Wieghat Memorial Foundation

Benefit the children of our community through donations of time and financial support in an effort to assist them with continuing their education in hopes that they become responsible stewards of the world in which we live.
When our dad, L. H. “Pete” Wieghat left this world on March 8, 2003, we fully realized the vital role he played in the many organizations which helped to mold our small community. Dad was a man of principle, and when he joined an organization, he was not a just a “card-carrying member”, but an active, responsible, reliable participant. After serving his country in the Korean War, Dad returned to Needville and actively participated and held offices in the Blue Jay Quarterback Club, Needville American Legion Post #350, Needville Vol. Fire Department, Needville Live Oak Club, Needville PTA, Needville ISD Board of Trustees and Needville Youth Fair.

His favorite had to be the last-The Needville Youth Fair. He and mom donated thousands of hours of their time to the success of this organization, and went so far as to personally sign a letter of guarantee to secure a loan for the erection of a new building for the organization. The entire family participated in this yearly event, with mom serving as treasurer for many years, dad serving in several offices including president, and their four sons showing their animal projects, working in the kitchen and concession stand, and participating in skits, plays, square dancing, and, of course, the kickoff parade. The weekend-long event was the highlight of our year, and became an invaluable tool in assisting mom and dad in educating their sons about life itself, with all the twists, turns, and curves it can throw at you from day to day. All of our families and children continue to participate in this wonderful event today.
When dad passed, our family asked that memorials be made to the Needville Youth Fair Scholarship fund in his memory. Not long after, mom and her sons conceived the idea of a yearly event to assist the family in raising funds to establish the L. H. “Pete” Wieghat memorial scholarship. Dad absolutely loved a friendly game of “nickel ante” poker, so it was an easy choice to hold a yearly poker tournament and raffle as our fundraiser. The decision was also made to award the scholarship at the annual Needville Youth Fair Awards program.

The initial poker tournament was held in February, 2004, and was an overwhelming success. Family friends assisted with preparing a meal, and numerous local businesses and friends donated raffle prizes and door prizes. Poker tables, chips, and other supplies were borrowed from family friends, neighbors, and co-workers, with one family friend providing his sound system and country music collection to entertain the attendants.
The L. H. “Pete” Wieghat Poker Tournament continues to this day. The same “extended” family members show up every year to prepare the seafood gumbo meal, set up the pavilion with poker tables made by the Wieghat boys, buy raffle tickets, as well as sell raffle tickets to supporters throughout the community. They donate items to be given away through the raffle, and are there to help clean up when the party is over. Through the efforts of mom, the Wieghat boys, and this wonderful group of family friends, the tournament has awarded $18,000 in scholarships to 19 recipients over the past 9 years. This tournament has become a yearly event in our small community that is looked forward to just about as much as dads beloved Needville Youth Fair.
This past year the Wieghat family established the Wieghat Memorial Foundation. It is our intent for this tax exempt organization to make the scholarship fund established through the Needville Youth Fair in dads’ memory “self sufficient and everlasting.” In addition to this goal, we would like to expand our benevolence to one day financially support some of the other various organizations in our small community. With continued support from our friends, we will achieve our goal.

Thanks for taking the time to visit our site. We know the preceding story got a little “long-winded”, but we truly hope it was worth your time. If you ever happen to find yourself in or near our small community of Needville,Texas on the last Saturday in February, stop by the Knights of Columbus Hall. Mom Wieghat will be running the kitchen as well as playing hostess, and “Pete’s” four sons, their wives and children will also be there to greet you at the door.

Dad’s poker table and cowboy hat are there, and we know that he and all his buddies are there too. If you listen very closely, you might be able to hear him say “The game is Jacks or better, trips to win!”
Thanks again for stopping by.