Tornado Survivor Wins Turkey Trot Poster Contest

Terri Caldwell Bennett's life-long hobby of drawing and painting in private is going public in a big way this fall. The entire city of Austin will see her artwork on the t-shirts, posters, and all other promotional materials for the 24th annual Thundercloud Turkey Trot. The win couldn't have come at a better time.

Bennett and her family have had a rough couple of years. In 2012, their newly remodeled home in Northeast Austin was seriously damaged when a tornado tore off the roof and rain flooded the entire house. Adding insult to injury, an unscrupulous contractor made off with the insurance money they'd received for repairs. They've been scrimping and saving ever since to restore their home. The sandwich vouchers will definitely come in handy. "I never thought I'd win the art contest. I feel lucky, and grateful that we can eat at Thundercloud for free," Bennett said in a press release.

Bennett went on to say that her unique artwork was inspired by a vintage rock band t-shirt discovered in a thrift shop. "Austin is a t-shirt culture and I wanted something people could wear year round. I designed the logo to have a wood-carved, retro look," she explained.

Her logo was one of 65 different designs submitted this year, the highest number of entries in the long history of the contest. "Terri's logo is different from any of the others we've had in the past and we're excited about the fresh, new look. We don't think a more deserving person could have won this year," said Thundercloud co-owner Mike Haggerty.

Look for Bennett's distinctive contest logo all over town as the annual Turkey Trot approaches on Thanksgiving Day. As always, proceeds from the race will benefit Caritas of Austin. For more details about the race or to register, go here.