PHS Alumni Online Stories
Class of 1923
Harry Gillespie
  Celebrates Birthday, and Mayor Bob Herrington presented 104-year-old Palestine native with a Distinguished Citizen certificate.
Gwendolyn meets her great-grandfather for the first time ever


Class of 1924
Lura Udell Lunsford Howard
  Lived in Palestine at the time of her marriage to William Kirkland Howard, but the marriage took place in Rusk January 1, 1926. At the age of 14 years, he worked for the Western Union Telegraph Company in Palestine. Later he became a taxi driver and bus operator in Palestine.


Class of 1931
Ola Belle Clark Broughton
  Walter and Ola Belle Broughton celebrate 75 years of marriage. At 98, Walter Broughton is the Palestine Ranger Co. A’s oldest member. He and his wife, Ola, who is 95, have been married for 77 years.


Class of 1934
Neual Braly
  Celebrates almost 80 years of Braly Builders Supply being in business at the same location when "North Jackson was the main road to Dallas".


Class of 1936
Mary Poole Callaway
  Celebrates her 90th birthday with a party from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Gathering Place at Cartmell Home


Class of 1937
Frances Smith Friedman
  As Director of the Hudnall Planetarium at Tyler Junior College, she wrote a comprehensive report which provided an interesting insight into the history and culture of the Planetarium.


Elizabeth Stafford Hutchinson
  Has attended every presidential inauguration since 1953 and kept the inaugural attendance record going in 2009. Listen to an interview on NPR and watch her on Fox News

Mother of former Assistant United States Attorney Stafford Hutchinson creates a Christmas tie tree as a memorial dedication at the Main Street Palestine office in the old Carnegie Library.


Class of 1939
Ted Broughton
  Participates in Houston Ground Angels, a network of volunteers who donate their time to help provide free healthcare access to patients in need of transportation

Story of a 1942 'crocodile hunting trip' out of 17 Mile strip at Port Moresby, New Guinea while serving in the 38th Bomb Group

Class of 1941
Virginia Woodward
Ann Crutchfield
Shirley Dickson
Mary Quick
Four "girls" from the Class of 1941 gathered recently for a birthday luncheon at Arturo's Italiano restaurant in Houston.

Class of 1942
Norman W Mollard
  Honoring an Ace of World War 2. The Palestine Library will house many of his papers, photographs and mementos.

Mary Smith Coers
  In April 2005, she named Brad Ausmus as her favorite Houston Astros player while at Minute Maid Park on opening day.

Class of 1946
Dudley Hughes
  Received the Oustanding Explorer Award at AAPG’s Annual Convention in San Antonio in 2008. Among his many honors are outstanding wildcatter awards from the Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association and the All American Wildcatters, lifetime achievement recognition from the Alabama Oil & Gas Board, induction into the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame and a Distinguished Achievement Medal from Texas A&M. He has an Endowed Chair in the College of Geosciences. He has a twin brother Dan, also has younger twin sisters, Jane and June.

June Poole Woolverton
  Celebrates her 80th birthday at a reception Sunday, June 28, 2009 at Harmony Baptist Church


Class of 1947
Sherry Albritton
  Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame and numerous honors compiled in a Digital Scrapbook (Large file 17 mb) completed fifty years of teaching in 2000

Class of 1948
Charles Petrovich
  University of Texas 1952 football team

Class of 1950
Carl Avera
  Local Historian
He can trace his love of history back to his days as a school boy and brings his love of history to Museum for East Texas Culture.
He has completed a short history of the Temple Opera House which opened in 1879 and remained open until 1928.

Class of 1952
Jerry Hall
College: Rice Uniuversity
Professional: Drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1956

Willie Langston
  Vaude and Willie Langston of Palestine were honored with a 50th wedding anniversary dinner.

Class of 1954
Cad Williams
  The generosity of Cad and Francis Williams upholds a tradition of educational support that dates back to the 1850s. Mound Prairie Institute 1852 Palestine Female Academy 1858

Class of 1955
Don Stewart
College: Southern Methodist University
Football, basketball and track teams as a freshman in 1955-56
Played varsity football in 1956, 1958 and 1959 (red shirt 1957)
SMU's first NCAA track champion when he tied for first place in the high jump, won the high jump outright in 1958
three straight All-American honors in the high jump - the program's first All-American
Professional: Drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1959, but returned to SMU to play last eligible season after being drafted.
Went to Baltimore for the 1960 season, but had surgery on both knees during the 1960 season. Was sent home near the end of the exhibition season in 1961.

Class of 1956
John Morris
  Palestine Community Theatre's 2008 holiday production of "O Little Town of Bagels, Teacakes, and Hamburger Buns" directed by John Morris and written by Jeanette Clift George is centered around Palestine's Hotel O'Neill across from the railroad depot on Spring Street. Memories do come alive this holiday at the Texas Theatre.

Class of 1958
Carl Bradley
  Wedding Singer
Music was by Dr. Carl Bradley and Mrs. Judy Weill for the wedding of Colette Chadwell and Nathan Loudin who were married Jan. 13, 2007 at Southside Baptist Church.

Richard Farris
College: North Texas State
Football played 1961 and 1962 where he served as captain his senior year
Tyler Junior College
Inducted into the Circle of Honor in 2009, was a member of the 1960 national championship football team that finished the regular season 12-0. The Apaches earned a trip to the Junior Rose Bowl, was an NJCAA All-American at tackle.
Professional: 1962 Los Angeles Rams after being drafted in 1962 along with Roman Gabriel and Merlin Olsen

James Saxton
College: University of Texas
Football All-American 1961, eventually finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting and Texas Sports Writers Association Amateur Athlete of the Year award
1962 Cotton Bowl
Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1973
College Football Hall of Fame in 1996
Professional: Dallas Texans
National Football Foundation Hall of Fame

Class of 1959
Tad Dunbar
  Reno, Nevada KOLO-TV news anchor for 38 years to retire at the end of July 2007   Final Broadcast   Nevada Governor Proclamation   Congressional Record  
Video Tribute

Class of 1960
Michael B Dear
  Raises quality fullblood Boer Goats and Texas Longhorns Doable and has riding mules for sale

Rides with the Palestine Bikers Association and has earned the Iron Butt Association Saddle Sore 1,000 award

Provided books for Palestine ISD students as part of the Sheriff’s DARE program in 2008


Class of 1961
George Rice
  George and his wife Bennye '62 are members and officers of the Lone Star Jeep Club in Mesquite

Ginny Schmidt
  Honored as Texas CASA Volunteer Of The Year from McKinney. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

Class of 1962
Bennye Reed Rice
  Bennye Rice was presented the "Jack Nelson Festival Volunteer of the Year" Award for 2006 at the 2007 Mesquite Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet Friday, January 19, 2007. This award was given to Bennye for the work she does on the Mesquite Rodeo Parade and 4th Fest.

Bennye and her husband George Rice '61 are members and officers of the Lone Star Jeep Club in Mesquite

Class of 1963
Ann Pessoney
  A TV interview about facing adversity after a fire, The EmilyAnn Theatre's 10th year of the Trail of Lights show went on as usual in 2007

Joe Routh
  Military service on the USS Canberra in the 1960's.

A Hines Engineer Rides to Work as a Star Riders Member and proudly participates in the Patriot Guard Riders

Class of 1964
Rudy Ramirez
  discovered he was descended from a little known hero of Texas history, Dona Senora Francisca Alvarez or The Angel of Goliad. He was a speaker at the 2007 Anderson County History Forum. A wreath laying ceremony was held in Goliad March 25, 2007. A website to 'preserve the memory of the incredible lady that will be remembered forever for her kindness, humanitarian deeds and a merciful heart, that saved many lives and comforted many others. She has been recognized by many as a real Mexican heroine of the Texas Revolution' is Angel of Goliad Descendants Historical Preservation.


Class of 1965
Bill Bradley
High School: Texas High School Football Hall of Fame
All-Time High School Team QB & DB
College: University of Texas
'Super Bill'
Professional: Philadelphia Eagles
Philly booed Santa Claus but not Bill
Coach:
Legend starts new chapter at Baylor
Palestine's Bradley returns to Texas
For Baylor, best defense is a 'crazy coordinator'
San Diego Chargers hire second secondary coach
Video story
San Diego Chargers coach talks about his past

Curtis Fitzgerald
  Hometown Hero, one of the most highly decorated veterans in Anderson County, was honored by U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling

Memories of war still vivid for local veteran

Class of 1966
Don Seale
  Retirement from Union Pacific after 34 years of employment

Class of 1967
Sharon Cade Davis
  41 years after graduating, still hasn't quite gotten teaching and politics out of her system.

Class of 1968
Deborah Smith Pegues
  PHS alumna, author to speak on financial crisis while attending her 40th high school reunion. Correction to PHP online story; her website is Confronting Life's Issues
A Written Interview An Audio Interview A Video Interview

Class of 1969
Bascom W. Bentley III
  State District Judge helps honor war hero

Class of 1970
James H. Davis
  Co-founder of titleX.com, an online title and records search firm in 2001 with Jackson Hanks, Celia C. Flowers and Dan Bartlett.

Jackson Hanks
  Co-founder of titleX.com, an online title and records search firm in 2001 with James H. Davis, Celia C. Flowers and Dan Bartlett.

Robert McFarlane
College: Harvard Medical School
As he tells it, he applied to Harvard "almost as a lark." Four years later he graduated ...
  Part of the Trinity Basin Conservation Foundation dedicated to improve the quality of life, economic sustainability and ecological integrity of areas associated with the Trinity River Basin through a coalition of local communities, NGO's and stewards of private and public lands.

Helped organize the Middle Trinity River Basin Conservation Cooperative dedicated to preventing fragmentation of habitat and maintaining natural travel corridors for wildlife, while simultaneously attempting to restore the land to what it was a century ago.

Class of 1972
Bert Bowden
High School: Valedictorian
College: United States Naval Academy 1976
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School 1980
Naval Aerospace Medical Institute
Military: Flew as a Flight Surgeon until 1984
In 1987 was assigned as the Head, Dept of Ophthalmology, Naval Hospital Jacksonville
Performed duties of general ophthalmologist until 1990
Began Orbital & Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery training in Beverly Hills
Assigned as the Director for Orbital & Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the President's Hospital, the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
Was the Oculoplastic physician for all members of the House, Senate, Judicial, and Executive Branches
Retired from military as a Captain selectee in July 1996
Business:
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

Class of 1973
Guy Brown III
College: University of Houston
Professional:
Dallas CowboysSuper Bowl XIII

Felder Gurganus
 
Spoke in support of Glen Tunstall in 2008.

Ann Lumley
 
PHS grad gets promotion to Chief Quality Officer at Longview Regional Medical Center

Class of 1975
Dana Cook Staples
  Elected to the PISD Board of Trustees in 2001.
As board president lead the adoption of a standardized dress code in 2006.
Lost and found journey of Gizmo the cat in 2007.
Opposed the reassignment of Glen Tunstall in 2008.

Bob Herrington
  Elected Mayor in 2009.
Saturday marked nearly 50 years after his late father, Johnnie Herrington, served two terms as Mayor of Palestine, Herrington and his sister Ann Mottern noted. His first wife Cindy’s father, Jack Selden, also served as mayor and remains active in the community.

Glen Tunstall
  Palestine High School athletic director and head football coach 1998-2007
2007 reassignment grievance finalized in 2008.

Class of 1976
Marcus Lee
  A small-town education did big things for a graduate who is celebrating his recent promotion to Director of Global Branding within a multi-billion dollar insurance company.

Class of 1977
Willie Langston
College: Texas A&M / Stanford
Business: Avalon Advisors story in the 2002 Houston Business Journal
Honors:
Texas A&M Mays Business School 2007 Outstanding Alumni Award
Community:
Serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Houston Christian High School

Class of 1979
Michael Bennett
  Serves on the PISD Board 2005-

Class of 1982
Richard Scoggin
  Palestine native and current Livingston High School principal selected as Superintendent of Oakwood ISD

PHS Principal leaves after 5 years


Class of 1984
Jeff Williams
College: Texas A&M
Business: Bridgeport Animal Hospital
Honors:
2004 Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce Director and past President honored for outstanding service
2007 Citizen of the Year by the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce

Class of 1989
James Shelton
High School: All State Track 1987, 1988, 1989 High Jump
College: Blinn College All American Track 1990, 1991 High Jump

Class of 1991
Art Sherrod Jr
High School: All State Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone. Also chosen as an alternate to the McDonalds All-American Band.
Professional: Performed during the 2009 Potomac Jazz and Seafood Festival to celebrate Maryland’s 375th birthday.

Class of 1992
Heather Robinson
 Portrait of Heather Robinson at Vivian Field Middle School in Farmers Branch, Texas on Sept. 23, 2008. Ms. Robinson has taught at the school for six years and currently teaching a college preparatory course. "I Am Not A Babysitter" article published in Newsweek, October 11, 2008
It is said that teaching is the profession that creates all other professions. That's a beautiful compliment for a job that often does not receive the respect one would predict given all of the platitudes bestowed upon teachers. "God bless you!" "What a noble profession" and "I couldn't do it, but thank goodness there are people like you out there" are a few that I've received.
She has taught at Vivian Field Middle School in Farmers Branch, Texas for six years and currently teaching a college preparatory course.

Class of 1995
Mike Davis
  Palestine law student wins national competition as lead counsel in the Texas Tech University Law School Arbitration team which won the national championship over law schools from across the nation in the National Arbitration Competition

Class of 2002
Sarah Rhodes
  As a freshman theatre major at Northwestern State University, she competed in a Miss America preliminary pageant. She is the daughter of William and Lucille Rhodes, and was a member of the National Honor Society and Alpha Psi Omega. She appeared in the Northwestern production of "Twelfth Night" and the annual Christmas Gala.

Class of 2003
Golf Team Second in State
Jeremy Frye
Jeffrey Frye
Taylor Paul
Michael Douthit
Tara Lambright

Jonathan Cary
High School:
Third-team All Atate Football in Class 4A for coach Jeff Harrell... First-team all-District 14-4A and all-east Texas, as well as earning a spot in Who's Who Among American High School Athletes... Selected to Dave Campbell's Super Team in Texas Football and to the Prep Star all-region squad
College: Rice University

Colette Chadwell
  Chadwell-Loudin Wedding daughter of Sidney and Susan Chadwell of Palestine and Wayne and Jeannie Rhodes of Valparaiso, Ind., and Nathan Loudin of Belton, son of Jeff and Sherry Loudin of Belton were married Jan. 13 at Southside Baptist Church in Palestine. David Bradley performed the double ring ceremony at 1 p.m. Music was by Dr. Carl Bradley and Mrs. Judy Weill.

Michael Douthit
High School:
Golf State Finalist
College: Golfer at UT Arlington on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee

Jeremy Frye
High School:
Golf State Finalist
Was a member of the three-time district championship team for coach Tommy Allison at Palestine High School...Set the AJGA 54-hole record at 19-under-par...Was a Polo third-team All-American...Won the 2002 district championship...Was the 2001 regional champion...State runner-up in 2003...Was the AJGA Abilene Reporter News Junior Champion...Off the course, was a member of Interact
College: Baylor University

Class of 2004
Adrian Peterson
High School: High School Video Highlights
From childhood tragedy to prize recruit
Top Story of 2003
National Player of the Year
College: University of Oklahoma
Chasing greatness in 2006
2006 All-Big 12 Conference Football Team
2007 Fiesta Bowl might be last chance
Professional:
Declared for 2007 draft
Ready for the NFL
Bio on the Vikings' first-round draft pick
Hometown Honors

Class of 2005
Mark Gold
  2008 Candidate for Student Body President at Texas A&M and is endorsed by the 'The Battalion'

Golf Team State Champions
2005 Golf State Champions
Jeffrey Schwab
Joseph Totah
Jacob Taylor
Steve Herrington
Jeremy Lambright

Class of 2006
Golf Team State Champions Again
Joseph Totah, Senior
Steve Herrington, Senior
Jacob Taylor, Senior
Jeremy Lambright, Soph
Nicholas Varela

Joseph Totah
High School:
2006 Class 3A state medalist, 2006 and 2005 state championship team, 2003 Starburst Champion
College: Odessa College
2007 Western Junior College Athletic Conference championship

Class of 2007
Justin Lambright
  Air Force Airman Lambright graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base earning distinction as an honor graduate. He is the son of Sherry Pike, and grandson of Shirley Lambright, both of Palestine.

Class of 2008
Debate Team
State Champion Cross-Examination Debate Team
Hannah Abernathy
Hillary Malone
  2007 National Forensic League Debate Circuit

Traci Jane Paris
2008 Dogwood Queen

topBack to the Top