Leo Corona Named Gatesville 2025 Citizen of the Year at Chamber Banquet

Leo Corona was named the Gatesville Chamber of Commerce 2025 Citizen of the Year after Sara Jo Poynter announced the honor during the chamber’s annual "Boots and Bling" membership banquet on Friday, Jan. 16; The Gatesville Messenger reported Corona "expresses his shock to the crowd" at the announcement. The chamber lists "Citizen of the Year — Leo Corona" on its Banquet Award Winners page.

Corona told readers on his personal website that he and his family were welcomed to Gatesville in 2012, adding, "what began as a place to live quickly became our home." The site also notes he retired from a 20-year career in the United States Army in 2015 and that he "continued serving our community as a resident, neighbor, and volunteer."

His military service and community profile are reflected on his online pages and professional snippets. A LinkedIn excerpt attached to his profile lists honors including The Order of Saint Maurice "Legionnaire" from the National Infantry Association in April 2011 and The Order of Saint George from the Cavalry and Armor Association in July 2009. The LinkedIn activity visible in the excerpt shows engagement with posts about human trafficking operations, public service recognition, USACE awards, and community support for veterans.

Local reporting and event coverage show Corona active in Gatesville civic life beyond the chamber banquet. Zeta Creative’s republication of The Gatesville Messenger coverage described a museum fundraising evening featuring actor Sam Houston and noted that Houston greeted guests in the foyer, "including one of his local guests, Gatesville’s community advocate, Leo Corona." On his site Corona frames civic service as ongoing, and Kristina Cute is quoted there saying, "So many are ready to be engaged with their local community and improve the culture of our small town. Many are already working toward positive changes for our town. Thank you, Leo for leading the way."

Corona’s public-facing materials also outline a continued interest in public leadership and local issues. He wrote, "Through consistent action and engagement, I have prepared myself to lead. I would be honored to earn your trust as your next Mayor." He said that after the 2024 election he launched leocorona.net as "a non-political website designed to connect residents with local events and community resources," and set 2026 priorities "focusing on what matters most to our residents - transparency, accountability, and an open line of communication between city leadership and the people we serve."

The Gatesville Chamber of Commerce, which lists the banquet winners, operates from 2307 TX-36 BUS, Gatesville, TX 76528 and can be reached at 254-865-2617; its banquet page invites readers to "Click here for more Banquet Award Winners and event pictures." Corona framed his Citizen of the Year honor as "a reflection of the strong, service-oriented spirit that defines this community," and his selection brings a visible veteran-turned-volunteer voice into Gatesville’s ongoing conversations about growth, civic leadership, and preserving small-town character.