Community

For Barbara Powell, Tomball history is not something tucked away in an old photograph or displayed behind glass. It is something she has lived, shared and helped preserve.

That connection came full circle Sept. 30, when Powell, the lead docent at the Tomball Depot Museum and a longtime Tomball volunteer, served as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Tomball High School Homecoming Parade. The honor brought together several chapters of her life, from her own days as a Tomball High School student to the Saturdays she now spends helping residents and visitors discover the community's past.

Tomball High School students honor years of community service

Tomball High School's Student Council surprised Powell with the invitation, recognizing her years of service to the Tomball community.

"I was honored to be recognized by such a fine group of students who are so engaged with their community," Powell said, according to the City of Tomball.

The recognition was especially fitting given Powell's own history with Tomball High School. Before becoming one of the people helping preserve the city's stories, she was part of them herself. Powell was the first head cheerleader to cheer at Cougar Country Stadium before graduating from Tomball High School in 1973.

The Student Council said members "are so happy to recognize someone who truly represents Tomball."

Sharing Tomball history one Saturday at a time

Today, many residents may know Powell through the Tomball Depot Museum, where she spends almost every Saturday leading tours and sharing local history. Her volunteer service in Tomball, however, began well before her work at the museum.

The historic depot is closely tied to the story of how Tomball developed. The community grew around the railroad in the early 1900s and was originally known as Peck before being renamed Tomball in honor of Thomas Henry Ball, an attorney who played an important role in bringing the railroad through the area. The restored depot now serves as a museum where visitors can explore Tomball's railroad heritage and learn more about the people, businesses and events that shaped the community.

That makes volunteers such as Powell an important part of the museum experience. Buildings and artifacts can preserve pieces of the past, but docents help connect those pieces to the people walking through the doors today. For longtime residents, those stories can bring back memories. For newer Tomball families, they offer a window into how the city they now call home came to be.

A homecoming honor with a deeper meaning

Homecoming traditions often celebrate school spirit and generations of alumni, but Powell's selection as Grand Marshal also highlighted the relationship between Tomball's past and present. Nearly 53 years after graduating, she returned to a Tomball High School tradition not simply as an alumna, but as someone students chose to recognize for continuing to serve the community.

It was a fitting moment for a volunteer whose work centers on making sure local stories are not forgotten. This time, the community made Powell part of another Tomball story worth remembering.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more Tomball community news, local events and stories about the people helping shape the area.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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