The Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway Dedication

Willis, Texas (August 21, 2025) The Dedication for the Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway will be Friday, September 19 at 9:00am at Lewis Creek Reservoir, 11970, W. FM 1097, Willis, Texas 77318.

History
A portion of Farm to Market Road 1097 in Montgomery County from Interstate 45 to Lake Conroe Hills at Lake Conroe was authored and introduced into Texas Legislature by Representative Will Metcalf (TX District 16) January 28, 2025, and co-sponsored by Representative Cecil Bell (TX District 3) on April 14, 2025. After passing unanimously in both committee and the House floor it was passed to Senator Brandon Creighton (TX District 4) where the bill was signed after passing unanimously to the Governor on May 12. Governor Abbott Signed the bill on Memorial Weekend, May 24 to become effective as law on September 1, 2025.
 
Who is Specialist Joey Lenz?
Specialist Joey Lenz, Conroe, Texas (32) was serving in the United States Army at Fort Hood, Texas when he died February 1, 2022, while sleeping in his barracks at Fort Hood TX. A lab report from March 17, 2021, indicated an extremely enlarged heart while Specialist Lenz was in ICU while on base. This information was not shared with him, leading to Joey being unaware of his heart condition. Eleven months later, Specialist Lenz died after receiving a prescription for anxiety medications that should not be prescribed to individuals with heart conditions. Given the diagnosis of an enlarged heart, this combination of factors resulted in a massive heart attack, deemed preventable with proper intervention including an in person physical. Since 2016, our service members participate in online Personal Healthcare Assessments with questions in a survey, unless they are an officer or have a certain Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). A physical in person could have saved Joey’s life in October 2024 vs an online survey and could potentially save and prevent other catastrophic health issues with hundreds of others serving our country. Don’t they deserve an annual physical?

Congress H. R. 1014
November 1, 2024, Congressman Morgan Luttrell introduced the Joey Lenz Act of 2025 mandating in person annual physical for every active service member with a comprehensive blood panel for all branches of the military. This was reintroduced into the 119^th Congress on February 5, 2025. Rep. Metcalf introduced the highway bill to heighten awareness and education of the bill in Congress to Save Lives through Joey’s Legacy. H.R. 104 has now been submitted into the National Defense Authorization Act for the FY 2026 Department of Defense Budget. From a mother’s grief came a law, from a son’s sacrifice came a highway. May both stand as reminders to protect those who protect us. Protect. Prevent. Honor. Serve.
“Join us as we honor Joey’s life, and we fight for every Soldier who deserves the care they were promised. Protect. Prevent. Honor. Serve,” said Margie Taylor, mother of Joey. “This highway bears Joey’s name, but his story carries a message for every Soldier: you are worth protecting. Protect. Prevent. Honor. Serve.”
 
Special thanks and consideration to our local legislators, Rep Will Metcalf, Rep Cecil Bell, Senator Brandon Creighton, Congressman Morgan Luttrell, Entergy for the use of Lewis Creek Reservoir, County Judge Mark Keough, Commissioner Robert Walker for the highway signs, the North Montgomery County Fire Department (ESD 1), Revolutionary Education for Color Presentation and Posting, Cory Strouth, Bugler and U.S. Army Veteran, Debbie Glenn-Cross for her performance, Howard Wood, Conroe City Council, Curt Maddux with Conroe Golf Cars, and Heather Herlong Events, LLC,
 
After the ceremony stay for the ribbon cutting with the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce and the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. Donations can be made to www.GoldStarAdvocates.com the 501c4 established to update medical and safety protocols for our active military serving our country.
 
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