Preservation Media Award
SONDRA BOSSE HERNANDEZ
Conroe, Texas
2025
The Preservation Texas Preservation Media Award recognizes an individual whose work in journalism, media, or communications has played a significant role in advancing historic preservation. This year, we are proud to recognize Sondra Bosse Hernandez with the Houston Chronicle, for her dedication to ensuring that her Conroe community understands and values its history.
Sondra has dedicated 26 years to print and online journalism, beginning her career at the Brenham Banner in 1998. The following year, she joined the Conroe Courier, where she has spent the past 25 years telling the stories of Montgomery County’s people, places, and heritage. In 2016, when the Courier became part of the Houston Chronicle, Sondra continued her coverage, reaching audiences locally, statewide, and even nationally. Her work has appeared on the front pages of major publications, and her stories have introduced many thousands of readers to the history of the region.
For the past 13 years, Sondra has been the driving force behind articles that explore historical sites and figures in Montgomery County. She is the primary author of the Courier’s weekly “125th Anniversary” sections, which highlight the county’s historical timeline, notable events, and influential citizens. Her meticulous research, including personal interviews with longtime residents, has uncovered the stories that might otherwise have been forgotten.
Sondra has taken her passion for preservation beyond journalism, co-authoring Conroe as part of the Images of America series from Arcadia Publishing. The book presents a pictorial history of the city, celebrating both its heritage and its people. Beyond her writing, she has collaborated with the Montgomery County Historical Commission, sharing research, photographs, and stories to support local museums and archival collections. Her reporting has also had a direct impact on preservation efforts, bringing attention and community support to projects such as the Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church in Willis and the Conroe Community Cemetery.
We are proud to recognize Sondra’s ongoing work, which is helping ensure that future generations can appreciate the places that give Montgomery County its unique character.
The award was presented at Preservation Texas’s 2025 Honor Award Ceremony in San Antonio on October 30, 2025.
