Born in 1883 to Bohemian immigrants Anton and Mary Freytag, Laura Freytag married Wenzel Valenta in 1898. Wenzel died in 1907, leaving Laura a young widow with four children. She ran a boarding house to support her family. In 1920, the 54-room travelers hotel opened in De Leon, and by 1926, Laura was dining room supervisor. In 1929, she bought the business. Under Laura’s supervision, the hotel became well-known for its excellent service. Civic minded, Laura hosted fundraisers at the Travelers and opened rooms to people in need of lodging or food. A couple of her children assisted her with hotel operations. When Laura’s health began to fail, the hotel was sold for housing. Laura died in 1971 and is buried in San Antonio. (2023)