By M.G. Angulo –
Lupe and Lee Cabello.
Born and raised in Rosenberg and later to become a business owner in and even lead the city, Lupe Uresti Cabello can easily speak on the climate of Rosenberg. “I love my city. It’s a wonderful community with rich, historic roots,” she said. “And I want to continue to make it a good place for the people who live here.
“The only way to enhance one’s community is to serve it,” said Lupe, who has served in several positions within the city, her last being executive director of the City of Rosenberg Housing Authority, a position from which she retired.
“We must offer whatever we have to benefit others,” she said. “If people don’t give back or don’t get involved, I think we won’t see a progressive community.”
This is primarily why Lupe and her husband Lee, who retired from the City of Bellaire, are familiar faces around town. The two Rosenberg residents may be retired, but that does not mean they are not engaged. From church organizations to city boards, the Cabellos find satisfaction in using their time to supporting their city.
Lee, who stays involved with the community through Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Knights of Columbus Council #13151, said he volunteers “to bring everyone together toward a common goal.”
Lupe Uresti Cabello with Janie Gonzales Vera and Linda Rubalcaba. All serve on the Hispanic Heritage Forum board along with Ray Aguilar of Classic Chevy Sugar Land.
In his third year as Grand Knight on the council, Lee helps the deacon and parish with the prison ministry, is involved with providing scholarships within the church and during the two years of major floods in Fort Bend County, he worked with the church’s relief committee. In prior years, he volunteered with Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels and the Hispanic Heritage Forum.
He said his desire to be intricately involved in the community sparked back in the 70s when he was a professional fire fighter. “We would always volunteer in the community,” said Lee, who is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “And that desire to serve has been going since then.”
Lupe said her interest in serving her community also began in the 70s, but with the church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, where she has been a lifelong member. “I have always been community-minded and had a special love for the community, but I would say my involvement within the church was my start because it led me into the community, then to the Rosenberg City Council and then to serving on boards.”
Lupe served on Rosenberg City Council from 1978 to 1989 and was mayor of Rosenberg from 1992 to 1995. She also served on several boards, including the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, Habitat for Humanity, Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels and the Fort Bend History Association.
These days, Lupe, who just co-chaired the 40th anniversary of the Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Family Life Center in December, serves on the Fort Bend Hispanic Heritage board, City of Rosenberg’s Main Street advisory board and Our Lady of Guadalupe’s scholarship board.
Volunteering connects Lupe and Lee with the people around them. It gives them the opportunity to help the collective community or an individual in need. And through their efforts, the couple hopes to increase the quality of life in the city they and so many others call home.
“We volunteer to help our citizens, to improve our city and help others get ahead in life,” the Cabellos said.
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
13115 Southwest Freeway
Sugar Land, TX 77478
(281) 491-9000
www.classicchevysugarland.com