we did it. We didn’t do it for just Jim and I. We’re used to it now, so it doesn’t seem that big to us, because we use everything from the exercise room down to [the family room] on this end. We’re in it all the time. But we do a lot of entertaining. That’s really why we built it.”

For the past several years, both Hedonia Club and Cotton Palace have used Hawkesdene as a location for photos. On this month’s cover and within the Cotton Palace section of the magazine, we continue that tradition with photos of the queen and king at the Hawkins’ residence…

By Kathleen McKinney
Photographs by Joe Griffin, joegriffinphotography.com
Find the full article on page 118 of the April 2012 Wacoan magazine