Beth Morrisett    Sherri Bilson    Ralph Phipps    Chase Brown    Bill Barowski    Jennifer Barnett    Betty Williams    Bobby Bernard    Skip Gilkerson   

Sherri Bilson: The Beautician Activist

Sherri Bilson’s business is beautification.

She beautifies the women of San Marcos in the salon she runs out of her home and she beautifies the city through several leadership positions.

Bilson trained in cosmetology nearly 30 years ago because she was divorced with two children and left without a way to support herself.

“It always interested me and so it was the fastest, easiest way to go back to school and make a living,” she said.

Bilson passed her experiences on to high school juniors and seniors by teaching cosmetology. She taught a two-year course that allowed students to earn their license upon graduation.

“They had a way of earning a living when they get out of high school, which I thought was very important because I did not have a way of earning a living when I got out of high school,” said Bilson. She currently serves as the president of her neighborhood association, sits on the Hays County Parks board and is involved in Leadership San Marcos.

“I like to do things in the community. I like to stay involved in the community. I like to try and make a difference,” said Bilson.

She has strong beliefs about how the city is run and she’s not afraid to voice her concerns.

“My philosophy and my argument with the mayor is nothing is going to change in San Marcos unless you protect the neighborhoods,” said Bilson.

She believes that San Marcos should create a quality of life similar to that of Austin, with quiet, safe neighborhoods, parks and hike and bike trails.

“We need to protect the neighborhoods and make them safe and good places to raise families in,” said Bilson. “And then we’ll have middle class people staying in San Marcos and not moving out.”

She’s no stranger to standing up for her beliefs and can be found campaigning at city council meetings and other forums.

“I may not be able to solve all the problems in the world. I may not be able to solve all of the problems in the United States. I may not be able to solve all of the problems in the state, but I should at least be able to make our neighborhood a friendly and safe place to live,” said Bilson.

As for the fashion part of her life, Bilson says big Texas hair is coming back.

“Sorry all you people with flat irons. We’re getting ready to go back to big hair and curly.”

Sherri Bilson's story was originally published in the San Marcos Daily Record on July 1, 2009.