If he were alive to see it, former mayor and city administrator Johnny Nelson might describe Saturday’s rededication of the museum named in his honor as a “Rice Day.”

Telling people to “Have a Rice Day” was sort of a trademark of his, his widow Paulette Nelson said. Visitors to the museum, 6002 George Bush Dr., will see a sign with that quote as they exit.

But the museum offers much more than that. Exhibits include rice farming equipment and older model cars, one of which City Administrator Byron Hebert drove in the February Katy Rodeo Parade.

Next to those cars is a model train, built by engineer Richard Baker, with donated parts and others he found through Internet searches. It’s a popular attraction for youngsters and their elders alike.

Near the model train is an exhibit featuring Katy Volunteer Fire Department mementos. It was established in 1947 and superseded by the full-time city fire department in 2016.

Along the east wall are photo exhibits honoring Katy’s pioneer families and state champion Katy Tiger football teams. One pioneer exhibit honors the Cardiff family. The historic J.V. Cardiff and Sons rice drier, 5351 1^st St., has been in the news as it gets repurposed into an entertainment venue, with bar, restaurants, offices and a meeting room. The latest state championship team photo from 2020 is not yet on the wall, but no doubt room will be made there.

In the northwest corner of the museum is a room honoring Katy’s mayors. The city itself was incorporated in 1945. Every mayor from the first one, C.L. Baird (1946-47), through the most recent former mayor, Bill Hastings (2019-22), has an exhibit. Current Mayor Dusty Thiele took office last year following Hastings’s retirement.

The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Thursday-Sunday. Admission is free. Saturday’s rededication ceremony is at 11 a.m. The event is free and refreshments will be served.

While the museum shares Katy’s story, it does not focus as much on the man in whose honor it is named. Nelson, who died in 2018 at age 79, served as mayor (1983-87) and city administrator (1994-2014). He is mentioned, to be sure. He played a key role in Katy’s transformation from rural rice farming community to suburban center. At his death, he was remembered as being a key mover in the creation of Katy Mills Mall, which remains a major factor in the area’s growth and economic development.

Paulette Nelson said her husband was a rice farmer and had moved his family to Katy, where he had a NAPA Auto Parts store. She said some friends, including future police chief and mayor Bill Hastings, asked Nelson to attend a meeting at Hastings’s store, Buffalo Bill’s. There, she said, they persuaded Nelson to stand for mayor against the then-incumbent, John G. Morrison.

“He kept shaking his head and said, ‘Paulette, you got me into this,” she said. “I said I didn’t have a thing to do with it.”

Not all of Nelson’s political ventures worked out successfully. After serving as mayor he ran for Harris County commissioner, but Paulette Nelson recalled “he got beat like a red-headed stepchild” to Steve Radack. Today, Lesley Briones represents Katy on the Harris County Commissioners Court.

Later, Nelson was persuaded to return to City Hall, this time as city administrator. He served during the administrations of mayors Skip Conner (1991-95), Hank Schmidt (1995-2001), Doyle Callender (2001-07), Don Elder Jr. (2007-13), and Fabol Hughes (2013-14; Hughes served until 2017).

Hebert served as the city’s finance director while Nelson served as city administrator. Hebert recalled how Nelson mentored him and many other city officials, both elected and not, on how the city government worked. Elaine Lutringer, today the city’s executive director of public works and community development, was another Nelson protégé, Hebert said.

Hebert said Nelson always had his cowboy hat and a cigar, but maybe Nelson dropped the cigar in his later years. Hebert said Nelson was an old cowboy who was genuine.

“When he shook your hand, it was a deal,” Hebert said. “He was that kind of a person. His word meant everything to him.”

Paulette Nelson said when her husband came home after being asked to become city administrator, he rubbed his head and wondered aloud whether he could sit behind a desk all day. But she told him he did not have to approach the job that way. He could get up and move around.

He did just that. Hebert said Nelson had his office near the front door of the then-City Hall, since demolished, that sat across Avenue C from the present City Hall, which opened in 2016. Having his office near the front door enabled Nelson to see and greet visitors, Hebert said.

“He was a big people person,” Hebert said. “He knew everybody and everybody knew Johnny. He wanted to see everything that came into the city. Nothing got by Johnny.”

Nelson said her husband would be proud of the museum and its rededication in his honor.