https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/portion-fm-1097-willis-designated-193235739.html
A stretch of Montgomery County highway in the hometown of Army Specialist Joey Lenz now carries the name of the late soldier, forever paying tribute to his military service and legacy of kindness.
Willis graduate Lenz, 32, died Feb. 1, 2022 while in active U.S. Army service at Fort Hood in Killeen. A portion of FM 1097 in Willis from Interstate 45 to Lake Conroe was dedicated as Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway Friday morning.
The dedication
A ceremony with Montgomery County and state-elected officials, military supporters, his high-school friends and his parents Jeff and Margie Taylor took place on the shores of Lake Conroe adjacent to FM 1097.
Signs with the designation are at the northwest corner of FM 1097 and Interstate 45 in Willis and in front of the Lake Conroe Hills subdivision just before Lake Conroe. Margie worked with TxDOT, State Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, Precinct 1 County Commissioner Robert Walker and others to secure the designation.
“Margie you are absolutely unbelievable. This is a mom who loves her son and was willing to take this all the way and do whatever it took to get him recognized,” said Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough at Friday’s ceremony.
The event also featured music from Conroe business owner Debbie Glenn and Lenz’ high-school friends who formed a band to perform songs from his favorite group, Blink 182.
About Joey Lenz
He was born in Baytown to Margie and Ted Lenz in November 1989 and graduated from Willis High in 2008. Lenz found his purpose serving in the military, enlisting in the U.S. Army in September 2017. He was given the nickname “Lights Out Lenz” for his life-of-the-party nature. But there was also a sensitive side to Lenz as he had a deep passion for caring for dogs and cats.
He was known to keep a bag of cat food in his vehicle, Margie talked about during the ceremony, even though he didn’t have a pet while serving to feed strays he encountered.
On the morning of Feb. 1, 2022, it was discovered that he had died in his sleep in the barracks. She would later learn that he had an undiagnosed heart condition that was worsened by medication he had been prescribed, information she said was unknown to him or his family.
Since his death she has become an advocate for updated health screenings for the military.
Legislation for updated screenings
Margie has worked with U.S. Congressman Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, on the Specialist Joey Lenz Act of 2025 or HR 1014. Luttrell filed the bill in February. It calls for annual in-person physicals for all service members, which would include an electrocardiogram and comprehensive blood work.
She believes that an in-person screening could have saved her son’s life.
Luttrell’s District Director, Holly Arbuckle, gave an update on the bill’s progress Friday and said it is a part of the current National Defense Authorization Act budgeting process and they are hopeful for its passage.
“We ask them to protect us but who protects them? That is why I fight,” Margie said. “Today we honor Joey’s life and we fight for every soldier who deserves the care they were promised. The highway bears Joey’s name but his story carries a message for every soldier: ‘You are worth protecting.'”
