The lasting legacy of Montgomery’s Lone Star Signs and Spirit Industries can be found at virtually every sports game: the foam finger.
In 1978, Geral Fauss created what would become a national icon as a part of a project for Cy-Fair High School’s industrial arts club, which he sponsored, when the school’s football team earned a spot in the state finals, said Geral’s wife Susan Fauss. Fauss’ invention evolved into Spirit Industries, which continues to manufacture the foam finger more than 37 years later.
The business also spawned Lone Star Signs, which offers custom graphic design, signs and banners in the city of Montgomery.
“My husband was a sponsor of the industrial arts club, and he had very creative [students],” said Susan, who was also a teacher for Cy-Fair ISD at the time. “They made the No. 1 hands to support sporting events and teams, and he thought if it was that popular at Cy-Fair it would be popular at other schools.”
After initially operating in their home garage in the evenings after school, the couple left teaching behind and opened their business in Spring. Spirit Industries eventually moved to Montgomery where they operate today.
When the Fauss’ son, Deryl, graduated from Texas A&M University in 2001, Susan said she and Geral wanted to give Deryl more of a leadership role in the business. In 2007 Lone Star Signs officially opened in Montgomery under Deryl’s leadership where he continues to operate today, she said. The two companies share resources with one another.
“We wanted something for our son to have for his own, [a business that] he controlled and [operated],” Susan said. “[Lone Star Signs] is his creation, and he uses Spirit Industries’ equipment and employees.”
Lone Star offers signage and products for individuals and businesses ranging from yard signs and small advertising signs to large advertisements on the sides of buildings, Deryl said. Customers can also purchase custom screen-printed or embroidered T-shirts, promotional items, business cards and catalogs.
Although Lone Star Signs conducts business 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., employees will work with individuals according to their schedule to help install signs or other products beyond traditional working hours, he said.
Deryl said growing up with two entrepreneurs as parents helped shape how he runs the business. The entrepreneurial spirit runs in the family as well, as Susan and Geral’s daughter runs a pop-up yoga business in San Antonio.
“It’s all I’ve known,” Deryl said. “[My parents] started the company the year I was born and I grew up here. You see the work ethic and that’s what you’re raised around, and it just sticks with you.”
