Texas Ramp Project

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KBTX Channel 3

2026 Spirit of Service Awards: Roy Harrington recognized for his work with the Texas Ramp Project

KBTX News at Six Weekday
By Alex Egan
Published: Apr. 27, 2026



Following a career as an industrial engineer, Roy settled into his “retirement” by serving others. His work with the Texas Ramp Project has earned him the recognition as a 2026 Spirit of Service Award recipient. (KBTX)

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - At Roy Harrington’s shop, pieces of lumber will come together to provide something everyone wants: freedom.

“When I retired, I came down here, and Jerry Gritter was running the Brazos Valley Ramp Project, but was aging out, needed to retire,” he said. “So the timing worked great, and I just took over.”

Following a career as an industrial engineer, Roy settled into his “retirement” by serving others.

“We’re trying to take care of elderly and disabled individuals who can’t afford a ramp themselves but need one,” Roy said.

The Texas Ramp Project is statewide. Roy leads the Brazos Valley Chapter, which has been around since 2009.

“We’ve built over 1,200 ramps here in the Brazos Valley since then,” Roy said.

Roy has been in charge for the last four years. Last year, the group built 117 ramps.

Roy leads by example. He meets with clients, drafts designs, gathers materials, builds and assembles the ramps, all with a smile.

“He is kind,” said Bill Hanna, who works with Roy on ramps and nominated him for the 2026 Spirit of Service Award. “When he’s talking to the clients or the ramp recipients, he is always trying to help them.”

“And if they come up with a specific need or change, he’s always trying to be accommodating. He is always pleasant. I have never seen him where he wasn’t just pleasant, even though changes happen to us.”


Roy is also the group’s chief fundraiser. He handles price fluctuations and grants, both of which are time-consuming. “It keeps me busy on non-ramp days,” he laughed.

To build as many ramps as this group does, it takes a lot of volunteers. Last year, the group logged more than 3,300 volunteer hours. Roy makes sure every person has a task they can complete.

“Roy is always encouraging,” Hanna said. “One thing I really admire about Roy is he tries to teach, especially the younger generation that may not have used hand tools and saws and things like that as much. He tries to teach them and encourage them.”

Roy also has no plans of slowing down.

“The gentleman I replaced as region coordinator here in the Brazos Valley, I think he was 88 when I took over, so I don’t know if I’ll still be building ramps when I’m in my upper 80s or early 90s, but I hope I can,” Roy said.

As great leaders do, Roy Harrington helps bring people together, just as the lumber he assembles each week helps those who desperately need it.

Copyright 2026 KBTX. All rights reserved.

Video:

2026 Spirit of Service Awards: Roy Harrington recognized for his work with the Texas Ramp Project Following a career as an industrial engineer, Roy settled into his “retirement” by serving others. His work with the Texas Ramp Project has earned him the recognition as a 2026 Spirit of Service Award recipient.