- Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, adam.russell@ag.tamu.edu
- Contact: Kelly Jobe, 409-283-8284, kelly.jobe@ag.tamu.edu
SAN ANTONIO – Kelly Jobe, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service family and community health agent, Tyler County, received the 2018 Texas Emergency Management Spouse of the Year award.
Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd (left) presents Kelly Jobe with TDEM’s Spouse of the Year Award alongside her husband Ken Jobe, Tyler County emergency management director. (Courtesy photo)
The award was presented by the Texas Division of Emergency Management at the agency’s annual conference in Woodville earlier this month.
According to the nomination, Jobe averaged 16-hour workdays in the Tyler County Emergency Operations Center assisting in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Jobe’s job as AgriLife Extension family and community health agent is to assist emergency management, such as setting up animal shelters for pets and livestock.
As part of her AgriLife Extension role, Jobe also helped her husband Ken, who is the Tyler County Emergency Management director, with walk-in needs including distribution of tarps and sandbags, answered phones and assisted emergency management operations.
Jobe also prepared meals for other emergency responders while the operation center’s kitchen was being remodeled and inoperable. She cooked food at her home and delivered it to the center.
Her days at the center typically started around 6 a.m. and ended at 10-11 p.m., she said.
She said it was an overwhelming honor to receive the award.
“It was a surprise because I didn’t feel like I did anything extra beyond what my job was,” Jobe said. “We have our designated jobs that the county judge assigns us to make sure our facilities were ready for emergency response team players and to take care of their needs.”
Ken Jobe said she went “above and beyond” her duties to help the residents of Tyler County and emergency responders after the hurricane. He said he was thankful TDEM recognized his wife for her dedication and efforts.
“She selflessly gave her time, even leaving the house with the possibility of not being able to get back due to flooding,” he said. “She worked 12 straight days with me and extended hours for over a month outside of her regular hours and job.”
Kelly Jobe was a teacher and administrator in Texas public schools for 31 years, the last 17 years with Chester ISD in Tyler County. She has worked for AgriLife Extension in Tyler County for the past three years.
The Jobes have been married 28 years and have two children.
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