ROCKWALL, TX (Feb. 5, 2024) Each year around Valentine’s Day, Blue Ribbon News invites local couples to share stories of how they met. Publishing their tales of true love has become one of our favorite traditions. This year the response was overwhelming. You’ll find their stories in our latest print edition hitting over 17,500 mailboxes throughout Rockwall County this week – and online right here.
Also, stay tuned to our Facebook page as Valentine’s Day approaches. The names of several lucky participating couples will be randomly drawn to win gifts from our local prize sponsors ~ Dodie’s at The Harbor, Culpepper Cattle Company, Zanata, Samee’s Place Pizza Getti, Speak, Ramen Head, Lucky Cat, and Lakeside Florist.
Across the ‘Ocean Blue’
Our true love story encompasses the distance of 6,000 miles to the other side of the globe. My husband, Sauileoge, was born and raised in American Samoa. As he left island paradise for college, he traveled across the world to Commerce, TX (of all places!) to study Music Education. Traveling here with about $20 in his pocket, no ride from the airport, and faith that everything was going to be okay, he started making a name for himself in Texas.
Sau is a brilliant musician, but could have easily been turned away from the Music Department because of his unexpected arrival; however, Dr. Brian Zator, the percussion professor, took Sau under his wing. In 2008, I enrolled in the same college and we met in the Texas A&M Commerce Marching Band. A couple of months after we met, Sau wrote me an original song entitled “Ocean Blue” dedicated to my blue eyes. I have been shamelessly hooked on this man since he captured my heart through this song so long ago. Sau swept me off my feet through music and a beautiful Samoan culture that I never knew existed.
Sau and I have been on multiple trips around the world to visit his family in American Samoa. We’ve been married for almost 12 years and have two handsome sons who look just like their daddy, my absolute favorite. Every year, we send our gratitude to Dr. Zator for not turning him away. In our 15 years together, we’ve combined two hearts, two birthplaces, and two cultures into one true and longstanding love.
Submitted by Kathryn To’afa, Royse City ISD Elementary Music Coordinator, Miss May Vernon Elementary.
Roadside Romance
As I drove home one evening from a friend’s house in Richardson, my attention was drawn to a cheerful gal bopping along to the radio in an ugly green Olds Delta 88. Intrigued, I followed her down Arapaho Road until our paths diverged. To my surprise, she then began following me. Seizing the moment, I pulled into the nearest parking lot, and with nervous excitement, I introduced myself: “Hi, I’m Rich. Would you like to go play some video games?” To my delight, she said yes but suggested a quick stop home to change before heading to the arcade. I must have played well because after she agreed to pizza and a walk around the grounds of Richland College. From that moment on, Heather and I were inseparable. She would come to my work and leave huge poster board love notes on my windshield.
Our connection deepened with every passing day, and before long, we embarked on the adventure of marriage on December 27th, 1983. She was 20, I was 23. Together, we welcomed our daughters, Renee and Ashley, into the world and later reveled in the joy of becoming grandparents. Heather was the epitome of an amazing wife, mother, and grandmother.
In December 2017, we celebrated our 34th anniversary with a cruise to Miami. We arrived a few days early and had a blast on all the boat and bus tours, and then the unimaginable happened.
I woke up to chaos early on December 23rd, 2017, and called 911. The ambulance came, and we headed to the Miami hospital. Heather suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, she was gone. The loss was profound, and my life was forever altered.
I found solace and strength in my family, friends and community. My loss has transformed me, teaching me to cherish life’s simple pleasures and live with no regrets. This journey inspires me to lead with empathy and compassion, listen to our community’s needs, and work tirelessly to make a positive impact. Heather, you will always hold a special place in my heart. Your enduring love continues to guide me as I embark on my new chapter.
Submitted by Rich Krause, Heath resident.
Sunshine on my shoulder
In 2006, I was finally able to see light at the end of the tunnel after divorcing my first husband. I looked at my daughter and said, “The sun has to come up for us, I want a boyfriend.” Evelyn looked right back at me and said, “Yes Mami, we need a boyfriend.”
My twin sister, Alma, talked me into going to a family friend’s NYE party. I knew most of the people at the party, so I let my daughter run around and play with the other kids without keeping tight tabs on her. As I’m in the middle of a conversation, I see out of the corner of my eye, Evelyn talking to a strange man I had never seen before. I immediately call out for her and she starts running towards me. I told Evelyn to go back into the living room to play with the other kids, but this strange man kept following her, so I started following after him. In his very broken Spanish he says, “esta aqui, I’m your sun tonight.” I ended up seeing him the next day with a group of my friends. Next thing I know, I’m getting calls from this man, Shawn, every single night. We talked every night until we got married in 2008.
Submitted by Evelyn Valk, who wrote this out for her parents, Shawn and Vida, to surprise them for their wedding anniversary, Jan. 25th.
Long distance love
In December 2018, I was attending the Hilton’s client appreciation party in Rockwall. I remember thinking that I would pop in and not stay long; it had been a long day. However after spotting the tall, dark and handsome stranger, immediately I knew I would stay. I would never make the ‘first move’, so I waited and wondered who he could be. As the event was ending, he shyly approached and introduced himself. Kurt was with his work team who traveled here regularly. He lived in Ohio and had been coming to Rockwall for two years for his job after serving 26 years in the US Air Force. He already loved Rockwall, and I loved that.
After closing the place down (with my friend Lynette, who made sure I was protected from the stranger), we exchanged numbers. He was leaving to travel back the next day. I remember thinking “What am I doing?! He lives out of state.”
I got a text from him the next day and the rest is history. Not a day went by that we didn’t text or talk. It was exciting! Sparks were there when he came back into town three weeks later for our first date. We were able to connect through calls and texts and then regular visits for two years. He relocated to Rockwall in 2021. It’s hard to believe we fell in love over FaceTime during a pandemic, but nothing could be more perfect. He is my best friend and biggest supporter, just what I needed in life at the perfect time in the most unexpected way. We got married on December 28, 2023.
Submitted by Darby Nielsen, President of the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce.
Flip of a coin
During her first week of freshman orientation at Oral Roberts University in late August 1976, Mary read the list of weekly events posted in the cafeteria and asked, “Who is Lorne Liechty?” His birthday was noted as Aug. 28 on the calendar, but neither Mary nor any of the other college freshmen there knew who Lorne might be. Lorne was a senior that year, and was involved in many activities at ORU, including serving as Student Body Vice President of Financial Affairs. Lorne was known by most upperclassmen, but had little contact with the new freshman class. Mary would not find out who Lorne was until the spring semester of her freshman year.
Their relationship began in March of 1977, when Lorne and Mary were introduced by a mutual friend at the bottom of the stairs of that same cafeteria. Lorne was immediately attracted to Mary, but Mary’s attraction to Lorne? Not so much. Later in the week Lorne asked Mary to join him at his table for a meal but she was with friends and declined. He said maybe they could get together later and she coyly said, “if I’m not busy with something else…”
Their first date was to see the movie “Rocky,” and after that the relationship progressed rapidly. One night while out on a date Lorne flipped a coin, thinking heads I ask her, tails I don’t. It was tails but he asked Mary to marry him anyway. Mary said “YES”, and still has that quarter today.
Sixteen months later Lorne and Mary were married, and the rest is history. Lorne and Mary have been married 45 years, and are the proud parents of four children and are blessed with seven grandchildren. Their life together continues to be an exciting adventure!
Submitted by Mary Liechty. She and Lorne, an attorney and former Mayor, live in Heath.
Love is…a piece of cake
Bob and I met at work. Judy, the receptionist, gestured me into her waiting area where this long legged, blond, blue-eyed young man sat on her sofa. She introduced us, and neither of us were impressed.
Days later I was distributing slices of birthday cake to all the employees. As I delivered the last bunch of cake slices to Judy’s desk, she whispered conspiratorially, “Bob is here.” I told her I’d bring him a piece of cake and hurriedly did so.
Minutes later, Bob showed up at my office to thank me for the cake. Within an hour, he phoned and asked if I would be interested in going out for dinner that night. I called my mother to let her know I would not be driving up to see her because I had a date. She asked his name and when I said “Bob,” she guffawed and said, “You will end up marrying this one!” My dad, brother, and uncle are all named Bob. Brenda, a coworker, had been eavesdropping the entire time and informed me she would begin sewing my wedding gown that weekend.
During dinner I looked Bob square in the eyes, explained I assumed he probably was looking for a steady relationship or marriage, and that I was not planning on getting married. After our date, Bob called his parents in Paris, France, to let them know he had met the girl he was going to marry. We were married four months later. This May will mark 46 years.
Submitted by Becky Barnes. She and Bob own Mathnasium Learning Center of Rockwall-Heath.
Blind love
I said “No” at first- many times. It was 2006. I had just moved to Dallas after living in Lubbock for 8 years and experiencing TERRIBLE blind dates. Suffice to say: one guy pushed me into mud as we were walking to the car, and another drunkenly asked the waitress her number. Clearly, I had zero faith in blind dates.
I was resistant, but my friend Diana was persistent. She insisted this great guy she had known for years through martial arts would, at the very least, be a good friend. Since she was a close friend growing up in Rockwall, I decided to trust her judgment. I did what any normal person would do before our date- stalked him on MySpace (but I couldn’t tell which guy was actually him).
I walked into Taco Diner in Uptown to this cute guy with a killer smile and kind eyes. We ate dinner, talked for hours, then went to Starbucks and talked until after closing. It was a conversation of ease moving way beyond the surface details of our lives. We both say it was the best date of our lives.
Though we disagree about who said it first, he told me he loved me six months later. We have been happily married for 15 years, have three beautiful children, and absolutely love our life in Rockwall.
Fun fact: My parents also met on a blind date, and have been married 47 years. Some blind dates are worth it after all.
Submitted by Ansley Roan, a certified health coach. Her husband Terry is owner, managing partner at Texas Roadhouse in Rockwall.
Matchmaking from afar
My husband Alan and I met in November 2007. He lived in New York and I lived in Florida. He was divorced for about two years and I just ended a two year relationship. My mom and her friend from NY thought it was a good time to introduce me to someone. My mom’s friend Rachel was a shopper at the produce store my husband Alan managed. She asked him if he was interested in meeting a Jewish lady in Florida and he said ok. She gave him my number and the matchmaking plan was at work. My mom called me and told me to stay close to my phone because Alan is going to call. So for one week she kept asking if he called and I said no. I told her I think they gave him the wrong phone number, lol. So Rachel went back to him and asked him why he never called me; he said he had, but no answer. Sure enough, it was the wrong number! He called that night and our first conversation lasted from 11pm until 4am. During that conversation he purchased a plane ticket to visit me in Florida just two weeks after that first call. We saw each other every two weeks until he moved to Florida three months later. We got married six years after that. We have been together 16 years and married for ten.
Submitted by Revi Menasche, who owns The Bagel Lady Deli & Coffee Shop in Rockwall and Heath.
All in His Timing
Alma and I met in 1991 in Speech and Debate class at Rockwall High School. I remember the first time I saw Alma. Her eyes were so stunning, and this positivity just radiated from her. I had to know her. Over time we began to date in high school. We had lots of fun lunch dates at Shirey’s BBQ (now Lone Star Cafe) for off campus lunch during our senior year. As high school relationships often go, it did not last, and we went our separate ways into adulthood. Twenty-five years later I was living in Canada and Alma was back in Rockwall. We reconnected as many have via Facebook the day before Thanksgiving 2016. We messaged each other, then texted, then facetimed every day after that. I flew home for a NYE Party Alma was having and the sparks were still there after all this time. I came back to Rockwall every other weekend after that to see Alma from Canada, sometimes more often, until we were married in August 2017. I then moved back to my hometown to start my life with my soulmate 25 years after we met. I always say God meant for us to be together all along. It’s all in His timing.
Submitted by Bobby Gallana, owner of Barmetrix-North Texas.
Wedding bells will be ringing
The year was 2018. I had just started working for an insurance company in Rockwall when this extremely handsome, tall man walked in the door. I knew I just HAD to know him so when he left, I asked the claims adjuster all about him and he told me that Hud was leaving for school (three hours away) the very next day for football camp.
I hopped on Facebook and sent a friend request. We started texting, then we casually hung out a few times before Hudson decided he wanted to be my boyfriend! Five years and one baby later, we are set to wed on April 6th! All thanks to Facebook.
Submitted by Hanna Smith of Rockwall.
Love takes center stage
Gene and Jennifer met at their local community theatre, Rockwall Community Playhouse. They were friends and fellow cast members, being cast in several shows together. They were involved in shows such as “Mamma Mia”, “The Adams Family Musical” and “Steel Magnolias.” Gene is known for his outgoing personality and sense of humor. This is what first drew Jennifer towards him. He always made her laugh especially while she was going through a difficult chapter in her life. Their friendship grew into love and they were married in June 2023.
Submitted by Gene and Jennifer Fields of Rockwall.
Meet me in Rockwall
It was January 2012, I was attending a continuing education class and I vividly remember receiving a Facebook friend request from Trey Tinsley. I recognized his name from someone I knew of in college at ACU. I accepted his friend request and we then began messaging for about a month, then progressed to texting and finally he asked me on a date for February 21, 2012 at Bin 303 in Rockwall. The date went really well; we even kissed at the end of the date in the parking lot.
Because he lived in Terrell and I lived in the Plano area, many times we would meet in Rockwall. Dates included Zanata and movies at The Harbor. On February 28, 2014 he proposed just two years later at Bin 303 in that very same booth where we had our first date.
We just celebrated nine years of marriage and have a son and a daughter. We lived in the Rockwall area for about seven years and just recently moved to Sunnyvale. Rockwall will always be a special place for us.
Submitted by Melissa Tinsley of Sunnyvale.
Small world
We were both born in a very small town in Germany. Our moms were close friends so we played together from time to time as young children. In 1992, when we were both in elementary school, both of our families moved to America and lost touch with one another. Many years later when Myspace became popular, our moms reconnected both living states apart. Our parents saw one another around 2008 and remained in touch over the years. In 2012 both Dominik and I received texts from our moms “you haven’t seen one another in 20 years and don’t live too far apart. You guys should meet up.” Timing to them was perfect as we both happened to be newly single and living in the same state just 70 miles apart. Dominik ended up reaching out to me via text and led with “my mom said I should reach out.” I told him mine did the same but he beat me to it. We decided to meet up in Seattle, which was a halfway point for us. Our lunch get-together ended up lasting until 3:30 a.m. We did so much in the city and enjoyed every moment together. We never expected our casual meet-up to turn into our forever after. We are now married 10 years with three children and doing our best planting some southern roots for our family here in Rockwall.
Submitted by Marlene Towers of Rockwall.
A love that almost didn’t happen
Chris and I met 30 years ago on Labor Day at the Jerry Lewis telethon that was being held at the Ballpark in Arlington. Chris worked for the Muscular Dystrophy Association – and so did my best friend, Wendy. She invited me out for the day to keep her company while she worked the telethon. We all had lunch together and I met Chris. We kept talking and when it was time for me to leave, he walked me to the elevator and gave me a smile that absolutely took my breath away.
The next week at work, he asked my friend Wendy where she had been hiding her beautiful friends? He asked for my number, but she refused to give it to him. She told him he was going to have to work a little harder than that. He started nonchalantly eavesdropping outside her office, hoping to catch some clue on where she and I might be hanging out soon. He overheard that we would be at a restaurant in Dallas the next evening, and he showed up. We had a great time talking and he walked me to my car, but he forgot to get my number. And Wendy still wouldn’t give it to him.
Over the next week, he started calling Wendy’s apartment with the hope that I would just happen to be there. One night he called, and I answered. He immediately asked for my phone number, and the rest is history. We married two years later and have been married for 28 years.
Submitted by Paula Nelms, owner of Nelms Nutrition, LLC in Rockwall. Paula and Chris have lived in Rockwall for nearly 19 years.
Finding love 40 years later
It has been a whirlwind year for Cliff and Ellen Poch. But their story started 40 years ago in Cleveland, OH at a Catholic high school.
Much like the “Jake Ryan” character in the cult classic movie, “Sixteen Candles” Cliff was a senior and captain of the football team. Ellen was a freshman and her friends knew she had a huge crush on Cliff; and much like Jake Ryan, he was the last one to find out. In fact, it took about 40 years for Cliff to figure it out.
The two managed to become friends over the years, and they stayed in touch through Facebook. Both Cliff and Ellen would go through life, marrying others in the 90s, both had 3 kids, both got divorced.
In 2022, Ellen sent Cliff a random text. After Ellen broke up with a boyfriend, she had a vacant spot on a NYE cruise and she decided to text her high school crush from her home in Florida. Cliff was driving his car in Texas and had to pull over. Five minutes later, which felt like eternity for Ellen, he said yes! The two had not physically seen each other in several years. When Ellen picked Cliff up from the Miami airport, it was instant chemistry. When the cruise ended, both Cliff and Ellen knew they were meant to be together forever. Ellen moved to Texas to marry Cliff in June 2023, and the rest is history.
Submitted by Ellen Poch. Cliff & Ellen Poch are Rockwall residents who are both veteran Realtors and have recently started the “Cliff*Ellen Real Estate Team” here in Rockwall & surrounding suburbs.
From blind date to family of four
Carey and I met through mutual friends on a blind date. After years of raising two children on my own, I was praying for God to bring someone into my life, but was totally accepting of being a single mom if that’s what He wanted for me. A couple introduced us at Dave & Buster’s sharing food, laughter, and a few games. We began dating and within six months, we were engaged! It was quick, but we were in our 40’s and 50’s so we knew what we wanted. We had a beautiful Catholic wedding and a romantic honeymoon in Tulum.
After we were married, Carey legally adopted my two children, and we became a family of four. Having lost their father, Elli and Ryan loved the blessing of a new dad. We are new to Rockwall from Dallas, the kids are now 16 and 20, and we are going on our 7th year of marriage. God has truly blessed us with love beyond what either of us could have imagined.
Submitted by Alison Ferren. She and Carey are happy to call Rockwall home.
Long, long ago…
We had secret crushes on each other when we were kids. We attended the same church and our parents were best friends. Gary is about 1 ½ yrs. older than I, so he moved on to bigger things while I was still in the little kids’ group. But he knew he wanted to marry me when he was only 12 years old. I didn’t find out until I was 20! I knew him as the cute, funny guy. If he was going to be at an activity, I wanted to be there. Once, I asked a friend of mine to tell him I liked him. She came back and said he didn’t believe her. When I turned 14 and went to my first dance, he got the courage to ask me to be his girlfriend. We have opposite recollections of what happened. I told him I was moving in two weeks. He took that as a NO. I took it as a YES, but it would be long-distance. I moved states and didn’t hear from him again until seven years later. He just happened to be back in our hometown after serving a mission. I was returning to college and had to stop in our hometown along the way because of car problems. That weekend we met again. Five days later we were engaged. Four months later we married here in Dallas. On November 21, 2023 we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary!
Submitted by Eve Hughey.
Game on
I was supposed to be headed home; my friends were leaving, and I just wanted one more drink at Bowl-a-Rama in Rowlett. Walking my friends out, I decided a game of pool sounded fun, so I ordered a drink, asked the bartender for some change, and told him I’d like to play a quick game of pool if he knew of anyone that would be interested. With the promise of a friendly wager and a drink in tow, Donny came up and said he’d entertain me at a game of pool. Little did he know, he’d be entertaining me for a lot longer than that. He had no clue he’d eventually help raise three girls, help bring a son into the world to complete our family and help establish our perfectly imperfect life together.
That was 17 years ago and we’re still going strong. This year our oldest daughter brought our first granddaughter into this world, our middle daughter got married to the love of her life and started her career as a chiropractor and our youngest daughter graduated University of Arkansas and was accepted into the graduate program at OU – and in our spare time we built our forever home in Rockwall. It’s been a crazy couple of decades, but God has blessed us abundantly and we are so excited to see what the new year brings!
Submitted by Amie Wallace of Rockwall, who works as Chief Administrative Officer of Sharp Insulation Company.
It began with a bear hug
Each of our best friends are actually siblings, so I always say that we were meant to be from the start! Chris and I met at a house party in late December 2017—I saw him and immediately thought ‘wow, he’s so, SO handsome—he probably already has a girlfriend.’ We ended up talking that night, even though he was a little too drunk to remember, and nothing came of it. A few days later he was “swiping for chicks” on Facebook and came across my profile. He made sure to vet me via our mutual friends and they all hyped me up to him and told him to message me. He did, THANKFULLY, and we talked a little bit before he asked me to dinner. He ended up driving an hour from Lancaster to Fort Worth a week later for our first date (a double date because I don’t know this man) at Rio Mambo. He gave me a giant bear hug and I instantly felt comfortable and we clicked immediately. To the point where I regretted making it a double date! (Sorry Desiree and Tracy!) He ghosted me for three days after that—he later told me he was playing it cool. His roommate’s idea and yeah…totally understandable! Days later he asked me out for another date. Then out again for Valentine’s Day shortly after! Since then, we’ve been inseparable. That was almost 6 years ago and we’ve been happy married a little over three years now.
Submitted by Jackie Howard. Jackie and her husband Chris are Rockwall residents.
Jailbirds & lovebirds
It’s the wildest, most exciting, even borderline comical story of fate. My husband – being the kind-hearted man he is – went with his ex-wife to bail her son from a previous marriage out of jail.
I was at the same bail bondsman posting my own son out of jail.
Posting bond on a Friday night in Dallas, turned into a Saturday morning release. Once bail was posted, we sat outside of Lew Sterrett waiting for the paperwork to be processed and our kids to be released.
We exchanged contact information and a few months later met for a drink. Sixteen years together, 14 years married later, here we are.
We are thankful, grateful and blessed something wonderful came out of a bad situation!
Submitted by Doni Todd of Rockwall.
Fast & Forever
We met at work. It was January and I just returned from two weeks in Central America. It was a whirlwind romance…dated, engaged and married in less than a year.
“Moving too fast, your too young, take your time,” were the words of encouragement we got from family and friends.
Forty-two years later I still have my best friend, wife and soulmate, Nita. Love matters, trust your heart, live with God’s grace and enjoy the journey.
Submitted by Jerry Cook, a full time Real Estate Agent. He and his wife Nita live in Rockwall’s Fontanna Ranch.
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