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The New Braunfels ISD Education Foundation is proud to announce the 2025 Distinguished Alumni honorees: Teresa (Ohlrich) Johnson (Class of 1974), Carol Johnson (Class of 1980), and Marcus Ethridge (Class of 1993). These graduates exemplify the spirit of service, leadership, and tradition that define the Unicorn legacy.
The Distinguished Alumni were honored during a dinner at McKenna Events Center on September 2nd and at the Wurst Bowl during halftime on September 5th.
Teresa (Ohlrich) Johnson – Class of 1974
Teresa (Ohlrich) Johnson was born in Seguin but raised in New Braunfels. She attended Carl Schurz Elementary, New Braunfels Junior High, and graduated from New Braunfels High School in 1974. While at NBHS, Teresa was a member of the Mighty Unicorn Band, under the direction of the reputable Joe Rogers. Although also a member of the Future Teachers of America and Spanish Club, some of Teresa’s proudest moments were the result of being a member of the Unicorn Band where she was a majorette during football and marching season, but played the clarinet when it came time for concert season.
After high school, Teresa attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a minor in English. It was that same year that she met her husband, Rob, while working at the Capitol. After her college graduation, Teresa moved home and tried to get a teaching job, but ended up back in Austin where she began working at IBM. In 1985, she and Rob finally got married and made their home in Pflugerville. Teresa and Rob are proud of their four children; their daughters Katie and her husband, Mark, Haley and her husband, Ben; and their sons, Jake and Ross. They are also filled with adoration for their grandchildren, Riley and Cameron.
Teresa’s first real volunteer experience was a fundraiser for the Capital School of Austin in 1996, where her precious Haley attended school. The event featured an auction at the Four Seasons Hotel and an appearance by the then First Lady of Texas, Laura Bush. Teresa and Rob were very involved in the growth of the school and are really proud that it is still successfully serving children with speech and language challenges.
Later, Teresa joined the Junior League of Austin. Her first placement was at the Children’s Advocacy Center, now the Center for Child Protection. During one critical time, Teresa lobbied to ensure that the Center would continue to receive vital Junior League funds and placement volunteers. That experience led her to serving on the Board of Directors, helping with the Center’s first fundraiser, and collaborating in 1998 to organize the Friends of Christopher Guild, a women’s fundraising organization. Their kick-off event was a brunch at the Capitol, hosted by First Lady of Texas, Laura Bush. Teresa was also a member of the Junior
League’s “A Christmas Affair” in 1997. She worked on the Pantry Committee, preparing and marketing homemade casseroles and desserts to sell at the event and in 1998 was honored as an Outstanding Volunteer of the organization.
In the Summer of 1998, Teresa and Rob moved their family (which Teresa describes was “much like the Beverly Hillbillies”) back to New Braunfels. They were building a home on the family ranch, but lived in town until their home’s completion that following December. It was most definitely a warm welcoming back, as Teresa’s friend, Nancy Classen, got her involved in the community immediately.
Teresa has been, and is still part of, several organizations in our community that are pivotal in the recognition and display of the history and heritage in Comal County. As a member of the City of New Braunfels Historic Landmark Commission, Teresa has been Chair for several years and currently serves as the Designee for both the City and County Historic Landmark Commission Organizations. For the Comal County Historic Commission, she is also a Member and Vice Chair, as well as Chair for the Texas Treasure Business Award Committee, and the National Register Committee. Teresa was on the Steering Committee for the 175th Celebration of the Founding of New Braunfels in 2020, and was Co-Chair of the New Year’s Eve Gala event. The Sophienburg Museum has been blessed by Teresa’s countless hours of volunteer time for over 25 years, serving in many capacities such as a Board Member, Secretary, Vice President, President, Weinachtsmarkt Co-Chairman, Hostess Committee Chair, Weinachtsmarkt Merchant Co-Chair, Verein Member, and Sophie’s Shop Volunteer (where she, along with fellow Unicorns Tammy Pfeuffer and Nancy Classen, lobbied for and established the expansion of the Sophie’s Shop booth at Wurstfest).
Additionally, Teresa has been a Member of the Braunfels Foundation Trust since 2010, serving as President since 2019. She is a Board Trustee, was Living Legends Arrangements Committee Chair in 2014 and 2015, was part of the Tablescapes
Steering Committee in 2019 and remains a Tablescapes Committee member, and has been the Living Legends Publicity Chair since 2011 that involves writing the Legends’ biographies for the newspaper, the reception program, and the City and County proclamations. To date, she has written approximately 45 biographies.
Teresa was involved in school organizations as well, volunteering many hours of her time in PTA at NB High School, NB Middle School, Oak Run, and Seele Elementary, where she served as President at each campus. She was on the New Braunfels ISD Council of PTAs as President, and received a lifetime PTA Membership. Along with Rob, Teresa was a member of the NBHS All Sports Booster Club where they served as Vice-President for three years and then as President with Teresa also being the Unicorn Football Team Mom in 2006, 2007 and 2010. It was during their Presidency of the Booster Club that the corner at the then newly-remodeled fieldhouse at Unicorn Stadium known as “The Unicorner”, was obtained to sell Booster Club merchandise. By the way, our own, Rob Johnson, coined that name, “The Unicorner”.
Teresa has served as the Grand Marshall of the Kindermaskenball Parade and as Vice President of the Aggie Mom’s Club. She has been Secretary and the Debutante Ball Program Chair for the Mid-Texas Symphony Guild. To add, she is currently the Historian of both the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Gay Forties Social Club, but has served both organizations as President and Vice-President as well. Teresa was an NBISD Silver Unicorn Award Recipient in 2011 and was named to the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce Hall of Honor in 2014.
This blast is saved for last, as Teresa is a huge part in what the Foundation is what it is today. Teresa Johnson was an NBISD Education Foundation Board Member, beginning back in 2004. She was part of a group that was very determined and dedicated to the success of the Foundation. They collaborated on ideas of how to grow so that the Foundation would thrive in order to serve the teachers and students of the district. Teresa served as President, was a pivotal part in acquiring the Taste of the Town event as a fundraiser for the Foundation, and was part of the group that hired the first Executive Director. She truly holds the Ed Foundation close to her heart.
Teresa and Rob love to travel, and when she is not serving the community in a historical capacity, she’s doing it for her family as their historian. She enjoys gardening, needlepoint, and 9-pin bowling (and is THE most graceful bowler at Mission Valley Bowling Club)!
Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Those words are what Teresa Johnson displays….a life of
giving, especially to her community.
Carol Johnson – Class of 1980
Born in Taylor, Texas, Carol moved to New Braunfels in 1966 with her parents and brother, Gene. Her parents established Johnson Furniture Company on Seguin Avenue, where Carol eventually took the helm in 1989, continuing the family legacy. Under her leadership, the store was awarded the Texas Treasure Award in 2023 for its over 50 years as a family-owned business.
Carol’s commitment to New Braunfels began early, attending Carl Schurz Elementary, New Braunfels Jr. High, and High School, where she was active in the Unicorn choir, Christian Student Union, Vocational Office Education (VOE), and the Office Education Association (OEA), serving as President her senior year. She also held the Vice President position in the student chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and graduated in May 1980.
After high school, Carol pursued her passion for interior design at Southwest Texas State University, graduating in 1984 with a major in Interior Design and minors in Construction and Photography. She was an officer in the student chapter of the American Society of Interior Designs (ASID) and has maintained a strong connection with the university, serving as a professional interior design liaison for ten years and continues to work with the interior design internship program at what is now Texas State University. She also served on the Texas Association for Interior Design board.
Beyond her professional achievements, Carol has consistently dedicated herself to community service and historic preservation. Her extensive involvement includes:
***Community Service Boards:
** Community Service Board, Humane Society Board, Big Brothers Big Sisters Board.
***New Braunfels Main Street Program:
** Main Street Advisory Board, Downtown Steering Committee, Downtown Implementation Board, Downtown Project Director Selection Committee, Main Street Partner, New Braunfels Downtown Association where she currently serving
as Vice President
***Historic Preservation:
** Historic Museums Association representative, Board member of the Heritage Society of New Braunfels, Chamber of Commerce Downtown Beautification Committee, New Braunfels Conservation Society Board, Sophienburg Museum and Archives Board, Historic Comal County Courthouse Restoration Project, Main Plaza Bandstand/Historic Fountain Fundraising Committee, and Downtown Paver Project.
Additionally, Carol has been an active member of her church community, serving on the First United Methodist Church Board of Trustees, and worship team, and currently as a member of Gruene United Methodist Church where she serves on their worship team and is a member of the Staff Parish Relations Committee. She is also a past board member of the Braunfels Foundation Trust and the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Carol’s profound impact has been recognized with her enshrinement in the Chamber Hall of Honor and the Chair of the Board Award in Historic Preservation. And most recently was honored with the Living Legend award from the Braunfels Foundation Trust.
For her unwavering dedication to our community, her passion for revitalizing downtown, her commitment to historic preservation, and the values instilled in her by her parents, church, and school make her truly deserving of this honor. Please join me in congratulating Carol Johnson as a 2025 Distinguished Unicorn Alumni.
Marcus Ethridge – Class of 1993
Marcus Ethridge is a New Braunfels native and proud Unicorn, graduating from New Braunfels High School in 1993. While at NBHS, Marcus was involved in football, basketball, track, FFA, HAGARS, FCA, and the DPS Explorer Program. But his Unicorn story begins much earlier, Marcus’s dad had one dream — for his boys to play Unicorn football. He loved the tradition, and from the very beginning, he dragged them to every home and away game. This love for the Unicorns was instilled at birth.
In 1984, Marcus’s parents became involved with the All Sports Booster Club, and
that’s when he began helping tie balloons for the run-throughs. From there, the rest is history. His love for everything Unicorn runs so deep that one of his first dates with Jennifer, his now wife of 26 years was to a Unicorn football game. She quickly realized — he doesn’t miss Unicorn football. His favorite Unicorn memory is the 1992 football season, where they went 10-0. In five of those games, they held their opponents to 0 points.
Following high school, Marcus attended Southwest Texas State University where he met Jennifer. He moved back to New Braunfels after graduating with a BBA in management where he joined his family business, M.C. Ethridge Co which is in their 54th year of business. Marcus and Jennifer have five children, all former or current Unicorns. Marcus has been blessed to be able to work in and serve the community he loves, instilling a legacy of service in his family.
Marcus serves both his church and community. The Ethridges are members of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church where he and Jennifer currently serve as members of the youth ministry team assisting with confirmation, Life Teen, Teen A.C.T.S. retreat, and Youth Leadership ministries. He is a 4th degree knight within the Knights of Columbus Council 4183. Marcus is president-elect of New Braunfels Rotary Club where he has also served on the Charitable Giving committee, Wurstfest Committee and Craft Beer Festival board. He and Jennifer also serve as co-Vice Presidents of the NBHS All Sports Booster Club, where they have served in various capacities including membership and president since 2017. He’s even helped supply the floats for Unicorns to ride on in the fair parade just as his dad did many years ago.
You might find Marcus behind the scenes, often with his children, helping in whatever way is needed, hauling ice, setting up tables, taking tickets. Within his capacity of his company, Marcus is able to support various non-profits in town, even the Canyon High School booster club. Marcus serves as president of the Hermann Son’s Lodge in Twin Sisters and volunteers with the Hill Country Chapter of Serve Outdoors. Within each of these positions, he aims to bring others into communities to instill the value of service.
