Dell Perry Giles -
President/Director

Dell Perry Giles has served on Vision Rockdale’s Board as the Vice-President since February 2021, and was elected by the Board to serve as President with Founder, Collier Perry’s retirement from the Board in February 2024. Dell looks forward to continuing the work the Foundation has started, bringing new purpose to The 1895 in a way that honors its architectural, cultural, and historical significance, while best serving the community in the future.

Dell Giles was born and raised in Rockdale, Texas.  Upon graduating from Rockdale High School in 1990, she moved away to further her education, earning a B.A degree from Texas A&M, an M.S. degree from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.  After nearly 25 years away from Rockdale, living mostly in Atlanta, GA, and a few years in Barcelona, Spain, Dell returned to her roots, bringing her husband, Ferlando, and son, Milam, home with her.  Dell is currently the Literacy & Mentoring Coordinator for Rockdale ISD, serves on the Board of Love & Learning Center of Milam County, is a member of the Rockdale Earth Day Committee, and is a member of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Austin.  Dell is proud to be back with her family, living on the same street where she grew up, and is working to make Rockdale a vibrant and welcoming place that others will want to visit and call home, too.

Curah Beard -
Treasurer/Director

Curah Beard served as Executive Director for Vision Historic Preservation Foundation since its founding in 2020, but transitioned to a volunteer Board role in 2024, being elected as Treasurer of the Foundation.

Curah and her family moved to the beautifully wooded countryside of Northern Lee County in 2016, after having lived in Austin for 35 years. With a bachelor’s degree in Advertising & Communications from the University of Texas, and 25+ years of experience in Marketing in the non-profit, tradeshow and publications industries promoting small businesses and tourism in various rural communities. Curah also previously worked as Marketing Director for the City of Rockdale.

Curah enjoys all forms of the arts and volunteers not only on The 1895 project, but also with The Kay Theater Foundation helping to bring entertainment to the community. She is passionate about preservation of historic buildings & cultural history. She has always seen the potential in the historic 1895 City Hall and seeks to use her strong business skills to bring success to The 1895 project and to create an environment for all to enjoy a variety of forms of artistic exhibition and arts enrichment programs.

Bebe Saavedra-Villarreal -
Secretary/Director

Bebe Saavedra-Villarreal was born in Galveston and raised in Houston and surrounding areas. She and her family moved to Rockdale in July 2022 as it offered the farm life they were searching for. Bebe enjoys embracing the new life she and her family are building in Rockdale on their small family farm which is home to their chickens, ducks, and goats.  She enjoys meeting new people when she represents her family farm, The XXI Farm, at the Rockdale Farmer’s Market.  Professionally, Bebe works in the cyber security industry helping protect organizations from cyber-attacks, which is critical in the world we live in today.  In her free time, she’ll watch every Astros game she can as she has been a lifelong Astros fan.

Bebe was inspired to get involved in the Vision Historic Preservation Foundation due to her passion for preservation of history. She hopes to help further engage Rockdale’s Hispanic community in The 1895 project and its arts enrichment programs, as well as document their historic contributions to the community.  She strongly believes that understanding our past will help prepare for a better future. Bebe believes in leading by example and hopes to teach her children to get involved in the community too.

Geritt Davenport - Director
Arts & Outreach Chair

Geritt Davenport is a native of Rockdale, Texas and Milam County. He is an active composer and founder of T.U.X. People's Music, a publisher of sheet music.  Geritt strives to take an active part in bettering the local community in any way he can. With the historic past of Rockdale’s downtown having captivated him throughout his life; there is no better way to give back than by taking an active role in Vision Historic Preservation Foundation’s endeavors.

Jessica Cvijic - Director
Economic Development Chair

Jessica Cvijic Was born in Texas and moved to Rockdale from the Austin area 2 years ago. She has a bachelor's from Hendrix University in Arkansas, a Master’s Degree in Book conservation from West Dean in Chichester England, and a Master’s of Science in Information Studies from University of Texas in Austin. Currently working as a project manager, Jessica fell in love with Rockdale and the 1895 City Hall. She hopes to use her passion for preservation and art to make a meaningful contribution to the city’s heritage.

Brandon Reynolds - Director
Historical Chair

Brandon Reynolds was raised in the Austin-Georgetown area, but relocated to Rockdale from Jarrell just over five years ago.  Husband and father of seven, he is currently teaching Junior High at Thorndale ISD.  Brandon has a strong love of history and has been researching the history of the Rockdale area, which is what drew him to the Mission of Vision Historic Preservation Foundation.  Brandon is pursuing his Doctorate in History from Liberty University, and is planning his capstone to be on the history of Rockdale and the surrounding area. In 2022, Brandon published Urrea’s Goliad Campaign and the Texas Revolution available here.

Geri Burnett - Director

Geri Burnett & her husband Bob have been married 53 years, living in Rockdale for the past 51 years, raising their family and being actively involved in the community.  Geri is a retired educator of 30 years and worked as a teacher and administrator in the Rockdale ISD.  She graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a BS in Elementary Education and from Texas A&M University with a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. Geri loves history and has been an advocate of the promotion, preservation and protection of the Milam County and our nation’s history.

Geri worked as an Educational Specialist for the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and has been a member of the Milam County Historical Commission for 16 years, serving as the MCHC chairman and chairman of various committees. In 2019, Geri received the John Ben Shepperd Award from the Texas State Historical Commission for Historical Commission Leadership. Geri has been a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Rockdale for over 50 years, enjoys reading, gardening and traveling in the United States and around the world with family and friends.

Collier Perry:
Founder & Past President

Collier Perry was born in North Carolina and moved to Rockdale with family when Alcoa came to Rockdale in 1952. Having lived in Rockdale his entire life, he was fascinated to learn of the original Victorian design of the former City Hall & Opera House. In his desire to restore and repurpose the 1895 City Hall into an exciting arts & entertainment district, Collier Perry founded Vision Historic Preservation Foundation.

Mr. Perry graduated from Rockdale High School and went on to Texas Tech University, receiving an Engineering degree. After college, he and his wife, Peggy, spent three years in India in the Peace Corps, returning to Rockdale in 1972 for the birth of their daughter, Dell Perry Giles. Their son, Lin, was also born in Rockdale in 1974. Collier Perry founded Perry & Perry Builders, which is now operated by his son, Lin. Collier & Peggy Perry attend the diverse congregation in Austin, St James Episcopal Church and live at the same house they built for themselves in 1974.

While Collier Perry has retired from the Foundation’s Board of Directors, he continues to support the Foundation’s efforts in an advisory capacity and is proud to see the new leadership the Foundation has helped to cultivate for the community.

Stan Graves, FAIA:
Architexas

Senior Principal of Architexas, Stan Graves, brings over 35 years of historic preservation experience to The 1895 project as the Foundation’s Architect. He is the former Director of the Architecture Division and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer of the Texas Historical Commission having created and administered the nationally acclaimed Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, which awarded over $245 million to 83 historic county courthouse projects. Stan served as the agency’s liaison for the restoration of the Texas State Capitol and Grounds, and the Texas Governor’s Mansion. Stan has led the Texas Society of Architects’ Historic Resources Committee and Chaired the Rehabilitation Tax Incentives Committee of the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers. Stan has also been recognized for his contributions with the Edwin C. Waller Award for Public Architecture from the Austin Chapter of the AIA and was elevated to the College of Fellows of the Institute for his work in preserving the architectural legacy of Texas.

Stan Graves maintains his family’s fifth generation Central Texas ranch. He and his wife, Diana, have also personally restored several historic homes, including the award winning restoration of his great grandfather’s 1870’s Greek Revival home, which serves as his family’s residence.  

Aubrey Carter:
Aubrey Carter Design Office

Aubrey Carter spent his early years in Camden, Texas, where his family owned a sawmill. They later moved to Houston.

After graduating from high school in 1972, Aubrey attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he was an English major and played goalkeeper for the university’s soccer team. After earning his degree, Aubrey’s love for soccer led him to move to France to try out for a professional team. Eventually, he landed a spot on the Paris Universite Club. While in Paris, he also taught English every day to the young son of a French family.

At the suggestion of the boy’s father, Aubrey began visiting various architectural landmarks in the city, one of which was the Salvation Army Headquarters, which had been designed by the architect Le Corbusier. The building made such an impression on Aubrey that upon his return to the United States, he decided to attend architecture school.

In 1983, after accumulating the necessary experience and portfolio of work, Aubrey attended the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in New York City. The 12-month immersion studio included a job at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Also, studio attendees were encouraged to visit graduate architecture schools around the country to determine the best fit for them. After visiting schools on both coasts, Aubrey applied to Yale University, where he earned his Master’s degree in Architecture.

Aubrey began working for a small Austin architecture firm in 1989 and soon after that moved to ArcInc, the architecture firm that designed all of the early Chuy’s Mexican restaurants. Then in 1998, after being asked by two friends to design Austin’s Vespaio Restaurant, Aubrey founded Aubrey Carter Design Office (ACDO).