Phillip Contreras was honored at a dinner held Saturday, December 3, by members of the Strategic Alliance for Leadership and Social Action (SALSA) and lifelong friends. He received an Appreciation Award for his 50+ years of community service.

The award was presented by SALSA Founder, Dr. Juan Andrade, and SALSA President, Raul Martinez. The dinner was held at the First Mexican Baptist Church.

His friends since childhood shared stories of times spent fishing and hunting along the creek (Adams Branch) and Round Mountain, playing football games at Wiggins Park which was the home field for the Central Elementary School Tigers, boxing in the Golden Gloves, picking cotton, working in the fields hoeing watermelon, cantaloupes, peanuts, and cabbage, selling and delivering the Brownwood Bulletin and Ft. Worth Star Telegram, playing on the Brownwood Bombers baseball team in the National Baseball Congress as young men against teams from Abilene, Ballinger, Coleman, Brady, Burnet, Comanche and other towns in the Central Texas area.

But Contreras is best known for his strong work ethic and most appreciated for his unwavering willingness to help anyone in need whether locally, in the U.S., or internationally. Because of hs multiple vocational skills, he was invited to spend a month in Mozambique and neighboring countries to help rebuild villages devastated by natural disasters as well as in Mexico. He has always been willing to help people find work, housing, medical attention, or whatever people might need. During the last two years, he has organized car shows at SALSA events held at Wiggins Park and embedded memorial plaques in concrete at Wiggins Park and the First Mexican Baptist Church.

Now, at 78 years of age, Contreras is saying he may have to start slowing down. His friends say Phillip may slow down but he’ll never stop helping out.