In 2010, the West Texas Home Builders Association made the decision to begin honoring local heroes and their families by giving mortgage-free homes.
The WTHBA established a non-profit organization called West Texas Hero Homes, where homes would be built and gifted to heroes in the Lubbock community. The mission of this charity is to take care of returning military and first responders who have sacrificed so much for our freedom by providing mortgage-free homes to disabled heroes and their families in the Lubbock area. Proceeds from the annual Parade of Homes and the Home and Garden Show go toward the building of these homes.
This year, the organization’s seventh home was built for Russell Snodgrass and his family.
Since June, we have been following the progress of the home being built for the Snodgrass family through the Hero Home project.
Snodgrass family: Russell, Ashley, Zane, Zachery, Adelyn and Avery.
South Plains Electric Cooperative
Snodgrass grew up with a very good understanding of the Navy. Every male in his family had served in the Navy at some point in their life, so it just made sense when he decided to join in 2000. Snodgrass was in Japan for training when he learned of the 9/11 attacks. His training progressed quickly, and he was injured while fast-roping from a helicopter. Snodgrass worked through his injury and was deployed to Iraq, where he was a part of the initial invasion called Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2003, an assault vehicle near him was struck, and he was knocked unconscious from the blast. This event reinjured his back and was the initial cause of his traumatic brain injury.
In 2005, after five and a half years of serving in the Navy, Snodgrass was medically discharged with honor. He is now partially paralyzed from his back injury, which continues to deteriorate.
The Snodgrass home is located in Escondido Ranch, and the lot was donated by Trey Strong and Robert Wood. Robert Wood and Chad Tarver served as the lead builders of this project.
Russell and Ashley Snodgrass are humbled to be the recipient of this home. “It means everything to us,” Snodgrass said. “With the uncertainty of life and my injuries, this is going to be a place for our children to always call home and a way for my injuries to be managed.”
“We could not do what we do without the generous support of the members of the West Texas Home Builders Association,” Gena Godinez, WTHBA executive officer said.
West Texas Hero Homes is a project that brings an entire community together for one purpose. “These projects bring together many competitors for a great cause,” Robert Wood said. “We include new and old contractors, and the comradery that comes along with that makes the project successful.”
Snodgrass shared his gratitude to everyone who was involved in this project. “You have changed our lives, and we are going to pay that forward.”
The virtual dedication event took place on November 6. After seven months of construction, the Snodgrass family is able to move in and start making this house a home.
West Texas Hero Homes partnered with H-E-B for the first time this year. H-E-B made a substantial donation to the project and completely furnished the home.
South Plains Electric Cooperative provided the electricity during the construction phase and will continue to serve the Snodgrass home.
To learn more about the West Texas Hero Homes project, visit westtexasherohomes.org.
