Commercial Roofing Contractors in Justin, TX

Tom Brady tweeted this morning, actually 2 minutes ago as I write this, that he is done with football.

“Good morning guys, I’ll get to the point right away: I’m retiring. For good!” he opens with.

The sports writers will jump on this soon, but this news guy wants to know what jersey will Brady wear when he’s inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame? Does he jump to Fox Sports right away, too? He’s faced a ton of blowback over hanging on, but can you blame him? It’s just a game.

Truly grateful on this day. Thank you pic.twitter.com/j2s2sezvSS

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2023

You must admire how he’s announcing this, though. Let’s let the QB explain: “I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning I figured I’d press record and let you guys know first.”

It sure woke me up. The title of his tweet, “Truly grateful on this day” caught my eye while scrolling through all the heavy news queued up for the day.

“Thank you for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing! Thank you all,” he says choking back emotion as he recorded this announcement on the beach with the waves crashing in the background.

He was honest and humble, I’d say. He will go down as the best football quarterback who ever played the game … at least until the next GOAT comes along. Still, this announcement was unpretentious. You must admit he’s had a difficult year, including a divorce and being pummeled in the playoffs early.

On Instagram, Brady does post the same retirement video and photos of his family — including ex-wife Gisele Bündchen. He adds in friends present and past.

Good luck with your next chapter. Carpe diem!

Yes, I did switch up the top photo from a Bucs jersey to Brady in a Patriots uniform. That’s how he will — or should — be remembered. Here are a few more photos of Brady as a Patriot from the Herald archives.

Our photo archives says we have 12,000-plus images with “Brady” in the caption. (12,059 to be exact and catch the last one.) So, here I go …

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JUSTIN — The sold signs on unfinished housing plots in Justin’s developments are an indicator of just how fast the city is changing.

In the last two years, Justin has added over a thousand people, started construction on a mixed-use town square and annexed hundreds of acres. Its housing market took off as well, with over 3,000 new homes in various stages of development.

“We have so much development,” Justin Mayor Elizabeth Woodall said. “We have a few neighborhoods that are built out, but most of them are still actively building, and new ones are coming.”

Timberbrook, a master-planned community, is partially completed and will have 2,200 houses when it is finished. Legacy Ranch is another neighborhood with 76 single-family homes on larger lots.

“They can’t build them fast enough,” director of strategic services Abbey Reece said.

Part of the reason Justin’s growth is possible is that it annexed 850 acres Fort Worth had jurisdiction over. A piece of Timberbrook will be on the new land.

“We’ve doubled our footprint in the last two years,” Woodall said.

Expansion is not just limited to housing and annexed land.

Justin added 200 parking spaces to the downtown area and the city received almost $1 million in funding from the Texas Department of Transportation to add trees, shrubs and flowers.

“I think people are starting to see: ‘Oh, they’re really starting to move forward with stuff,’ ” Woodall said.

City leaders expect its population to be around 20,000 when the community is built-out. Within a decade, residents moving in are expected to triple to 15,433. Growth raises the need for additional services, something Woodall is well aware of.

Woodall, who also works full-time as an independent nurse practitioner, would like to see more medical care options within city limits, especially an urgent care facility, as well as dry cleaners, retail stores and restaurants. Residents would like a second grocery store in town for more competitive pricing and restaurants and retail stores to go to with their kids.

Justin Discount Boots and Cowboy Outfitters, which has been a central part of the town’s economy for over 60 years, and locally owned restaurants such as Outlaw Burger & BBQ and Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant serve as reminders of Justin’s roots as it balances growth with retaining a hometown feeling.

The City Council approved a Taco Bell last year, and Justin residents gave it mixed reviews. Some were excited while others wanted a sit-down restaurant instead, Reece said.

Woodall sees the challenge as staying ahead of growth.

“It’s trying to plan for that growth and not get overrun by it and still keep some of that identity that keeps your community together,” she said.

JUSTIN AT A GLANCE

Population: Estimated 5,031 as of 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

Location: 42 miles west of downtown Dallas

Racial demographics: 75.1% white, 18.7% Hispanic, 1.1% Asian, 0.6% Black, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

Median household income: $88,594, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

Median existing home sale price: $392,500, according to Redfin

Median new construction sale price: $583,057, according to Residential Strategies

Annual single-family home starts: 236 through second-quarter 2022, according to Residential Strategies

School district: Northwest ISD

Master-planned communities: Timberbrook, a master-planned community along FM156 to the north of Justin, will have 2,200 homes when complete. Further south, the Reatta Ridge housing development recently added 130 homes and plans an additional 216.

Rental communities: Justin has a 300-unit apartment complex, The Village at Reatta Ridge, that was completed in 2019.

Retail: City officials celebrated the groundbreaking of Justin Town Square in August, which will include 72,000 square feet of commercial space on 18 acres on the south side of the city, The Cross Timbers Gazette reported.

History lesson: It’s a common misunderstanding, but Justin is neither named after the boot company nor the Western store in town that bears its name. The city is named after a railroad conductor whose middle name was Justin, according to Woodall and Reece.

Meet the next North Texas boomtowns

As Dallas-Fort Worth grows, smaller cities in every direction are attracting the attention of builders and new residents. Here are some of the ones to watch.

Company Launches Ninja Labs, New Innovation Hub Helmed by Blevins, to Create Disruptive Content, Products, and More

FRISCO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 23, 2023 / GameSquare, (CSE:GSQ)(OTCQB:GMSQF)(FRA:29Q1) ("GameSquare", or the "Company") an international gaming and esports company, today announced gaming and pop culture phenomenon Tyler "Ninja" Blevins as its Chief Innovation Officer. As CIO, Blevins will tap his rich experience as an innovator in content to lead the company's efforts in pursuing emerging growth opportunities. This includes launching Ninja Labs, a GameSquare incubator to ideate and develop first-of-its-kind concepts and products directly focused on connecting with youth culture.

"I want to build the next big thing in gaming, and I found that in GameSquare. Justin and the team have put together a world-class platform that will help me innovate and create engaging experiences to inspire the next generation of streamers and leave a lasting impact on the industry," said Blevins. "I'm looking forward to partnering with GameSquare creators, brands, agencies, players, and most importantly fans to pursue some exciting new projects with Ninja Labs."

Core to Blevins' mandate as CIO is to helm Ninja Labs, GameSquare's new innovation hub. Informed by his own experience popularizing gaming culture, Blevins will utilize Ninja Labs to curate disruptive strategies, pursue new business opportunities, and explore next-gen technologies to accelerate the industry's growth within pop culture. With the support of GameSquare's merchandising, marketing, and content creation resources, Ninja Labs will serve as an innovation pipeline for the research and development of consumer products, original IP, and more. GameSquare partners will also be able to leverage Ninja Labs for future collaborations to connect with young consumers.

"Innovation and success often depend on big, bold moves. When it comes to gaming, Ninja is a reflection of that approach," said Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner and GameSquare major shareholder. "Ninja's commitment to creativity and vision for Ninja Labs will directly support new revenue opportunities for GameSquare and impact their continued rise as one of the most successful gaming and entertainment organizations in the world. We're thrilled to be part of it."

Blevins joins GameSquare at a time of significant growth bookended by the company's with Engine Gaming & Media (Nasdaq: GAME), a data-driven gaming, media, and influencer marketing platform. He'll be supported by GameSquare's international portfolio of companies, including merchandise and consumer products business , content production and creative studio , and creative marketing agency . Ninja will also benefit from a team of world-class investors and advisors, including Jerry Jones and Netflix's President of Worldwide Advertising Jeremi Gorman.

For more information on GameSquare, please visit

Paolo DiPasquale, Chief Strategy OfficerPhone: (216) 464-6400|Email:

Andrew BergerPhone: (216) 464-6400Email:

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BERKELEY – Travers Family Head Football Coach announced Monday that running back has joined Cal's 2023 recruiting class. Williams-Thomas will be a redshirt freshman in 2023 with four seasons of collegiate eligibility remaining when he joins the Golden Bears later this month. He spent his 2022 true freshman campaign at Tennessee.

"Justin is another excellent football player that we are excited to add to our roster via the transfer portal," Wilcox said. "He is a dynamic playmaker with a tremendous amount of ability and a big upside."

Williams-Thomas was a highly recruited prep player in the 2022 recruiting class who ranked as high as the No. 11 running back and No. 156 player overall in the country by Rivals, who classified him as a four-star recruit along with ESPN and On3. Williams-Thomas prepped at East Paulding High School in Georgia, where he rushed for 3,264 yards and 30 touchdowns over his final two campaigns.

Cal has now announced the first 18 members of its 2023 recruiting class including nine transfers who will be mid-year enrollees this month – TE , ILB , TE , RB , DB , DB , Williams-Thomas, DB and P .

Cal also signed nine prep players during the early signing period last month that will arrive in Berkeley in June in DL , DL , WR , TE , OLB , RB , ILB , DB and ATH .

2023 Cal Football Recruiting Class (As Of January 9, 2023)

NAME – POS – HT – WT – YR – EXP – HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOLS) – DATE ANNOUNCED – DL – 6-2 – 275 – Fr. – 1st – Baldwin Park, CA (Bishop Amat HS) – December 21, 2022 ^ – TE – 6-4 – 260 – R-Jr. – 5th – Houston, TX (North Texas/Clear Lake HS) – January 9, 2023 ^ – ILB – 6-1 – 225 – R-So. – 3rd – Fort Valley, GA (Clemson/Peach County HS) – December 21, 2022 – DL – 6-2 – 275 – Fr. – 1st – Las Vegas, NV (Arbor View HS) – December 21, 2022 ^ – TE – 6-5 – 250 – R-So. – 3rd – Carmel, CA (Oregon State/Carmel HS) – January 6, 2023 ^ – RB – 6-0 – 210 – R-So. – 4th – San Diego, CA (Oregon/Morse HS/St. Augustine's HS) – December 21, 2022 – WR – 6-2 – 200 – Fr. – 1st – Salinas, CA (Salinas HS) – December 21, 2022 ^ – DB – 5-11 – 180 – R-Jr. – 3rd – San Antonio, TX (Citrus College/Stevens HS) – December 21, 2022 – TE – 6-4 – 220 – Fr. – 1st – Murfreesboro, TN (Blackman HS) – December 21, 2022 – OLB – 6-3 – 240 – Fr. – 1st – Duarte, CA (Rio Hondo Prep) – December 21, 2022 ^ – DB – 5-10 – 185 – Jr. – 3rd – Westlake Village, CA (Colorado/Oaks Christian HS) – December 21, 2022 – RB – 5-10 – 175 – Fr. – 1st – Oakland, CA (McClymonds HS) – December 21, 2022 – ILB – 6-1 – 230 – Fr. – 1st – South Jordan, UT (Mountain Ridge HS) – December 21, 2022 – DB – 5-11 – 170 – Fr. – 1st – Concord, CA (Rancho Cotate HS) – December 21, 2022 ^ – DB – 6-1 – 185 – Jr. – 4th – Oxnard, CA (UNLV/Pacifica HS) – December 21, 2022 – ATH – 6-5 – 265 – Fr. – 1st – Los Angeles, CA (Junipero Serra HS) – December 21, 2022 ^ – RB – 6-0 – 215 – R-Fr. – 2nd – Dallas, GA (Tennessee/East Paulding HS) – January 9, 2023 ^ – P – 6-3 – 195 – R-Jr. – 5th – Eaglemont, Australia (Tulsa/Xavier College) – December 23, 2022 ^January 2023 Enrollee

Justin Discount Boots spans two acres. It takes 90,000 square feet to hold all the boots from brands such as Chippewa, Nocona, Tony Lama, and, of course, Justin, sold in various iterations of closeout deals, factory seconds, and first lines. One Justin Discount building is set up like a DSW, with shoes on top of the shelves and boxes underneath. In yet another building, boots hang on pegs on the wall, and there isn’t much inventory in each design, giving the feel of a one-of-a-kind deal. A third building is full of Wranglers stacked for customers to sift through. Stetsons? Yeah, the company’s got those too.

I stumbled onto the Western wear mecca in the summer of 2020, when my husband and I were on a yet another pandemic drive (i.e. play NPR until the kids fall asleep). We crossed Interstate 35 West between Fort Worth and Denton, and a two-lane country road led us to Justin (population 4,409). As I looked around, I noticed a large boot store. When we turned a corner, there was another. And another. Five total. All of the buildings had the same name: Justin Discount Boots. We laughed about how the entire city seemed to be one big shop.

The Justin Discount Boots website boasts that it is the “world’s largest western wear outlet store.” Every time I see a superlative like that, I’m reminded of a journalism saying: “If your mother says she loves you, check it out.” So before I can declare, with authority and in print, that it is indeed the world’s largest, I investigate.

For a store to qualify, I decide it must sell the holy trinity of Western wear: cowboy boots, pearl-snap shirts, and Wranglers. The journey is mostly a virtual one (have you seen the price of gas?). It takes me from Justin, Texas, to a whole ’nother continent, as far away as 1.5 million Justin Discount Bootses laid end to end.

I start with the obvious place to begin when you’re searching for the world’s biggest, longest, or heaviest: The Guinness Book of World Records. My search turns up nothing. The closest entry is “Western hero most often portrayed on screen.”(It’s Buffalo Bill.) But as far as “world’s largest Western wear outlet store,” there’s nothing there.

Next, I find a grainy YouTube video from 1986 that claims that Sheplers Western Wear is the “world’s largest Western store.” A little more digging, and I find out Sheplers was a chain based in Wichita, Kansas, with dozens of stores across the country. The storefronts were rebranded to Boot Barn in 2015, and Sheplers continues to operate as an online outlet. I’m looking for a store with the largest physical presence in one spot, so Sheplers is out. Farther down my search results, Iowa’s Long Creek Outfitters is “one of the largest” Western stores in the country. It’s recently added on to its building, and it’s now about 25,000 square feet. That’s more than half an acre of Western wear, but compared to Justin Discount Boots, Long Creek is all hat and no cattle.

Then I find Kleinschmidt’s Western Store. It’s a German name, so I’m hopeful that this will take the search global. We’re looking for the world’s largest, after all. Kleinschmidt’s is actually a family-owned store in Higginsville, Missouri—but it has Long Creek Outfitters beat. The store occupies 30,000 square feet and has as many boots. Across the pond, I find Wild Wild Western Wear. It’s a small shop in England, but it serves tea and customers come from hours away.

Armed with the info about its largest competitors, I head over to Justin Discount Boots. The main building, with its wood-paneled walls and leather aroma, used to be home to a salvage store. Frank Wallace started the company in 1959 with $2,800 in winnings from a steer-wrestling competition at the 1958 Houston Livestock Show. He’d buy damaged goods from insurance companies and sell them at a discount; in 1985, the local news called Wallace the “salvage king” and Justin the “salvage capital of the world.” The store held caskets, clothing, groceries, and, once, frozen silk flowers that were dried out in a pasture before being put on the shelves. At the time, the shop made $10 million a year.

In the late 1970s, John Justin, of El Paso–based, then-century-old Justin Boots, approached Wallace. “You know, you’re in Justin, Texas,” Mark Wallace, Frank’s son, remembers Justin saying. “You’ve got the perfect place to sell Justin Boots.”

So they partnered up and added a small Western wear store on the back side of the existing shop. As health concerns mounted, insurance companies weren’t able sell as many damaged goods, especially the smoke-laced groceries that made up part of the elder Wallace’s inventory. “As time went on, salvage got harder and harder to get,” Mark Wallace says. “It was out of our control. Then came the Urban Cowboy era, which was big in Western wear.” John Travolta’s star turn on the honky-tonk floor had turned belt buckles and ostrich-skin boots into a trend. Demand went up significantly, “until eventually the salvage was all gone and the Western wear was all-encompassing,” Wallace says. The salvage store turned into Justin Discount Boots. In 1991, the store expanded to have three connected buildings, with two more across the street. The Wallace family felt comfortable declaring it the largest in the world, and Wallace tells me they’ve never once been challenged.

I ask Wallace about the bold epithet. “World’s largest Western wear outlet store,” he clarifies. The designation means the company sells clothes and shoes that are irregular in some way. An item may have a scratch or be last season’s style. Some boots are there because Justin or another brand only had enough leather to make, say, fifteen boots instead of a full run.

Okay, I say, then do you know of a Western wear store that is larger?

“I’ve never seen one bigger than us,” he says with a laugh.

I can’t find one either. Justin Discount Boots’ location is deceptively rural. The proximity to Fort Worth and I-35 helps draw customers in from all over. The store is less than six miles north of Texas Motor Speedway. Wallace says on a normal summer day, he can walk out into the parking lot and see license plates from a handful of states. The store is quiet when I visit, which he attributes to skyrocketing prices at the gas pumps.

The lack of crowds means I have time to wade through the selection at a leisurely pace. When I first passed the store two years ago, I tucked the name away for the next time I needed new boots. Now, with Garth Brooks concert tickets in hand, my moment has come. I debate between two pairs, but when I see another woman looking at one of them, I snatch those up. They’re calf-hide Tony Lamas. The bottoms are slippery smooth and ready for twirling to “Papa Loved Mama.” The inside is stamped with “IMPERFECT.” I beg to differ.