School History
Carl Waitz was an esteemed businessman and civic leader of Mission, Tx.
He was a native Texan, who graduated from Brackenridge High School. After high school, he joined the Army Air Corps as a cadet and went on to attend Oklahoma A&M briefly and graduating as a bombardier. Following his military service, Mr. Waitz returned to Texas and accepted a position in his father's food store. In 1951, Mr. Waitz purchased his own store in San Antonio and, nine years later, moved to the community of Mission,where he opened Mission Minimax; in 1973, the company was incorporated to form Carl's Grocery Company, Inc. For more than three decades, Mr. Waitz gave generously of his time and resources to make his community a better place in which to live and raise a family; he served as president of the Lions Club, the Mission Chamber of Commerce, and the Mission School Board, on which he was an active force for 15 years. He was a former chairman of the Hidalgo County United Way who also served on the board of First National/NBC Bank of Mission for 15 years and on the board of Texas Retail Grocers from 1985 to1988. In addition, he was involved with the Confederate Air Force and held positions on the general staff as a P10 officer, and as air show chairman.This admirable gentleman also was a devout member of Trinity Lutheran Church for 31 years and served the church as president, council member, and adult Sunday school teacher, and Mr. Waitz earned many well-deserved accolades over the course of his lifetime, including being named "Mr. Mission" in 1986 and receiving the TRGA Spirit of Texas award in 1987, the NGA Spirit of America award in 1988, and the TFIA Recognition of Excellence award in 1991. He was honored posthumously on January 17, 1993, when Carl C. Waitz Elementary School in Mission was dedicated in his honor. In all aspects of his life, Carl Waitz demonstrated unfailing wisdom, graciousness, and dedication to that which he knew to be right.
He was a native Texan, who graduated from Brackenridge High School. After high school, he joined the Army Air Corps as a cadet and went on to attend Oklahoma A&M briefly and graduating as a bombardier. Following his military service, Mr. Waitz returned to Texas and accepted a position in his father's food store. In 1951, Mr. Waitz purchased his own store in San Antonio and, nine years later, moved to the community of Mission,where he opened Mission Minimax; in 1973, the company was incorporated to form Carl's Grocery Company, Inc. For more than three decades, Mr. Waitz gave generously of his time and resources to make his community a better place in which to live and raise a family; he served as president of the Lions Club, the Mission Chamber of Commerce, and the Mission School Board, on which he was an active force for 15 years. He was a former chairman of the Hidalgo County United Way who also served on the board of First National/NBC Bank of Mission for 15 years and on the board of Texas Retail Grocers from 1985 to1988. In addition, he was involved with the Confederate Air Force and held positions on the general staff as a P10 officer, and as air show chairman.This admirable gentleman also was a devout member of Trinity Lutheran Church for 31 years and served the church as president, council member, and adult Sunday school teacher, and Mr. Waitz earned many well-deserved accolades over the course of his lifetime, including being named "Mr. Mission" in 1986 and receiving the TRGA Spirit of Texas award in 1987, the NGA Spirit of America award in 1988, and the TFIA Recognition of Excellence award in 1991. He was honored posthumously on January 17, 1993, when Carl C. Waitz Elementary School in Mission was dedicated in his honor. In all aspects of his life, Carl Waitz demonstrated unfailing wisdom, graciousness, and dedication to that which he knew to be right.
