Houston Courier, 3/11/2007
By Brad Meyer
bmeyer@hcnonline.com

HOUSTON - Some of the biggest cheers at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo last weekend wasn't for any of the riders, performers or entertainers.

More than 61,000 spectators looked on as U.S. Marine Cpl. Justin Loos of Conroe, who is deploying to Iraq today, dropped to a knee and proposed to his girlfriend, Christa Eberly, also of Conroe. With the arena camera broadcasting the scene throughout the rodeo, the crowd roared with approval when Eberly said "yes."

"I got the idea to propose at the rodeo because I have never seen anyone do it and I have loved the rodeo since I was a little boy and go every year I can," said Loos.

With the help of the staff at Robbins Bros. jewelry store in Willowbrook where he bought the engagement ring, Loos contacted rodeo officials to arrange his proposal to Eberly March 3.

The couple participated in the grand parade during the opening ceremonies and were escorted to their seats before the rodeo began. That was when a rodeo clown, armed with a camera, approached their location.

"I didn't suspect a thing since Justin's mom is on the rodeo committee and so I assumed the special treatment was because he was in the military and is about to be deployed to Iraq," stated Eberly. "When Justin got down on his knee, I realized what was about to happen and began to cry. I was so stunned that I didn't respond to his proposal right away so he had to ask me again. Of course, I said yes!"

Loos and Eberly both attended Oak Ridge High School in Conroe, but did not date during that time. Eberly's mother, one of Loos's teachers during his senior year, once asked him why he did not date her daughter. She said he replied, "She is not someone that I would want to date, but someone that I would want to marry."

During his senior year, Loos decided to join the Marine Corps. Since he was only 17 years of age at the time, his parents had to sign off, a difficult decision for his mother, Loos stated.

One month after graduating in the top quarter of his class in 2004, he was on his way to the Marine Corps Recruit Base Depot San Diego, while Eberly is attending Texas State University in San Marcos, majoring in fashion merchandising.

It wasn't until Christmas of 2005 that he and Eberly reconnected and began their romance. Loos soon realized, he said, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

Thousands of spectators at the Houston Rodeo looked on as Conroe natives Justin Loos and Christa Eberly became engaged last Saturday. Courtesy photo.

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