Most people think of “giving back” as being thankful and sharing one’s good fortune, whereas “paying it forward” is viewed more about uplifting and inspiring others, often anonymously. Please say hello to Ted and Julie Hart, who have a history of doing both throughout their 20-year marriage. Their strong desire to help others and to make a difference was first reflected through their career choices in the medical field. No surprise, they were both raised in homes where family values mattered and were upheld, so they believe in community and in helping others. And, while probably not thinking of “paying it forward” as their motivation, that’s exactly what they did by working to instill those values in their son, John. Growing up having been taught the importance of having a strong sense of ethics and value in community service, John has developed a strong work ethic and admirable leadership qualities. Ted and Julie have lived in Bentwater since 2013, which means that John, now 16, has pretty much grown up here. He’s been in the Montgomery Independent School District since kindergarten and is currently attending Montgomery High School, where he’ll be a Junior starting in the fall of 2024. He’s a member of Mu Alpha Theta, Student Council, Interact, Spanish Honor Society, and National Honor Society. Not surprisingly, he’s also been a member of Bentwater Volunteer Families (BVF) for over 5 years, where he even served as Vice President for a year. Perhaps you noticed someone dressed as Uncle Sam representing BVF in Bentwater’s annual 4th of July parade? That was John. He’s now thrown his hat into the ring and is running for BVF President for the 2024-25 school year.

For those of you who might not know, as one aspect of BVF’s remarkable mentoring program for Bentwater’s young adults, the group also supports many charitable organizations, which the entire Hart family take part in serving. Some examples include Meals on Wheels, Grammy’s Cookie Convoy, Samaritan’s Purse, Angel Reach, and Kid’s Meals, while also helping out with Bentwater BCA, Bentwater POA, and North Shore Church events. In recognition of the group’s dedication to the community and the service work they provide, BVF was awarded the Bentwater POA’s Pinnacle Award in 2023.

Backing up a bit, let’s now look at the journey that brought the Hart's to Bentwater. Ted was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he attended college at LSU before going on to complete Medical School at LSU in New Orleans. From there, he completed his four-year residency in Anesthesiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston and served on the staff for a year after that as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology.  He moved to Colorado in 1997 to join an Anesthesia medical practice at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley. Meanwhile, though Julie was born in Michigan, her family had moved to Greeley in 1972. She attended the University of Northern Colorado and was a collegiate
swimmer during her freshman year. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders, a Master’s degree in Audiology, and an additional Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Becoming an Oncology Nurse at North Colorado Medical Center in 1996, you’d think that’s where their fates collided. And it was. Sort of. The truth is that they met in 1998 at, where else, a Jimmy Buffett concert (which was attended by hospital staff). They married in 2004 and later moved to Texas in 2010, when Ted accepted an offer to become Medical Director of the Anesthesia Department at Huntsville Memorial Hospital. They lived in Point Aquarius briefly before moving to Bentwater in 2013, just in time for John to start Kindergarten at MISD. Meanwhile, Julie had retired from hospital nursing and became a substitute school nurse for
MISD, where she spent about six years. 

Now firmly planted in Bentwater, John has become an avid golfer and is also an accomplished pianist. They are members of North Shore Church, where John also attends Youth Group, helping with Vacation Bible School and other youth events. They enjoy traveling as a family, experiencing new places together, and visiting their families in the familiar places of Colorado and Louisiana. Naturally, with Ted being an alum of LSU, they try to attend at least one LSU home game every season. As for experiencing those new places, their most recent trip was to the Netherlands in June, 2023. Back home with their cat, Russell, their two yellow labs, Maggie and Lucy, and being proud parents to John, Ted is a classic car enthusiast with a passion for collecting his favorite wines, while Julie’s favorite pastimes include reading, gardening, and relaxing around their swimming pool and swimming with their dogs. But, most of all, it’s a family affair. As individuals, and as a family, they’re having a positive impact in their community of Bentwater, and in their world.