Woden, Texas Couple Get New AC in Feel the Love Promotion

On Friday, October 14, representatives and technicians from Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing, and AC, as well as Lennox spent the day installing a new air conditioning system at the home of Jimmy and Wanda Ragsdale...FOR FREE.

There was no charge for the entire unit and there was no charge for the installation. For the third straight year, a deserving East Texas family/individual was chosen to be this year's area winner of the Feel the Love promotion presented by Lennox.

During the summer, East Texans were asked to submit nominations for deserving families and individuals who were in need of a new air conditioning unit. The Feel the Love promotion is a collaborative effort by Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing, and AC along with Lennox. This marks the third year that someone in East Texas has been the benefactor of this event.

Hundreds of entries are received for this yearly giveaway.  The first year, a family from Mount Enterprise was awarded the AC unit.  In 2021, a family from Pollok received the new AC unit.  This year, it was a husband and wife from the Woden area whose story touched the hearts of the judges.

Here is the nomination entry:

My Grandpa worked at Moore’s Business Forms for 33 years before becoming an EMT and dispatcher for Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital where he worked for 14 years until he retired.  He helped build and was fire chief of the Loco Valley Fire Dept. for 3 years before moving to the Woden area.  He joined the Woden Fire Department and has served the community as Assistant Fire Chief for over 30 years, still holding that position today.  He does what he can to help the Fire Dept. but he is now limited as he was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019 only 3 months after he retired.

After going to MD Anderson we learned his cancer had metastasized to his bones and while treatment can help, there is no cure.  He also suffers from COPD and has trouble breathing, especially when it's hot.  My grandparent’s A/C has been out for over 12 years.  We have changed out window units for them, but we are unable to provide them with a new central A/C due to the cost.  Especially now with his cancer treatments.

My Grandmother has also served the community through teaching for many years.  She student taught at Brooks Jones Kindergarten for 15 years.  She then moved to Early Headstart and later went back to school and earned a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Development.  She then went on to teach for 17 years at Get Cap Head Start.  She was awarded the C.L. Simon Award for being an outstanding teacher in 2014.  Sadly, she was forced to retire early due to complications with lupus and she misses teaching tremendously.

My Grandparents have been married going on 50 years!  They are both wonderful people who would help anyone without hesitation and a new heating and cooling system would be such a blessing for them both.

The Ragsdale's now have that new Lennox AC unit, installed by the techs at Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing, and AC. A delicious lunch was also provided by Brandon and his crew from Chamber's Smokehouse.