Former Lieutenant Laura G. Koerner, U.S. Navy & Lieutenant Commander Michael T. Koerner, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Mike & Laura Koerner made service in the U.S. Navy an initial cornerstone of both their lives with 30 years of combined service between them. After their military commitments and since moving to Fair Oaks Ranch in 2010, they continue to give back to the country and community in many ways despite busy professional and family commitments.

Laura, a 1997 Naval Academy graduate with a master’s from MIT, has been involved in many local and state-wide political activities. She was elected to Fair Oaks Ranch City Council in 2017 and served on Council for eight years. Laura was appointed in 2018 by Governor Abbott to the Texas Veterans Commission and named Chair of the TVC in 2020 with a term set to expire at the end of 2029.

After his successful Navy career, Mike also became involved in politics and served as an alternate delegate to the 2016 National Republican Convention and as member of the Regional Staff of Senator Ted Cruz. He has worked and volunteered as a First Responder and in 2019 was recognized as the Firefighter of the Year by the Leon Springs Volunteer Fire Dept. Mike also continues to remain active, along with Laura, in many Navy-related activities in the area.

John Weir’s military service spanned over 30 years during the heart of the Cold War and took him to 48 countries and every continent except Antarctica. His assignments included many locations across the country critical to the space & arms race. John and his family eventually spent most of their time based out of Silicon Valley, CA. After retiring from the Army and the private sector, John, his wife Sandra and daughter Vickie, relocated to Texas and built their forever home in Fair Oaks Ranch in 2001. Sadly, Sandra lost a long health battle and passed in 2009. John remarried in 2011 to the former Carole Anne Ross.

After coming to Texas John certainly did not retire from life. He joined the Kendall County Democratic Party and served as its chairperson for 14 years. He participates in the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution & the Scottish Society of San Antonio. He also volunteered for many years as an usher at the Majestic Theatre and the Tobin Center. His biggest impact locally, however, has been as a member of FORHA’s Board of Directors where he served as a member from 2003-2010, including the last five years as President. John also spent 14 years on the City Capital Improvements Advisory Committee and five years on its City Planning Commission. In addition, he gave six years of service to the BISD Instructional Goals Committee.

While growing up in New Jersey, Jim Manzo developed a strong passion for music and the military, and he has successfully combined those two areas of interest in a lifelong career that has impacted many. As a member of the “West Point Band” he showcased his talents and, after completing OCS, he assumed Commander roles for various Army Bands in NJ/NY and Texas, which brought him to Fair Oaks Ranch in 1999. Although retired from military and private sector teaching positions, Jim remains active with various local musical groups but nothing he does is of more significance than the voluntary service he provides as a bugler at military-related events and the funerals of veterans. Jim’s wife Gail passed in 2009, and a chance circumstance led to him meeting a fellow Raintree Woods neighbor, Cheryl Landman (who happened to be the City Mayor at the time), and they married in 2012.

For her part, Cheryl has made community service a cornerstone of her life since moving to Fair Oaks Ranch in 1987. Besides our legendary first Mayor Boots Gaubatz, Cheryl is the only other person to have served as FORHA President & City Mayor. She was President of FORHA from 1996-1999, and after serving on City Council from 2002-2010, was elected Mayor in 2010 and served until 2017. In addition to being a charter member of The Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch when it was formed in 2012, Cheryl has served on numerous planning & advisory committees related to BISD, FORES, and various government councils and municipal leagues.

Mark Fissel began serving our nation in the U.S. Air Force in 1995 in a career that took him to several assignments both foreign and domestic, including deployments in the Middle East related to the global war on terrorism. Mark became an accomplished pilot, primarily flying KC-135 tankers, and he also assumed the role of pilot trainer and evaluator on multiple occasions. At the rank of Major in 2016, he retired from the USAF and began a career in the private sector as a pilot for United Airlines.

Michele & Mark moved to Fair Oaks Ranch in 2024 and immediately became engaged in the community, especially through FORHA. Michele, a Professor in the Biology Dept. at Texas State University, initially volunteered for Adopt-A-Highway. This eventually led to contributing to other FORHA events such as the Easter Egg Scramble, the 50th Anniversary Celebration, Santa on the Ranch, and the Peace Tree Lighting, just to name a few. She has become a member of the key FORHA Communications Committee that is instrumental in planning and executing many community-wide programs and activities. In most instances Mark has joined her, helping whenever and wherever he can.