Turning onto Highway 1097, drivers will now see a sign bearing the name of Specialist Joey Martens Lenz. For those who knew him, the words are more than a marker. They are a reminder of a young man whose laughter and kindness made everyone around him feel seen and heard.
The portion of 1097 from 1-45 to Lake Conroe Hills Dr. will be renamed The Army Specialist Joey Lenz Highway tomorrow at 9 a.m. Lenz was a 2008 graduate of Willis High School.
On February 1, 2022, while sleeping in his barracks at Fort Hood, Lenz’s life was cut short by a fatal heart attack. He was only 32 years old. For his family, friends and the community he left behind, the loss was devastating. But through his story, his name continues to inspire change, hope and accountability.
“Nothing gave him that sense of belonging until he decided to join the Army,” his mom Margie Taylor said on Facebook on the page titled Remembering SPC Joey Lenz. “Before enlisting, Joey tried on different paths like working in a refinery, towing boats on Lake Conroe, cooking crawfish at Fish Tales and even taking welding classes at Blinn and Lone Star College. Because of his previous wrong turns, he had to work hard interviewing with recruiters and writing letters to be accepted. When he swore in, he was excited. He loved the challenge of boot camp. He thought it was fun.”
The structure and discipline fueled him. By October 2020, Joey re-enlisted, hoping to make the Army a lifelong career.
“I let my guard down when I thought he was safe on base,” Taylor said. “It still haunts me that Joey was safer on the streets than he was while serving in the Army.”
Those who knew Joey before the uniform saw the same drive and spirit. The principal at WHS at the time, Ben Cooper, remembers the impressionable teenager who sometimes strayed but never stopped trying.
“Like many kids his age, Joey didn’t always make the best decisions,” Cooper said. “But one thing he had going for him was his mom’s determination and love. They were like bumpers in a bowling lane, keeping him from going too far off course. Even when he messed up, Joey was polite, respectful and remorseful. I knew when he grew up, he was going to be a kind and caring adult. And he was.”
Even in grief, Joey’s mother carries her son’s spirit forward.
“Of all the things Joey was supposed to be, a memory wasn’t one of them,” Taylor said. “But if I can keep his name alive by making change, then he is still here, guiding me.”
Taylor feels like the Army should do more to ensure the health of their soldiers.
“He did not have a heart condition when he swore in to serve our country,” she said. “February 1, 2022 my son Joey Lenz died from a massive heart attack. The Army failed in the care of my youngest son and through medical negligence killed him.”
Through advocacy and help of another Wildkat alum, Congressman Morgan Luttrell, Taylor has pushed for legislation requiring better medical screenings and accountability within the Army. Joey’s Lenz Act of 2025, H.R. 1014, remains under consideration in Washington, carrying the hope of protecting future soldiers in his honor. Her devotion extends beyond politics. She runs 5Ks with the U.S. flag in his name, attends military survivor weekends, and mentors other Gold Star mothers. .
“Joey is never forgotten,” Taylor said. “He is constantly giving me signs to ‘keep going, Mom.’”
Joey’s memory is alive in his favorite music, Blink-182, and in the everyday reminders of his joy and resilience.
“His pictures on the wall capture moments of happiness, now frozen in time,” Taylor said. “I find myself talking to the empty spaces, hoping for a response that will never come. But in my dreams, he is still here, full of life. We laugh, we talk, we share moments that feel all too real.”
The Army Specialist Joey Lenz Highway now stretches across Highway 1097, standing as both a tribute and a call to action. For every driver who passes, it is a reminder of a young man gone too soon, yet never forgotten. A man who always made people feel welcome, who found belonging in service, and whose legacy pushes others to be better. They use #LiveLikeJoey to promote his legacy.
“Joey had a genuine love for everyone and could hang out with people from all walks of life,” 2010 graduate Matt Lunsford said. “When I think of him, it makes me want to be a better person, kind of like the ‘Be Someone’ sign in Houston. Joey was that reminder to be loving and true.”
This story was originally published on The Voice of the Wildkats on September 18, 2025.