Photo Credit: Rod PradoNews
Dedication for the Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway held in Willis
The Dedication for the Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway was held today Friday, September 19 on FM 1097 in Willis, Texas.
View moments from the dedication ceremony on the Hello Woodlands Facebook and Instagram pages:
The Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway Dedication Ceremony featured speeches and performances by:
- “God Bless America” and “National Anthem” by Debbie Glenn-Cross
- Color Guard Presentation & Post Colors by Revolutionary Education
- “Taps” Bugle by Cory Strouth
- Invocation by Pastor Chris Lake
- Master of Ceremonies, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough
- Texas House Representative Will Metcalf
- Holly Arbuckle, representing Congressman Luttrell
- R.W. Bray, representing Senator Cruz
- Margie Taylor, mother of Joey Lenz
- Honor and Remember Flag Presentation by The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association – Tomball
- Tribute Band, singing and performing songs by Blink 182, Joey Lenz’s favorite bank
- Ribbon cutting with the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce
“We honor Joey’s life, and we fight for every Soldier who deserves the care they were promised. Protect. Prevent. Honor. Serve,” said Margie Taylor, mother of Joey Lenz. “This highway bears Joey’s name, but his story carries a message for every Soldier: you are worth protecting. Protect. Prevent. Honor. Serve.”
History of Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway: A portion of Farm to Market Road 1097 in Montgomery County from Interstate 45 to Lake Conroe Hills at Lake Conroe was authored and introduced into Texas Legislature by Representative Will Metcalf (TX District 16) January 28, 2025, and co-sponsored by Representative Cecil Bell (TX District 3) on April 14, 2025. After passing unanimously in both committee and the House floor it was passed to Senator Brandon Creighton (TX District 4) where the bill was signed after passing unanimously to the Governor on May 12. Governor Abbott Signed the bill on Memorial Weekend, May 24 to become effective as law on September 1, 2025.
Specialist Joey Lenz, Conroe, Texas (age 32) was serving in the United States Army when he died on February 1, 2022, while sleeping in his barracks at Fort Hood TX. A lab report from March 17, 2021, indicated an enlarged heart while Specialist Lenz was in ICU while on base; however, this information was not shared with him, leading to Joey being unaware of his heart condition.
Congress H. R. 1014: On November 1, 2024, Congressman Morgan Luttrell introduced the Joey Lenz Act of 2024 mandating in person annual physical for every active service member with a comprehensive blood panel for all branches of the military. This was reintroduced into the 119th Congress on February 5, 2025 renaming it the Joey Lenz Act of 2025.. Rep. Metcalf introduced the highway bill to heighten awareness and education of the bill in Congress to Save Lives through Joey’s Legacy. H.R.1014 has now been submitted into the National Defense Authorization Act for the FY 2026 Department of Defense Budget. “From a mother’s grief came a law, from a son’s sacrifice came a highway. May both stand as reminders to protect those who protect us. Protect. Prevent. Honor. Serve,” shared Margie Taylor.
Donations can be made to www.GoldStarAdvocates.com, the 501c4 established to update medical and safety protocols for our active military serving our country.
