Star Republican Women (SRW) celebrated their 50th birthday on Dec. 9 at Quail Point Lodge, gathering at 11:30 a.m. for a milestone luncheon filled with reflection, gratitude, and inspiration.
The celebration featured distinguished speakers including Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, State Sen. Pete Flores (SD24), and Rev. Rafael Cruz.
Bay Kitchens Catering provided the meal, while Farmhouse Vineyards of Johnson City created a special commemorative wine label exclusively for the occasion.
The Texas First Lady encouraged attendees to see themselves as leaders shaping the future of Texas through service and civic involvement.
“By standing up, by speaking out, by serving others, by meeting others you are creating a bigger, better Texas for tomorrow. You are the change makers, and I wish you much success. Because when women in Texas succeed, Texas succeeds.”
She added, “As First Lady in Texas, I am continually reminded of how blessed we are. Texas truly is a state like no other.”
SRW’s history stretches back to 1975, when a small group of dedicated Republican women formed the Highland Lakes Republican Women’s Club to serve the communities of Llano, Burnet, Lampasas, Deer Haven, and beyond.
Led by founding president Carolyn Knight, with bylaws written by Dorothy Crockett, the group quickly grew and became an influential voice in local politics.
Distance between communities eventually necessitated new chapters, Burnet Republican Women in 1978, followed by the South Llano County Republican Women in 1987 under its first president, Betty Cross.
In 2010, to reflect its broadening regional reach, the organization adopted the name Star Republican Women.
Today, SRW boasts nearly 200 members and continues its longstanding mission of supporting Republican candidates and strengthening civic engagement throughout Llano, Burnet, and surrounding counties.
Cruz, the father of Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, offered a stirring message anchored in faith and patriotic responsibility.
Rev. Cruz urged the audience to hold fast to the principles that shaped the nation.
“It is about time we become biblically correct instead of politically correct,” he said, emphasizing the spiritual and moral origins of the U.S. Constitution.
Recounting the Founders’ reliance on divine guidance, he shared: “If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, it’s not probable that an empire could be built without His aid … “And then George Washington proceeded to encourage everyone to begin their deliberations on their knees in prayer … Seven months later, they gave us the greatest document that has ever been written in history outside of the Bible, the Constitution of the United States of America.”
Cruz concluded with a call to action: “We have a responsibility to preserve what God has given us … This is a time for action, not a time to relax and sit on our blessed assurance. We need to become militant for righteousness.”
He reminded attendees that “America continues to be that shining sea and hill to the glory of God.”
The 50th-anniversary celebration honored the legacy of strong Republican women who built SRW from the ground up and affirmed the organization’s commitment to shaping the future with the same conviction, service and unity that defined its past.
