Bishop Gregory Kelly presented the 2025 Bishop Charles E. Herzig Humanitarian Award to Dr. Joe and Marilyn Bianca of Longview during Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler on Sunday, October 5.
Celebrating sixty years of marriage, Joe and Marilyn have given of themselves in countless ways. Their service has extended from the work of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, supporting the Church in the Holy Land, to numerous charitable efforts in the Longview community, and to faithful service at St. Matthew’s Parish. There, Dr. Joe has served as a deacon since 2014, and together they have been a steady witness of faith, generosity, and love.
The award is named in honor of Bishop Charles Herzig who led the diocese from its creation in 1987 until his death in 1991. The award recognizes individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions within the Diocese of Tyler in seeking to promote human welfare. Those who receive the award demonstrate a great charitable love for the people of God and possess a life in the Church marked by actions that have enabled individuals or families to receive basic human care.
Bishop Herzig died on Sept. 7, 1991, and the award is annually presented on the Sunday nearest this day. Herzig was ordained a priest in 1955 and served in the Diocese of San Antonio until being named Bishop of Tyler by Pope St. John Paul II.
Previous recipients of the Herzig Award:
2023 – Dr. Virgil Gonzalez (Tyler)
2022 – Glee Emmite (Paris)
2021 – Catholic Charities – Diocese of Tyler and Ernest Marinez (Tyler)
2020 – Medical Professionals of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
2019 – Feed My Lambs Soup Kitchen Volunteers and St. Veronica’s Compassionate Sewers
2018 – Maria Crossman (Tyler)
2017 – Tom Mittler (Longview) and St. Vincent de Paul Society (Tyler)
2016 – George Cronin (Tyler) and Louis Owen (+ Tyler).
2015 – Father Harold Paulsen (+ Palestine) and Dan and Kelly Jackman (Tyler)
2014 – Margie Bengie and Carolyn Richbourg (+ Tyler)
2013 – Casimira Chavez, Conradita Sanchez, and Joe Keenan (+ Malakoff)
2012 – Daisy Black
2011 – Zeno Bachmer
2010 – Connie Shipp
2009 – Ann Rice
2008 – Mary Germany
2007 – Shawn Pickett (Tyler)
