Voices of the BIG
BEND
Jim Glendinning: The Galloping Scot, Author, World Traveler and tour operator to Copper Canyon, Mexico.
Story and photographs by Jim Glendinning
ALAN VANNOY
Alan Sheldon Vannoy grew up in
the Midwest. Born in Champaign, IL
in 1964, followed by seven years in
Oxford, OH, his teen years were spent
in Liberty, IN and his first college was
in Cincinnati. His father, Joe, a dyed-
in-the-wool liberal, taught psychology
at Miami University in Oxford, OH
and later became an antiques dealer.
His mother Evelyn, and his sister Anne,
completed the family.
His parents loved country living and
bought a small farm near Liberty in
1974. The family traveled regularly on
vacation around the U.S. Vannoy
attended Union County High School,
where he developed an interest in art
and learned to play trumpet. Following
graduation in 1982, he drove with a
friend to the West Coast, camping
along the way.
Following a brief stint at Columbus
College of Art and Design, Vannoy
enrolled in the Art Academy of
Cincinnati, a Museum School, where
he found his niche and spent eight
years. He studied print-making under
April Foster, whom he calls a “brilliant
teacher and major influence.” He also
worked as a reference librarian, which
was a great learning experience to the
wide world of art. He graduated in
1987.
In 1985, through a personal contact,
he learned commercial house painting.
He was quick and methodical, and
could paint a house in two days. His
reputation spread, and he painted
houses around the U.S. for over 20
years.
Vannoy next enrolled at the
University of Georgia in Athens, grad-
uating in 1991 with an MA (Print
Making & Book Arts). But disillusion-
ment with the teaching process caused
him to leave academia. He applied for
teaching jobs, and landed a job in 1994
as curator of the SRSU Museum of the
Big Bend, responsible for exhibit sched-
uling. At odds with the leadership due
to his fundamental beliefs about the
16
ALAN VANNOY
Alpine
nature of a museum, he quit after one
year.
Next followed a café venture in
Alpine, called Kate Café, with Brenda
Cook, but it did not last. Vannoy con-
sidered leaving Alpine, but persevered
in house painting for 10 years, also
working on his print-making.
Meanwhile, jogging one day in 1997
on the half-mile Kokernot Park track,
he spotted another jogger, Kelly
dePrado. They stopped, they talked
and they hit it off. Since then they have
lived as partners, in life and in business.
While painting a house in Marfa in
2008, he had an epiphany and decided
to give up the trade. Marfa had pio-
neered the southwest food truck move-
ment in the area, Vannoy had previous
restaurant experience, and a new idea
was born.
Cowdog opened in 2009 and was
Alpine’s first food truck. Vannoy’s pol-
icy was to provide a populist meal or
snack which was tasty, big enough for
Texans and a good value. It continues
to prosper. Vannoy prepares the
sauces, and cooks the hot dogs from an
Cenizo
Fourth Quarter 2016
DONA ROMAN
Alpine
exceptional menu. He cares that the
customer enjoys the food. Kelly is the
personable upfront order taker.
Vannoy also continues with his print-
making, which he calls “subversive
art.” He takes occasional breaks with
Kelly, although leaving a job that gives
him pure joy is difficult.
DONA ROMAN
Dona Wheeler was born in
Oklahoma City in 1956 to Evelyn and
James Wheeler, an attorney. Her older
brother, Jim Jr., went on to become a
CPA, but succumbed to cancer in
2007. The family moved to Tulsa,
which Roman fondly remembers.
At Edison High School, she studied
English and theatre and was “a good
student,” graduating in 1974. Her the-
atre teacher, Ms. Barbara Burkett, rec-
ognized her talent and encouraged her
to apply to Northeast Oklahoma A&M
College, known for its theatre depart-
ment. She graduated from NEO in
1976 with an Associate Degree in the-
atre. She then moved on to the
University of Oklahoma, graduating in
BOB MILES
Fort Davis
1979 with a BFA in acting and direct-
ing.
After a stint with an eight-man act-
ing troupe, she moved to Dallas. There
she stayed more than five years, work-
ing for a theatre agency, teaching the-
atre and working as an extra. In 1986,
she returned briefly to the University of
Oklahoma. It was here, working as a
bartender at Dutch’s, that she met
Brian Roman, chef at the same restau-
rant. They moved to Los Angeles in
1987 and married in San Diego in
1989.
Brian started a BA course in space
studies at UCLA, graduating with a
Bachelor’s in astro physics, and later a
Master’s of Science. He then joined the
Jet Propulsion Lab as administrative
assistant to the Director. Roman found
Los Angeles too tough a place to live
and work and gave up pursuing a
career in acting. At age 30, she wanted
to have children.
The couple moved to Austin in
1989. Roman, who had a knack with
computers, landed a job with Apple
Computers as sales manager of the