By Lee Anderson
Thursday, September 25, 2008

Tears flowed from the start of the Wednesday dedication ceremony for the new Patriot Place subdivision being built by Rhone Building Corporation near Sheppard Air Force Base.

David Rhone, himself a military veteran, choked up as he talked about the idea for the name of the subdivision — and as he read the street names recognizing the service and sacrifice of local military veterans and fallen heroes.

Those who were honored with the street names were Ryan Collins, who died serving in the Army in Iraq; Gary Johnston, a Marine from Windthorst who died in Iraq; Floyd Wymore (Dorothy Rhone’s father), who served in the Army in World War I; John Taylor, who died in Afghanistan while serving in the Army; Cy Young, who served in the Navy and fought in the battle of Iwo Jima; and Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom, who served in the Army and Texas National Guard during the Vietnam era.

“Goodness,” Rhone remarked as he reflected on the event. “Number one, we were so honored that the parents and honorees were there and embraced the idea.

“Our hope is that those who live on the streets will be inspired. I hope that kids who live in the houses will learn of the history of that person … and that it might inspire them. It means a lot to us.”

Honorees or family members were presented ceremonial plaques resembling the six street signs.

“It couldn’t have been nicer and more dignified with the families there,” Rhone said as he reflected on the event. “It is our way of saying thank you to all of those family members and of the sacrifices.”

Rhone family members Dave, Dorothy and David’s wife, Jennifer, expressed their emotions, too, as the names were read over the microphone.

The ceremony also had special meaning for Staff Sgt. Erica Cox, who has served in the Air Force for 11 years.

“I’m speechless,” she remarked after meeting Navy hero Cy Young. “We read about him. I just met a piece of history.”

Cox said she was new to Sheppard AFB and bought one of the subdivision homes being built on the street named after Young, one of the organizers of the Iwo Jima reunion that is held in Wichita Falls.

Wichita Falls musician Michael Merrill stirred the crowed with his rendition of the National Anthem and “I’m Proud to be an American,” a song made famous by Lee Greenwood.

Merrill, who also served in the military, was bursting with pride at the ceremony, saying, “America is the best place on the planet.”

The elder Rhone is an Army veteran of World War II and son David served two tours of duty in Iraq as an Army helicopter pilot.

“My dad is one who loves his country,” David Rhone said. “Dad had the vision for the subdivision. The street names are a fitting and lasting tribute to them.”

David Rhone said it was his wife who came up with the idea for the name of the subdivision.

“The hardest thing to do is come up with the name for a subdivision and streets,” David said. “There are no subdivisions or street names here like this.”

He also mentioned that seeing the meeting between Cox and Young was special to him.

“The idea for somebody from the Air Force today meeting with someone with such an esteemed background was a special moment,” Rhone said.

Rhone revealed in January his plans to construct the new housing subdivision on the 40-acre tract of land adjacent to John Tower Elementary School.

It is a 159-lot subdivision that will consist of three- and four-bedroom homes ranging in price from $100,000 and up.

For more information about Patriot Place, go online to www.rhonebuilding.com.

Business Editor Lee Anderson may be reached from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at (940) 763-7533, or by e-mail at andersonl(at)TimesRecordNews.com

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By Lee Anderson
Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Dave Rhone of Rhone Building Corp. revealed plans Wednesday to construct a new housing subdivision on a 40-acre tract of land adjacent to John Tower Elementary School near Sheppard Air Force Base.

Rhone said it will be a 158-lot subdivision consisting of three- and four-bedroom homes ranging in price from the upper-$90,000s to the lower $100,000s. He said the three-bedroom homes will be from 1,000 to 1,200 square feet in size and that the four-bedroom homes will be a little larger.

The homes will be brick and each will have a two-car garage. They will be energy efficient and will be Energy Star certified.

Rhone, a veteran of World of War II, and son David, who served two tours of duty in Iraq as an Army helicopter pilot, said the name of the subdivision will be called Patriot Place — in honor of veterans.

“I got to talking with friend Cy Young of Sunset, the Iwo Jima reunion organizer, and we decided it (the name) will be a nice, lasting memorial to them,” Rhone explained.

The father-son team also mentioned that some of the streets in the subdivision will be named after veterans.

“We’re going to name some of the streets after local men and women who served in the military,” Rhone said.

He characterized the homes as “nice starter homes” … and homes that are ideal for people of all ages, including senior citizens.

“We’re cutting the bells and whistles. They are just nice homes,” Rhone said. “No crown molding and things like that.”

He added, “These are nice starter homes, the first being built here in quite a while. With the home prices and utilities and gas prices now, it is hard for newlyweds to buy homes.

“We are trying to fill that market that hasn’t been focused on recently,” David Rhone said.

The Rhones said the project will be done in two phases and that construction is expected to begin within 60 days.

“The plans have been drawn. We will start by clearing land, surveying roads, cutting roads, and putting in the infrastructure,” David Rhone explained.

Rhone said the housing addition fronts on Hooper Drive and will have access off Interstate 44 and will tie into Air Force Drive.

He said they have five or six floor plans in their office that are available for potential homebuyers to inspect.

“We will have three model homes built,” Rhone said. “We will have two three-bedroom and a four-bedroom model home. It will give them a good idea what they look like.”

The longtime Wichita Falls homebuilder said he hopes to have all the homes built within five years.

Business Editor Lee Anderson may be reached from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at (940) 763-7533, or by e-mail at andersonl(at)TimesRecordNews.com.