The Bell County Expo Center, that colossal disc perched just south of Belton on Interstate 35, has been a hub for conventions, rodeos and shows as well as the butt of countless jokes. Even those wags who cobbled together Child Help Inc.’s Rank Amateur Night in 1987 penned a parody about its shape. “Thanks for the mammary,” a quartet crooned to the tune of Bob Hope’s theme song.
Former County Judge John Garth, who pushed for its creation, took the skewers all in stride back then. Now he gets the last laugh. All joking aside, the once controversial Expo Center has been a boon to the county and a tourism magnet.
Bell residents will honor him Monday for his innovation, collaboration, foresight, resourcefulness and courage to tackle tough issues from 1979 to 1999.
The Bell County Commissioners Court will gather in a special called session at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Expo Center to consider a recommendation from the Bell County Expo board to re– name the facility the John C. Garth Arena. The vote, ceremony and reception following will be a reunion and celebration of the contributions of the man who led the county through a tremendous era of transformation.
Yes, the vote is a “done deal” for the man who got a lot done in two decades of service.
As County Commissioner Tim Brown of Salado, who served with Garth for four years, said, “he brought Bell County out of the 19th century.”
Had the county not been so decisive in the late 20th century, it would have been “in really bad shape right now,” Garth once said.
The celebration is open to the public, and all friends and supporters are invited, County Judge Jon Burrows said. Garth, who has had health problems, is expected to be there.
Garth did it all with a rapier wit and keen insight into how county government should and could work. Along the way, he built interdisciplinary teams to tackle the county’s toughest issues such a juvenile crime, employment, economic development, water resources, criminal justice and rapidly expanding technology.
“He was a master at getting people from diverse backgrounds to work together. He had a real talent,” Brown said. “I learned a lot from him. He was really
good at what he did. It was impossible not to like him.”
But that gleaming flying-saucer-shaped structure along I-35 and Texas 121 stands as a visible symbol of Garth’s legacy. Youth livestock shows, rodeos, antique shows, collectors’ sales, staging areas for hurricane evacuees – the Expo Center has been just about everything to thousands since 1987.
“All the major high schools in the county have their graduation exercises at the Expo Center,” Burrows said. “Plus, a live telecast of those kids who walk across the stage is sent to their parents in Iraq. Certainly, the center has been a success on many different levels. For example, the home builders’ home and garden show is one of largest in state. It’s a tremendous success.”
Early on, Garth took a lot of heat, especially as the Expo Center had financial and building accessibility problems. Taxpayers are still providing about half of its operations support, but the real benefit comes from boosting local businesses. The Expo Center, with 15 full–time employees and $1.7 million annual budget, garnered about $7 million into the county in the form of hotel/motel revenue, restaurant purchases, sales tax and other income, executive director Tim Stephens said.
“It’s in a prime location on I-35 and an economic boost to the area. Every day, 75,000 people drive by it,” Burrows said.
In 2007, the Expo played host to 260 events filling up 456 event days (the Expo can host more than one event at a time). Of those, 77 were events lasting several days. In human terms, that amounts to 409,509 people walking through the doors last year.
Stephens understands why taxpayers were hesitant when the Expo Center was first proposed in the mid–1980s.
“When people look at it now, they see it was something that was really needed. They see how it has benefited the community – entertainment, shows, sporting events, conventions, school events. All of those are related to our quality of life,” Stephens said.
