Stromatt looking ahead to Township service
Carol Stromatt has recently taken her newly elected position on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors. After weeks of doing interviews about her goals for the future and why she ran for the board, The Woodlands Villager sought to find out more about Stromatt on a personal level. Like many in the region, Stromatt enjoys the forests in The Woodlands, loves her community and, of course, is a big Astros fan. Tell me a bit about where you grew up.
Stromatt: For the first five years of my life, my Dad was a WWII Navy pilot, so our family moved around the U.S. After the war was over, we settled down in the small East Texas town of Lufkin, where my Dad was a private pilot for industry there; and, yes, everyone knew everyone. I loved the nearby woods where I, my three siblings and a large group of neighborhood children could spend the day as long as we came home before dark. As a young girl, what did you imagine you would grow up to be?
Stromatt: As a small girl I imagined I’d grow up to be a mother and a nurse. In my high school years I found I preferred a business career. I’ve always enjoyed doing commu-
nity volunteer work such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, elderly neighbors, church missions, etc.
Are you an only child or do you come from a large family? Were you the youngest? Were you responsible for looking after younger siblings?
Stromatt: I loved growing up in a family of six with a neighborhood full of children my age. As the oldest child in my family, I organized the neighborhood for various projects, such as building a raft for a nearby pond or digging a “swimming pool” in our backyard, or exploring the nearby woods. I don’t remember ever being bored. My mom was responsible for the younger siblings. I loved to sing in school and church choirs.
What is your educational background?
Stromatt: I attended Lufkin public schools from elementary through high school, and I still have a group of 10 high school girlfriends I get together with one or two times each year. Those were good years. Stephen F. Austin State University is where I got my BS in Business and Family and Consumer Science. Fresh out of college I moved to the big city of Houston.
Why did you decide to make a career in the real estate business?
Stromatt: I remember as a young girl being fascinated with the home construction going on in my neighborhood. In Houston, after working for Brown & Root Project Mohole, I worked for TRW at NASA. Then I got my real estate license and started working with real estate entrepreneurs who were acquiring land and building all over Houston. I think real estate is in your blood.
How did you meet your husband?
Stromatt: My husband, Richard, and I met and worked together in our real estate careers in the late 60s to early 70s. We were both happily married and raising families. We lost touch with each other for many years; and then as fate would have it, after several years of both being single parents, we met on a river rafting trip down the Rio Grand River. We’ve been married and a happily “blended family” for 20 plus years with four children and nine grandkids.
How did you decide to settle down in The Woodlands?
Stromatt: Both of us love the land, forests and real estate business, and we were tired of the concrete and asphalt with no trees. So soon after we married we moved “home” to The Woodlands, and we love it! Through our company, General Development Corporation, we’ve had the good fortune of helping many real estate clients find their place of business or home here in The Woodlands or surrounding area. Although we’re semi-retired, and have officially closed General Development Corporation, we’re both workaholics and continue to serve repeat and referred clients. That and my community service projects is why my friends call me the “energizer bunny.”
What about politics first interested you and why did you decide to join the world of politics?
Stromatt: I am really not political. I believe democracy requires thoughtful tending or it will slip away. The Woodlands is a beautiful place which requires tending in order to sustain our quality of life. We have a wonderfully international and diverse community, and I love that about us. Several young families from various villages here in The Woodlands shared with me that they had begun to feel divisiveness in our community and wanted to do something to bring us back together. I realized I had that feeling, also.
We joined forces to address divisiveness, and suddenly we had a large group of all ages, religions, sexual orientation, races, ethnicities, political and religious persuasions who simply wanted to put the unity back in our community. We want our children to know that out of our diversity we can learn and expand ourselves. We plan to spend the next two years working on that goal. I believe at a deep level that’s what we all want — to make the world a better place to live. Harvey has certainly shown us to be a caring community.
Outside of work, what are some activities and hobbies that you enjoy?
Stromatt: Outside of work I’m working in my small way to end hunger in the world. The Montgomery County Food Bank’s Buddy Backpack Project is one of my favorites. I work with Interfaith to feed and furnish transportation to senior citizens. The Montgomery County Women’s Center, Planned Parenthood and the Interfaith Clinic are some other organizations I support. I’m a voter deputy registrar and work at the polls when there is an election. I’m a member of Women of the Woodlands and The Woodlands Chi Omega Alumnae Sorority. Are you a sports fan? If so, what team(s) do you root for?
Stromatt: I love baseball! How ‘bout those Astros! Is there anything else you think the community should know about you?
Stromatt: I’m here to listen to your concerns about our community, and I will do my best to keep you informed of what is going on at the Township and in our community.