On the record is brought to you by Steve and Adele Dufilho San Antonio is a fast growing, fast moving community with something new happening every day.

And that's why each week we go on the record with the newsmakers who are driving this change.

Then we gather at the Reporters Roundtable to talk about the latest news stories with the journalists behind those stories.

Join us now as we go on the right.

Hello.

Welcome to On the Record.

I'm Ed Arnold, the editor in chief of the San Antonio Business Journal, filling in for Randy Beamer this week.

Joining me is ASU signs, who is the director of airports for the City of San Antonio.

This week, there was some new details released about the upcoming expansion of the airport.

So to to illuminate some of those new information with us, we've got Director Simons with us.

Thank you so much for joining us today.

It is my absolute pleasure.

Excited to be here with you all today.

No question.

So I was just saying a little bit before that when I first got here six years ago, one of the first things that the business leaders in the community brought up to me was the airport and their concern about direct flights.

They're concerned about access.

So now we're embarking on a really, really big expansion of the airport.

How do you think that that's going to play out?

Do you think it's going to allay some of those concerns?

Absolutely.

So it's a we look at it as a complete transformation as to what we have today versus what we will have in the future.

And it's really about taking the appropriate steps to ensure that we can continue to grow and add capacity.

I think back to, you know, when I first arrived in 2020 and the airport was undergoing a master planning effort, what we reference as the strategic development program, we called it the STP.

So we completed that in November of 2021, took that to mayor and council and demonstrated here's how everything can fit and here's what it can look like.

And once we completed that, we started to work on what we're talking about today, which is the advanced terminal planning efforts that have been ongoing over the last seven, eight months, pretty much the entire year of 2022 is what we were working on, and that's putting together however they can fit and compose itself and work in the existing square footage footprint.

As you mentioned, for for many for many years, people have said, hey, you know, when are we going to get the right airport?

What is the airport going to fit the size of the city?

And that's really what this transformation is, is all about.

So we've released the new renderings that will demonstrate the additional capacity not only in gates but in square footage and then, you know, giving it a complete uplift and with specific design standards that will establish a true sense of place for the city of San Antonio.

So that whether you're arriving internationally or domestically, you're really going to start to feel the city of San Antonio when you arrive at San Antonio International.

Where are you at now and where do you think the airport will be?

What do you as far as gates of access when this project's completed?

And so we have the opportunity to really take a different approach to the way we've done things historically.

If you look at Terminal A, at its widest footprint is sitting at 70 feet wide.

Built in the early 1980s and then Terminal B was put in in 2010, there was a gates and we rebuilt it with a gates.

So turmoil and turmoil beat be today give you a total capacity of 24 total gates and the level of service with the square footage that's available is very small.

So somewhere around 500 close to 600 square foot of space available in those two terminal complexes.

We've added three gates.

Two were opened in December.

One will be opening in a couple of weeks.

And then we've allowed American to transition completely into term, will be in a singular operation for a better, you know, service offering for all of the American users, American Airlines users.

So those three gates are opening, which gets us to 27.

And then early in the middle of this year, we're going to launch an effort to add what we call ground loading facilities, which is a ground loading gate operation.

We'll be adding five additional ground loading gate operations that will occur there that could take us to pretty close to 32 gates.

Okay.

And that really is the precipice of getting ready for the expansion that we will be doing in the new terminal complex, the new terminal complex that we just unveiled with the advanced terminal planning efforts that we have just undergone is going to add an additional up to 17 gates that we could add into that and still allow the existing, you know, 27, 32 gates to stay in operation.

We may have to take some down, but we wanted to take the the phased approach.

So initially, we're already starting to work on the expansion of the airport with the addition of the three gates, the addition of the five ground loading gates, preparing ourselves for the new expansion of the complex that will be over 800,000 square feet by itself in that facility and adding up to 17 gates, almost tripling the size of the square footage in the concession space and food, beverage and retail, doubling the footprint in the security area and tripling the opportunity for us to add more passenger capacity into what we call the federal inspection stations.

This is the Customs and Border Protection areas where people come in internationally.

So today we do about 250 to 500 passengers per hour.

The new footprint will take us to 500 to 1000 passengers per hour next year.

So all of these efforts and initiatives have been done in the advanced terminal planning exercise to add additional capacity, amongst other enabling projects that will be coming, that will impact the roadway, that will impact the parking garage, our ground transportation center, just a number of different efforts and initiatives that are going to improve the overall level of service and begin to exemplify, you know, that sense of place for the city of San Antonio.

What have been some of the challenges in designing an expansion with that limited footprint?

I think really it's just, you know, sitting down, going through some, you know, what we call just advanced planning efforts with our consultants have done an incredible job of, you know, we relay and provide them the information of what it is we want to, you know, have it as an end game.

And then they go wave their magic wand and come back and demonstrate.

Okay.

Here are some thoughts of how this can work.

So.

Right, Right.

We do have to move and shift some certain elements.

But overall, I think we have plenty of space to be able to to do what we need to do, whether it be on what we call the landside in the terminal side of the operation, and then also on the airfield, which is also a very important element to all that we do day in and day out, of course.

So the other thing that we've heard locally is occasionally people will and I'm certainly guilty of this myself, trek up to Austin to try to get them a better deal on a flight every now and then.

Do you think that having the expanded capacity is going to help, you know, add some competition for some of those routes that, you know, some airlines kind of had the grip on and so they're they're they're cost we're not motivated to push down.

Do you think we're going to see some of that as well?

I think I think we're seeing it already as we look at the San Antonio International Airport being recognized as the number one Texas airport and Wall Street Journal for the way that we deliver service in the way that we're performing and the product that we're delivering to our passengers.

That's one of the most important elements.

Obviously, cost and price of of of the tickets is equal.

So it's just like you stated, it's it's it's a competition.

Right.

And I think I could not be more grateful for the team that we've assembled and that we work with day in and day out.

The passion and the commitment that they demonstrate day in and day out is really what enables us to provide that level of service that we're providing and has allowed us to propel to the number one status here in the state of Texas.

And that's including all large hub airports.

So that's been that's been really, really, you know, the most important element that we've been trying to bring to the table, along with our service development as we talk about the competition piece.

You know, it's important that we continue to provide a diversified portfolio in the number of carriers that are offering services here.

You look at 2019, we were doing a total of 40 nonstop destinations.

Today, we're already at 42, so we're at 42 nonstop destinations, more than we had in 2019.

We want to continue to grow that domestically and internationally.

And with the, you know, Southwest, who does an incredible job, they've continued to to provide additional service and grow.

We brought on JetBlue, who is now servicing Boston in New York, which is an incredible offering.

And then most recently last year, we brought on Spirit Airlines, who, you know, is now servicing, you know, different airports, you know, whether it be Vegas and Florida.

And and they just announced launching service to Los Angeles.

So all of those efforts create competition that drives the price down for the consumer.

And it's important that we continue to have that diversification of airlines in order for us to improve, one, the level of service and to the portfolio that continues to provide a competitive edge where consumers can make the decision.

And I think as it relates to the level of service that we're providing, we're going to continue to win that battle.

Excellent.

Excellent.

Well, you know, more choice is always going to lead to stiffer competition, and that's going to benefit consumers for the most part.

So I know I can't wait to see it.

I'm really looking forward to it.

As someone who travels out of that airport at least once a month, I can't wait to see how this is all going to turn out.

So thanks so much for sharing your time with us.

Our pleasure.

Terrific.

We're joined today by Patty Randall, who is leaving the SAIC School board at the end of this term after a long career.

She is a legendary activist and advocate for education here in San Antonio.

And it is a pleasure to have you with us today.

Thank you so much for being with me.

Oh, well, thank you for the invitation.

You have such a long career of activism, a long career of working for nonprofits and charity organizations.

I was curious if you would share where the genesis of that came from.

What inspired you to commit your life to this?

Well, I guess for me, simply from my upbringing, I was raised a Catholic, you know, called to take a look at things related to social justice.

I came here to San Antonio, to Our Lady of the Lake.

And those nuns were very progressive in their time.

And really raised consciousness.

And then I decided to major in theology because I found myself in discussions all the time about what God wants us to do and transferred to market.

And there were some radical things happening at that campus, especially in relationship to the Vietnam War protests, and ended up joining those and becoming familiar with the Catholic Worker and the work in the poverty area.

And I just felt all of that, plus a voice, you know, inside me, you know how it is where something keeps coming to your mind.

The idea of of living in a poverty area, but as a social worker, just to be with people of poverty and in doing so in San Antonio, brought me to the West Side to what I really can call a very rich part of town, because it's so rich in culture and sense of family and so many beautiful things, but an area that suffers much from poverty.

You have dedicated so much time, effort and energy to the west Side and the city as a whole.

What are the most effective things that you've learned, you know from this long career that you can pass down to the next generation of activists?

Well, I find that, you know, if you spend time with the people about whom you are concerned, it changes your life.

I mean, I came from a very middle class setting.

I came really raised in a military family and living on the west side of San Antonio has just made me so aware of so many problems locally and worldwide.

And I think, you know, the people of good heart sometimes are far removed from where problems of poverty really are.

Right.

And if you get in a position of power, not knowing the suffering, not being aware that San Antonio does not have decent housing for many people, that the housing that is decent is not affordable, that children go to bed hungry, that sometimes the only food the children have are at school.

If you don't come close enough to see that and you're a person of power, your decisions are not going to be inclusive of the suffering of people such as who live in poverty and San Antonio and around the world.

Absolutely.

Now, that's incredibly important is for people in the community to connect to it and be members of the community that see those impoverished and and less cared for members of the community as separate from themselves.

Yes.

And we have many people from different churches around San Antonio that are not necessarily in our neighborhood, but they come close and people from their congregations have been with us for decades because they came and saw what the needs are.

And they they try to help.

And most importantly, I think the question we need to ask ourselves is what can we do to help people to get to where they want to be and where they're capable of being and, you know, have them have the freedom to to take care of themselves?

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

You know, public education has been a great equalizer over the generations for us.

And you now are moving on from the CIC board.

I'm curious, you know, what you see as sort of philosophically the issues coming forward for public school in Texas?

Well, I certainly think there's going to be a great challenges in budget, especially if we're not paying attention to what's happening between public schools and charter schools.

We need to make sure that we all are expecting excellent grades from our students because that says we believe in them and I've watched and of course, I've taught in our schools too.

And there is what I've referred to for years now, kind of like a poverty center attitude where, oh, well, we can't challenge people kids too much.

They have so much to deal with.

No, our kids are smart and they are capable and they know if we help them, they'll know how to get around obstacles and be as free as anyone else.

But as a system, we need to pay attention to that level of expectation and keep it up.

And we need to pay attention to what is happening with the dollars, because we certainly need to be able to pay our teachers better.

Everybody patronize us, teachers.

Oh, you're wonderful.

You're creating the future.

You're doing what we need to do to help our students.

And then, okay, show us the money.

Right.

And in spite of not having what would be a dignified salary nowadays, teachers keep going because they love students, They love teaching.

And we can't take advantage of that.

Teachers should not have to work two jobs.

So and if for spending money to build a school that is right across the street from a public school, what are you saying to us?

You know, and if there's something lacking in our schools and help us make sure we've got what's lacking, you know, build another whole school to take care of a problem, not not want it across the street or just down the street.

You know, that's insulting to the work that's already been done.

And the state is not living up to their own responsibilities to make sure that we're doing what we ought to or offering what we ought to give us the dollars.

You know, we need a lot of help.

I also have to lift up that we're doing so much better than we were when I first came into office serving on the board.

There's been incredible improvement to the environment.

We offer our students, to the instruction we offer our students and to the facilities that we offer our students.

We're now on track to get all of our schools taken care of over the next few years.

Some of them haven't been touched in 50 years.

I think that some of the people that make decisions in Austin need to spend a little bit more time with teachers and come to our communities, be in our communities for a while, see what the the see the homes that children are living in that come to schools in HD.

We have high poverty and over 90% of our children live in poverty.

Come and see how we are and stop giving away money that ought to be helping us.

I think that is magnificent and that is incredibly inspiring and I think that they should be listening to you right now.

Thank you so much for being with us and sharing your insight.

It is such a pleasure to meet you.

Thank you very much.

This week, San Antonio lost a legend.

BJ Redman Combs passed away at the age of 95.

He was an astute businessman starting in the car business, branching into sports media, even owning a tequila company.

He was also committed to philanthropy and using his wealth to make a difference in San Antonio and Texas.

His legacy is huge, as we'll see in this video presentation from our news partners at Case at 12.

For this segment, a reporters roundtable.

This there was sent to Washington, D.C.

He spent the inaugural weekend in the Hilton Hotel there.

And he is a gift to President Bush.

Everything is bigger in Texas, including Lone Star legend, Big Red McCombs.

From Longhorns to Mustangs, basketball to broadcasting.

This billionaire made a name for himself, not just in San Antonio, but across the nation.

And to get free for the shot he got inside of Collins.

And born Billy Joe McCombs in Spur, Texas, on October 19.

The 1927 Red McCombs is one of the original owners that brought the chaparral of the American Basketball Association to San Antonio in 1973 to become the Spurs and Redwood once again step up to save the now NBA franchise in 1988 by purchasing 100% of the team owner.

Who has a majority interest in the Spurs.

We are committed to this franchise and San Antonio will be the very best that there is in the NBA.

And the purchase of the Spurs actually became official right here.

K SAT 12.

It was it was agreed to and consummated right here in the conference room.

And that was when I got a bunch of guys together.

And I said, we don't know whether we can make this thing work or not.

They haven't been able to make it work in Dallas.

We need it badly.

So I'll take the big endeavor of all.

You guys will split up the rest.

Red, who earned his nickname due to his hair color, was on the Forbes list as one of the richest men in the world.

But while business was his background, sports was his passion.

He would purchase the Minnesota Vikings in 1998 for $250 million and would later sell the NFL franchise in 2005 for 625 million coming just one win shy of going to the Super Bowl twice.

His enthusiasm as a team owner was infectious.

Just wanted to operate in the NFL because in the NFL, your challenge is is making a team out of 50 players.

And I think that that in itself creates such a challenge.

And also it's a game that in Texas you grow up with football.

Married to Charlene Hamlin in 1950, the couple set out on a life adventure documented in his book Big Red that began with the Combs teaming up with salesman Austin Hemphill to form handful McCombs Ford.

Later Read becomes Automotive Group.

He would turn to broadcasting when he would partner with Lowery.

Mays in 1972 to form Clear Channel communications that at its peak would own as many as 1200 radio stations, 41 television stations and three quarters of a million outdoor advertising displays.

And I like to do things that I like to I like that the opportunity as well as the challenge.

Before her death in December 2019, Charlene McCombs would guide Rhett and their philanthropy through the McComb Foundation, including but not limited to the red zone at Royal Memorial Stadium, the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, The Red and Charlene McComb Softball Complex at UT Southwestern University in Georgetown, and of course, the Charlene McCombs Theater and Media Center in San Antonio.

It was at Southwestern in 2017 that the university celebrated the couple's 90th and 89th birthdays together for their support.

And it was there, Red told us.

For him, it was more than just about the money.

The God intended for all of his children in his image to have rewarding lives and rewarding to themselves and rewarding to please them.

And a big thank you to case at 12 and Myra Arthur for that package.

It was a lovely presentation of Red's legacy.

And to talk more about that legacy.

We're joined here by Clarence CEO and President Arthur Emerson, who is a personal friend of Red's.

And to share a little bit more about the legacy of such an iconic San Antonio businessperson.

Thank you.

Thank you for hosting on the record this week.

The Business Journal does a great job for community and we appreciate your leadership there.

Thank you.

Clearly, Red is a major, major loss for the community, for the state of Texas.

He was a pillar, a giant pillar that did so much good in so many ways.

Obviously, we all remember how red was instrumental in number one, getting hemisphere, but being part of the team that brought hemisphere to San Antonio, that kicked off our tourism community.

He was instrumental in bringing the Spurs.

We all know about that.

He also he was instrumental in the Alamo Bowl.

So everything that we talk about that it's good that Major Red had something to do with the way.

That's a major loss.

Or if you don't replace Red McCombs, he's a giant in the community.

But also the little things he did.

He was instrumental as a chairman of the chamber in 1964, setting up leadership.

San Antonio.

Many of the people you and I know have become leaders in our community, thanks to the Leadership San Antonio program that brings future leaders for our community to know the community and know how to serve it when they become community leaders.

So that's irreplaceable.

Good that that Red did.

And so we need to step up to the plate.

We need to challenge others.

And Antonio leaders to be like Red McCombs.

He and Charlene did so much good.

We are in the Keller in Charlene the Combs Media Center.

Well, Red McCombs saw to it that we had that privilege.

And so a lot of good has come.

Much of the equipment that we work on today, thanks to Combs.

Right.

Clearly he was a leader in culture and education and a robust developer for our economy as we know it today.

Little things that we haven't known about red or a little things such as the fact that he had a guitar company at one time.

He sold guitars or he invested in a guitar company.

I try to play guitar now and then, so I bought some from the company that Red owned personally, and he just did so much good.

He quietly became involved with education and brought some of the schools in the ISB, San Antonio as the district and brought them up to national premier status.

Who else knows about that and who else is willing to do that?

So, Red McCombs, we're going to miss you.

And there there's only one red.

And there won't be another.

That's right.

That's right.

And he and his wife Charlene also did so much good.

She was a wonderful lady.

So they're together.

All right there.

There's never going to be another like him.

And those two, his legacy is going to shine forever.

Absolutely.

Thank you so much.

Thank.

Appreciate it To thank you for joining us on this edition of On the Record.

You can see the show again or preview shows as well as download our podcast at KLRN.org We'll see you next time.

On the record is brought to you by Steve and Adele Dufilho.