1930s-50s

Dr. Otha Spencer (BS ’42, MS ’47, and Retired Faculty) has collected 44 of his mid-weekly columns from the Commerce Journal into a book titled Cow Hill: Bits & Pieces, Volume Two. It covers local history and personalities of Commerce.

Jim Hoyte "Cotton" Martin (BS ’52, MS ’58) has been a football coach, a newspaperman, an investigative reporter, a columnist, a public relation executive, and spent 20 years as journalism professor and adviser to the student weekly newspaper at Scottsdale Community College, Scottsdale, AZ. Retiring in 1997, he has written a book, Oh Lord! It’s the Millennium, a satirical novel about the Y2K Presidential election. He has been married 50 years to Evelyn Presswood (BS ’52). She and three sisters and four brothers all graduated from East Texas State Teacher’s College and the family was honored at the 1999 A&M-Commerce Homecoming.

Wilma Wheatley Wade (BS ’52, MED ’55) taught public schools for 30 years in Dallas and retired in 1986. She currently resides in Emory, TX.

James L. Tidwell (BS ’54, MED ’65) was recently selected by the Board of Directors of the Bowie County Soil and Water Conservation District as the Outstanding Resident Conservation Rancher. He has been a Bowie County District cooperator since 1959 and is dedicated to the conservation of resources on his ranch. His wife, Marchita, graduated from East Texas State University at Texarkana and is retired from the DeKalb ISD.

Wilda Milliron Worth (BS ’54, MED ’59) retired in January 2000 and plans to dedicate more time with cultural history and international travel, a part-time activity since 1989. For the past 20 years, she was employed as a graphics illustrator, desktop publisher and technical writer by various Silicon Valley (California) marketing and publishing departments. Previously, she was an elementary teacher in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California public schools for 15 years and a civil service vocational trainer for two years.

Jo Ann Durham (BS ’56) recently had a painting published in the International Artists, under Master Painters of the World, USA Showcase. One of her works, "Patterns—Photon Field," has been accepted in the Visions Toward Wellness 2000 exhibit held in conjunction with the annual conference for the Society for the Arts in Healthcare. "Cathederal Interiors" has been accepted in the Society of Layerists in Multi Media Show entitled Birth of Wisdom and will be at St. John’s College in Santa Fe and then travel to La Chapelle des Penitents in Gourdes, France in September.

James Howard Hughey (BS ’56, MED ’58) retired from the Dallas ISD in June 1989, and returned as an administrator to DISD in 1992. He was named general superintendent in September 1997, and served two years. He served the Dallas ISD for more than forty years in several capacities. He continues to be active in education as a consultant.

Joe Clayton (BA ’57, MED ’61) retired from teaching in 1996, but has spent the past four years as a substitute teacher at North Lamar High School, Paris, TX. He also has over 600 volunteer hours at Higgins Elementary. He spent 30 years of his teaching career in the North Lamar District. His hobby is music and he sings and writes country songs and writes hymns and poems.

Eugenia Winchester Ramsey (BS ’57) retired in October 1999 as vice president in lending from Citizens National Bank, Wills Point, TX. A native of Windom, TX, she served Citizens eighteen years and, prior to that, was a claims manager at Travelers Insurance Company in Dallas.

1960-69

Larna V. Allen Brewer (BS ’62) was married to Alvin J. Loeckle, Jr. on January 15, 2000. She is employed by the Southwest Counseling Services P.C. in Duncanville.

Virginia Dale Brooks (BA ’63, MED ’67) retired from teaching in the Dallas ISD in 1996, after 32 years.

Betty Casselberry (BS ’63, MS ’65) recently retired from the Commerce ISD. She joined the district in 1984 as business manager.

John William "Bill" O’Neal (BA ’64, MA ’69) has been named a 2000 Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation. He is chairman of the History Department at Panola College in Carthage, TX, and is the author of more than 20 books.

Alfred E. Gonzales (BBA ’66) retired January 2000 after 32 years of U.S. government service. He is also a retired law enforcement officer, having served in several federal agencies. His wife, Ann, is currently employed as a supervisor with Natural Resources, Inc., in their medicaid program. He does volunteer work at a local hospital and they both enjoy gardening and going to the lake to relax.

Joseph R. Schroeder (MS ’67) retired on January 31, 2000 after nearly 30 years of service at the University of Houston. He was director of instructional technologies in the Information Technology Division when he retired. In 1997, he was the recipient of the C. F. McElhienny Award, given each year to their outstanding staff member.

Janet John (BS ’68, MS ’70) was recently named as Commerce ISD Teacher of the Year. She will represent the district in the regional Teacher of the Year competition at the Region 10 Education Service Center in Richardson. She is a sixth grade social studies teacher at A. C. Williams Elementary School and has taught for 28 years in Commerce.

Dr. Zachary R. Hodges (BS ’69, MS ’71, EDD ’84) president of Houston Community College-Northwest, was recently named to membership on a visioning committee studying the future of Texas agriculture in a high-tech environment. He was one of 50 agricultural and educational leaders chosen for the task. He is a long-time resident of Katy, Texas.

Dianne (Bennett) Lowe (BS ’69, MED ’72, MED ’75) retired in May 2000 after 33 years as a teacher, administrator and educational diagnostician. She is married to Kin Lowe (BS ’68) who retired in November 1999 as a self-employed business owner. Their future plans include extensive travel.

Diane LaFerney McDowell (BS ’69, MS ’98) was honored recently at a reunion of Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority in Commerce. She has served as a Commerce chapter advisor for the past four years and was national vice president-collegiates for eight years. Gamma Upsilon has the distinction of being the oldest continuous chapter in Texas.

Dr. Rosie Sorrells (MED ’69), State Board of Education member, was recently honored by the Nova Charter School in Oak Cliff with its first Citizen-Educator Year 2000 Award. She worked for the Dallas Public Schools for years, retiring in 1993 after serving as director of early childhood education.

1970-79

Lela Foreman (BS ’70, MS ’74) was recently a candidate for the Fannin County position on the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature. There are 116 members of the TSHL elected every two years to represent 28 designated regions of the state. They meet in Austin during the month of September in even-numbered years, prior to the convening of the Texas Legislature. They debate issues which affect the older citizens of Texas. Priority issues will be identified and drafted into resolutions to present to the Texas Legislature in January 2001.

Mary Jane Smith Biggers Neal (BS ’70, MED ’75) recently retired as the special education director of the Fannin County Co-Op.

Walter L. Lewis (BS ’71, MS ’72) was recently appointed as assistant superintendent of Terrell ISD, Terrell, TX. He began his teaching career in 1972 as a history teacher and basketball coach at Jefferson Junior High in Grand Prairie, TX. He was named Coach of the Year for 1989-90 District 9-5A while with the Richardson ISD.

Steven W. Rhoads (BS ’71) was the assistant dorm director for Smith Hall immediately after his graduation. He then worked as an executive with the Boy Scouts of America. For the past 20 years, he has worked in sales and management with Johnson and Johnson and currently is a regional sales director for Glaxo-Wellcome in Phoenix. He is married to Lynn (McCorkle) Rhoads (Former Student) and they have two children, Wes and Ashley.

Harold R. (Hal) Watkins (BS ’71) is agronomy sales manager for Heartland Co-op, West Des Moines, IA. He was recently appointed chairman of the new A-9 division with the American Society of Agronomy. He received his MS in Agronomy in 1992 from the University of Illinois. He is married to the former Margaret Hutchison (BA ’72), a registered nurse for Integra Health in Des Moines. She is currently working on an MS in Health Care Administration at Des Moines University.

Johnny T. Neal (BBA ’72, MBA ’74) is an insurance fraud investigator for State Farm Insurance Company, Sherman, TX.

Dr. Rachel Underwood (BS ’72, MS ’73), professor in the Department of Human Sciences at Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TX, has been honored with the University Teaching Excellence Award. One of seven finalists who were nominated by their respective colleges at the university, she represented the College of Education. She taught four years in the home economics department at Sulphur Springs High School before deciding to pursue her doctoral degree and career in higher education.

Doris A. Scott (MED ’73), a second-grade teacher at Lamar Elementary School in the Greenville ISD, has won re-election as district 10 director for the Texas Classroom Teachers Association. Her new term in office begins June 1, 2000. She has served on the TCTA Board of Directors since 1997. TCTA is a professional education association representing more than 43,000 members across the state.

Wendel Sloan (BS ’73, MS ’78), director of marketing and media relations at Eastern New Mexico University, recently won second-place honors in the 2000 Communications Contest, sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women. He qualified for the national competition by winning first place at the New Mexico Press Women’s state convention in Santa Fe in April in the "Personal Columns—General" category. The national award will officially be presented at the convention of the National Federation in Anchorage, Alaska, on September 7-9, 2000.

Dr. Mary V. Strickland (BS ’73) has recently been named district extension director for family and consumer sciences for North Texas at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in Dallas. Before being appointed in Dallas, she was district extension director in far West Texas, supervising the special efforts of family and consumer agents at Fort Bliss as well as 4-H professionals.

Tracey Wolfe (BS ’73, MS ’76) recently served as toastmistress for a reunion of the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority held in Commerce. She has served as a national officer in the sorority. Gamma Upsilon has the distinction of being the oldest continuous chapter in Texas.

Dr. Dorothy Rushing (MA ’74), a social historian, writer and lecturer, has recently been named to Who’s Who of American Women in the forthcoming Millenium 2000-2001 Edition. Biographies of over 26,000 women will be included in this Marquis publication.

Judy Miller Falls (MS ’75) and the late David Pickering (BS ’64) have co-authored a book, Brush Men and Vigilantes, which was released in April, 2000. This book is a "first" in Texas A&M University-Commerce’s membership in the Texas A&M Book Publishing Program. The "first" is the initial book in the Sam Rayburn Series on Rural Life. An award-winning teacher at Cooper High School, Cooper, TX, she asked some of her students to do some of the initial research on the topic of the Hemby/Howard hangings. He completed the work while battling skin cancer and died at the age of 59 in November 1998, the day after finding out the book had been accepted for publication.

Jean Stow Cotton (BS ’76, MS ’81) is a professor of journalism at Texarkana College and advisor for the student newspaper, The LC News. In April, she received the Advisor of the Year Award from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA).

Dr. James O. Maxwell (MS ’76), preacher, educator, writer, church builder and former academic dean and vice president of Southwestern Christian College, recently presented a series of sermons at the Laurel Street Church of Christ, San Antonio, TX. He formerly served as vice president of Southwestern Christian College from 1978-1999. He was academic dean at SWCC from 1971 to 1978. He resides in the Terrell/Dallas area.

Christine Richardson (MED ’76), fourth-grade teacher at City Park Elementary School in Dallas, was named in November, 1999, as "First Class Teacher of the Week" for Minyard Food Stores, Inc. teacher recognition sweepstakes. A native of Lewisville, AR, she taught in the Little Rock ISD for three years before she began her 33-year tenure with the Dallas ISD. She has taught at City Park Elementary School for the past 20 years.

Frederic Camp (BS ’77) is a teacher and coach. He is starting a scholarship fund for students who need help in attending college. He holds an annual golf tournament in Longview featuring current and ex-NFL players, etc.

Charles R. Richardson (MS ’77) is the author of a newly published book, True Servant Leader: James H. Landes, published by Hardin-Simmons University. The book details highlights of Dr. Landes’ three years as president of the Texas Baptist University in Abilene.

Sharon A. Richardson (MM ’77) was honored on March 9 by the Union Hill ISD with the naming of the Union Hill Elementary School to the "Sharon A. Richardson Elementary School." Her association with the school began in 1977 as a classroom teacher. She served 19 years as teacher and principal, was appointed high school principal in 1981, and superintendent in March 1996.

Boyce N. Pearson (MM ’78) was recently appointed arts and humanities coordinator for the City of Little Rock’s "Summer Youth Arts." He has been a music teacher for the Little Rock Public Schools since 1980.

1980-89

Sandra Lively Morris (BS ’80) has worked for Southwest airlines for 17 years. She is married to Wayne Morris (Former Student), who has taken a position with Zixit Corporation, an internet security company, as manager of network operations. Zixit Corporation encrypts internet information, email and business transactions, by using digital signatures.

Mack Board (BBA ’83) was recently a candidate for school board for the Pittsburg ISD. He had been appointed to the board previously.

Dr. Robert Burks (Bob) Breen (MS ’83, EDD ’89), director for Christian Counseling Associates in Plano and Rockwall, recently completed 11 years on the state board for the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He, and wife Laura, celebrated the birth of their second child, Nathan Lee Breen, on March 2, 2000.

Aretta Beth Price Presley (BS ’83), formerly of Bonham, and now residing in Tyler, TX, has been employed by the University of Texas Health Center in Tyler for six years. She is in the microbiology section of the Pathology Department and is currently a microbiology section supervisor as well as a laboratory information systems manager for pathology. She is the mother of a seven-year old daughter, Casey.

Randy Willeford (BS ’85, MED ’95), teacher of special education Life Skills Class at Wilkinson Middle School, Mesquite ISD, was named the Apple Corp. Teacher in April 2000.

Deborah Shubert Lytle (BFA ’87) recently won "Best of Show" in the Texas Visual Arts Association Membership Exhibition 2000, jurored by Mr. Raymond Nasher. The award-winning painting is a portrait of her son, Jaret, with his green guitar. Lytle has been painting portrait commissions full-time for six years. Three of her portraits hang at Texas A&M University-Commerce and she is currently working on a portrait of the late Dr. James Byrd, which was commissioned by the family and the late Dr. Paul Barris.

William J. (Bill) Miller (MBA ’87) is now retired to a ranch in Mountainair, NM, and has joined the faculty at UNM Los Lunas to teach computer classes. He and his wife are also spending their free time traveling the country in their RV and plan on traveling to the Yukon and Alaska this summer.

Lyle Draper (BS ’88) is currently employed by Volunteers of America in Wyoming. He is the program director of a community corrections’ center in Gillette, WY. He also creates websites for D&K Enterprises on a part-time basis.

Kayla Price (BS ’88, MBA ’90) recently attended a reunion of the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority in Commerce. She was previously chapter advisor and served as a national officer. At the reunion she introduced the keynote speaker, National President Julie Johnson. Gamma Upsilon has the distinction of being the oldest continuous Texas chapter

Richard D. Purifoy (BBA ’88) recently wed Theresa Connelly in Las Vegas. He is employed by the Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs.

Michael Trigg (BBA ’88) is currently in his third season as head coach and director of football operations for the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League. Eddie Vowell, former head coach at Texas A&M University-Commerce, is defensive coordinator and Mitch Matuska (MED ’97) is special teams coach and defensive assistant. Gary Compton (BBA ’90) plays for the Milwaukee Mustangs and Clint Dolezel (BS ’94) is with the NFL Chicago Bears. East Texas State University/Texas A&M University-Commerce is 9th in AFL history of former and current players from a college or university and the largest non-Division I school represented in the 14 seasons of the league. The next largest non-Division I school represented in AFL history is Texas A&I University/Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Clifford Vlasin (BS ’88), counselor at Colorado City High School, has resigned to accept the position of counselor at Brazosport High School in Freeport.

LaShun McGill (BS ’89), a second grade teacher with ten years experience, was one of 26 Tyler teachers recently nominated for either elementary or secondary Teacher of the Year for the Tyler ISD.

1990-94

Jason Carr (BBA ’90) and Kristy Sutton Carr (BS ’89) announce the birth of their second child, Nicklaus Todd Carr, on March 10, 2000. He weighed in at 7 lbs., 5 oz. , was 19 inches long, and was welcomed home by big sister, Ashtin, who is three and one-half years old.

Darwin Sicking (BS ’90) has completed 12 years with Wal-Mart and has been promoted to store manager in Bristow, OK, where he lives with his wife Juliane and daughters Danielle and Haylee.

Dr. Terry Simpson (EDD ’90), chairperson of the division of education at Maryville College, Maryville, TN, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholar award. He is the first professor to receive the Fulbright while teaching at Maryville College. He will spend the 2000 fall semester at the University of Tartu, which is located in the Eastern European country of Estonia. While there, he will visit local schools and teach in the university’s teacher education program and graduate program for supervisors.

Welton Stoker (MED ’90) is assistant principal at Gainesville High School, Gainesville, TX. He previously was an assistant principal at Paris High School and principal at Gainesville Middle School.

Steve Bragg (MED ’91) was recently selected by a unanimous vote of the Commerce ISD School Board as the new CISD Athletic Director and Head Coach.

Angeline (Angie) Hawkes Craig (BA ’91) recently had a short story published, "The Courage Within," by Bardsong Press in a Celtic theme anthology entitled Offerings for the Green Man. She and Rob Craig (BS ’93) are expecting their second child in September 2000, who will join their son, Ian, three years old.

Ed Ohan (BBA ’91), a teacher at W. S. Permenter Middle School in Cedar Hill, TX, volunteered over 111 hours of spring break vacation to paint the walls of the Permenter gymnasium for free. He plans on painting other areas of the school in the future.

Randy Reid (MED ’91) will leave the principal’s job at Richardson High School in June to become assistant superintendent for the Berkner/Lake Highlands attendance area. He was principal at Lake Highlands Junior High from 1993 until he was named Richardson High principal in 1996.

Jeffrey D. Simmons (BBA ’91) and Candace M. Hargrove (BS ’00) were married on March 11 in Las Vegas. He is employed by Ericsson in Richardson.

Larry Acker (BS ’92) has been the public relations director for Langston University in Langston, OK since May 1995. He and his wife, Lori Ann, are Greenville, TX natives and have a daughter, Ashli. He completed his MED degree at Langston in 1999.

Larry Gage (BA ’92), editorial writer and member of the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board for 28 years, recently retired. His career spanned 48 years and began by hand-lettering his own Jennings Star as an eighth-grader in Lamar County, then graduating to The Delmar Eagle in high school, The Bat at Paris Junior College and The East Texan at ETSU (Texas A&M University-Commerce). While at Texas A&M University-Commerce, he worked his way through school as editor and printer at The Commerce Journal, then a six-page daily.

Aubrey R. Todd III (MED ’92) has been appointed principal of John Tyler High School in Tyler, TX. He was previously dean of instruction/assistant principal of Seagoville High School in the Dallas ISD. While he was assistant principal in Round Rock ISD, his school was selected as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School.

Rebecca Bloom (MED ’93) is employed at John Quincy Adams Elementary in Dallas, and has been grade level chairperson, received her ESL certification, is a District Literacy Coordinator and was voted Teacher of the Year for 2000-2001.

Rebecca Brannon Fetting (BS ’93) is currently employed by Oasis Consolidated Investments Inc., as human resources supervisor. She is responsible for all payroll, insurance, and tax needs. She was married in March 2000 to Jay Fetting, manager for Circle K Stores.

Jeffrey C. Shrode (BS ’93) is head athletic trainer for Jacksonville ISD. He is married to Julie Goodrich-Shrode (BSW ’93), a child protective service worker for Cherokee County. They welcomed their first child, Jerrod Charles, on February 26, 2000.

Barbara Kay Steib (BSW ’93) was recently honored with the Academic Excellence Award for Graduate Studies at Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos. She is currently working as an intern, counseling victims, for the Williamson County Crisis Center.

Jim Bush (BS ’94, MS ’96) will be directing "big—The Musical," for the Department of Communication and Theatre at Texas A&M University-Commerce during the month of July. He worked professionally in the technical aspects of theatre for several years before returning to college to earn his degrees. He is returning to campus for the fourth time in seven years to work on the summer musical. He is married to Kim Deaton Bush (BBA ’93) who is the office manager in the Center for Professional Development on campus.

Chad Helberg (BS ’94) has been employed as the athletic trainer at Paris High School since August 1995, where he resides with his wife Mandy, son Allan Andrew "Drew" (3), and daughter Chandi Kay, born on March 27, 2000.

Jamie Holcomb (BSIS ’94) married Aaron Anderson on July 17, 1999. She is a fifth grade teacher in the Garland ISD and is pursuing her Master’s degree at Texas A&M University-Commerce in order to become a diagnostician.

1995-99

Kristie McWaters Atwood (BBA ’95) and Darrell Atwood (BSCJ ’96) are both employed by University of Texas Medical Branch Correctional Managed Care. She works at the Bradshaw State Jail in Henderson, TX as the unit health administrator. He works at the Hodge facility in Rusk, TX as a mental health liaison. They have a daughter, Chaynee, who is four years old.

Gianni McGrew (BBA ’95) and Ashanti Graham-McGrew (BBA ’95) are the proud parents of Ian Christopher McGrew, born January 19, 2000, weighing 7 pounds and 5 ounces. They also have another son, Gianni McGrew II, born on May 22, 1997.

Joseph Mitro (BS ’95) married Kim Turrentine of Garland in October 1999. He has recently graduated from UT-Houston Medical School and is starting his OB/Gyn residency in July 2000.

Corey D. Kershaw (BS ’96) recently became an MD. He will practice his residency at Emory University in Atlanta, GA in internal medicine.

Raeane McFadden (BSIS ’96) married Rene Lira on June 3, 2000. She is a middle school mathematics teacher in the Greenville ISD.

Charles David Moore (BSIS ’96) is teaching fifth and sixth grade and Molly Saldivar Moore (BSIS ’97) teaches eighth grade at Wills Point, TX. They welcomed their second daughter, Haiden Colbi, on January 27, 2000.

Susan Spiers (MS ’96) was recently honored by the Grand Saline High School Student Council by having a live oak tree dedicated in her name. In her career in education, she taught math, coached volleyball and basketball, and was a cheerleader sponsor. The tree was dedicated to her for her love, comfort, and caring for children.

Chesley Bryan (BS ’97) was recently promoted to web site operations manager of KLTV, Channel 7 in Tyler. He began his career in 1997 as director of marketing research.

Joe Castillo (BS ’97, MS ’99) was recently promoted to assistant football coach for The Colony High School, The Colony, TX. He is engaged to Angie Nunez (BA ’99).

Misti Dawn Crawford Jones (BS ’97) was married in November 1998 to Kyle E. Jones. They reside in Lubbock and operate an outdoor outfitting retail business. She also works part-time for Lubbock Younglife.

Andrea Doreen Harvey Milam (BA ’97) was married to Derek Wayne Milam (BS ’97) on July 25, 1998. He has worked at Jackson Technology Center in the Garland ISD since 1997 as a health and physical education teacher. He also coaches football and basketball. She has worked at Walnut Hill Elementary School in Dallas ISD for the past two years as a pre-kindergarten teacher. They currently reside in Garland, TX.

Dr. Cheryl Lynn Rogers (EDD ’97) was recently presented the "Women Leading in the Arts" award by Texas College. She is the director of music and dance at Tyler Junior College. She taught at Kilgore Junior High School before joining TJC.

Pamela Casey Sutton (EDD ’99) is presently associate professor of English at Union University in Jackson, TN.

Mark Whitson (BS ’99) was recently named one of the Top Ten Seniors by the College of Business and Technology at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Julie Fugler Willis (BS ’99) and her husband have recently been transferred from Plano, TX to Sampford Peverell, England. They work for a steel detailing firm and were asked to open an office abroad in hopes of breaking into the European construction market.

Former Students

Lane Aikin is a Texas Ranger stationed in Wise County.

Danny Ballard was recently honored at the annual banquet of the Chisum High Incentive Program for Seniors Foundations, Inc. He currently serves as president and CEO of Legacymakers, Inc., a financial services company which he began in Paris, TX. He expanded to Austin in 1994 and in 1999 the business managed more than $42 million of invested assets, ranking it the 7th largest financial planning firm in Austin.

Fred Brice had submitted for publication in Readers Digest approximately April 1991 a short witticism. His current literary activities are limited to reading editorials and "A Few Words," a weekly article in the Dallas Morning News.

Lynn Gray recently retired as business development officer of The First National Bank of Bowie after 21 years of service. He is a longtime resident of Montague and has been very active in the community.

Tanis Hager was recently presented a three-year service pin by Guaranty Bank of Paris, TX. She joined Guaranty Bank in April 1996 as vice president and commercial loan officer.

Dr. Royce Hill has a family practice in Carthage, TX. He is a member of the American Medical Association and the Texas Medical Association.

Kevin James recently performed at Arlington Stadium, at KYNG’s annual, "Young Country Christmas," opening for The Kinleys. In March 2000, he auditioned to perform the National Anthem for The Texas Rangers Baseball Team. He made the final cut of 45, out of 2000, to perform. He was also nominated by "Lonestar Music Association" for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Dick Latson was recently the showcase businessman in the "Town & Gown" column in The Commerce Journal, written by Ivory Moore. He began his printing business in 1977 in downtown Commerce and has expanded extensively since that time. He is also very involved in community activities.

Donna Tavener was recently named Secondary Teacher of the Year at Commerce ISD. She has been teaching 26 years, the last two at Commerce High School, teaching chemistry, integrated physics and chemistry, and vocational plastics. She is to assume the cheerleading sponsorship at CHS next year.

Dalford Todd received his law license in January, 1939 and is still practicing in general practice in Dallas. He works with his two sons, David, a lawyer, and Mark, office manager. He and his wife, Pansy, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and his 83rd birthday in October 1999.

Stanley N. Willman is a retired public school teacher/principal and owns a lawn and garden service.