Ruby L. Bourne (BS ’33) died on August 7, 2000. She was a teacher and a counselor for 44 years in the Albuquerque, New Mexico School District.

Tollie Raymond Buie (BS ’34) died on June 9, 2000. He headed the agricultural department at Southwest Texas State University. In 1996, SWT named him distinguished professor emeritus. He was listed in the Who’s Who in American Education, and he received a Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Office of Education for service to the field of agriculture.

Jacquelin Mooneyham (BS ’34) passed away on August 16, 2000. She was a recruit in the Women’s Army Corps, and she later joined the U.S. Air Force during World War II. She was a retired lieutenant colonel.

Elizabeth McClure Strickland (BA ’34) passed away on July 21, 2000.

Flora Burden (BA ’37, MED ’62) died August 8, 2000. She was a teacher in Ferris and Wilmer-Hutchins for 17 years. She was also the principal of Hutchins Baptist School.

Willie Lee Pippin Gray (BS ’38, MED ’51) passed away on April 4, 2000.

Eva Mason (BS ’38) died July 7, 2000. She taught school at several locations, including Knight’s Bluff, Courtland, Queen City, and the South Park Public School in Beaumont. She was a past president of Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers’ Sorority.

Nebbie Lee Collins Williams (BS ’38, MED ’56) died on July 18, 2000. She taught for 43 years. The Nebbie Williams Elementary School was dedicated in her name by the Rockwall ISD.

James Hulon Witcher (BA ’38, MA ’47) passed away on June 15, 2000 in Dallas. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II and a teacher and principal in the Wills Point ISD and other schools in the area.

Robert Wayne Walling (BS ’39) died on July 14, 2000. He was the owner of White’s Auto Store in Ryan. He was a veteran of World War II, and he served in the Navy National Guard. He coached at Texas A&M University during his enlistment.

Ms. Robert Frances “Bob” Knight Edmondson (BS ’40) passed away May 6, 2000. She was a medical technologist and a retired teacher.

Doris Ruth Harvey Echols (BA ’41) passed away August 7, 2000. She taught at Paris High School. She also served as the Delta County Treasurer for two years.

Mildred Follis (BS ’41, MED ‘52) passed away August 14, 2000. She taught English at Lamesa High School for 36 years and was the cheerleader sponsor. The Golden Tor gym was named the O.W. and Mildred Follis Gym in 1997 in her and her husband’s honor.

Martha Ritter Harmon (BS ’43) passed away on May 5, 1999. She was the first woman district manager for Lone Star Gas in Abilene, Texas. She was the past president of the Abilene Business and Professional Women’s Club, as well as a member of the Altrusa Club, and she was named a YWCA Pathfinder in 1990. She was a member of the Abilene Women’s Club, Community Theater, the Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Home Economics Association, the American Association of University Women, United Way, and Business Aid Organization, and also served on the Volunteer Council at the Abilene State School.

Stella Turner Tafton (BA ’44, MED ’53) died on June 24, 2000. She taught English in Lamar County and retired from North Lamar ISD, Paris, TX.

John Wilkerson Shaddix (BS ’46, MS ’47) died on June 11, 2000. He was a teacher, and he later became a principal at Fairview School in San Angelo. He also served in the 85th Battalion in the Aleutian and Hebrides Islands.

George Truett Cates (BS ’47, MS ‘47) died on July 31, 2000 in Manchaca, Texas. With a master’s degree in mathematics, he began a twenty-eight year career with the National Federation of Independent Business. He later owned his own consulting business, served on the Memorial Spring Branch Rotary Club, and the Board of the National Write Your Congress Organization.

Grover Cleveland Grubb (BS ’50, MS ’50) died on July 20, 2000. He taught engineering courses for 35 years at Arlington State College, now the University of Texas at Arlington. As a professor emeritus, he continued to teach after his retirement.

Joseph “Big Joe” Mode Chandler (BS ’51) died July 29, 2000. He was a San Antonio transportation executive. During his career, he served as the Red Arrow Freight Lines chief executive officer, the president of the Common Carrier Motor Freight Association, and as a director of the Texas Motor Transportation Association. He was a member of the National Motor Freight Classification Committee and the American Trucking Association’s National Accounting and Finance Council. He also served with the Army Corps with the 101st Airborne Division during the Korean War. A member of the T-Association, he lettered in football and track while at the University.

Mable Barry Hale (BS ’51) passed away on July 6, 2000. She had a 36-year teaching career. She taught school in Pine Branch, Travis, Johntown, Bogata, Amherst, and Clarksville.

Helen Sorrells (BS ’52) died on July 24, 2000 in Ardmore. She taught music and served as a church organist for 55 years.

Julius Acker (BS ’56) passed away July 27, 2000 in Dallas. He was the vice president of technology for ITW Electronics. He also served in the U.S. Air Force.

Bonnie Lee Scott Cox (BS ’56) passed away August, 2000. She taught reading and language arts at Foster Junior High in the Longview ISD for 22 years. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta sorority and the Texas Retired Teacher’s Association.

Billie Jean Hanna (MED ’58) passed away August 18, 2000. She taught at Kemp High School, served as a municipal judge, and was on the Kemp City Council. She received the Texas Hero for Children Award from the State Board of Education and also served on the Child Welfare Board.

Dr. Joe Goodwin (BA ’59, MA ’60) died on July 11, 2000. He taught at the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas, and the Elkins Institute of Broadcast TV and Radio. He received his PhD in journalism from the University of Denver.

Robert Scotty Pickering (BS ’61) died on July 21, 2000. He was the general manager of Buckhead Safety Cab for 18 years.

Dr. Jerry Ables (MS ’63, PHD ’69) died August 29, 2000. He was the high school principal in Greenville ISD before he retired in 1992. He began his career teaching at Bells, and he later became an instructor at Grayson County Junior College. He also served as a curriculum director at Brownwood ISD, and as a principal at Greenwood ISD.

Roy Gene Presley (BS ’68) died on July 25, 2000. He was a coach, and he taught in the Dallas Independent School District for 32 years, most recently at Woodrow Wilson High School.

Charles Pierce (MS ’71) passed away August 15, 2000. He was the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church for 35 years.

Lorie Kay Cheek (BA ’73) passed away on July 17, 2000. She taught school in Los Fresnos, TX, and at Atwell Middle School, Dallas ISD.

Jeffrey Harlan Smith (BS ’75, MS ’76) passed away July 22, 2000. He was a retired school teacher.

Kenneth “Kenny” Lawrence Foretich (BS ’77, MS ’81) passed away September 6, 2000 in Dallas. He previously taught and coached football and other sports in Royse City, Campbell, Cooper and Honey Grove, and was employed at Windham School District in Bonham. He taught GED at the Cole Buster State Prison in Bonham, owned and operated Chain Reaction Bicycle Shop in Commerce until June 2000, and owned and operated the Kettle Restaurant in Greenville.

Nickey (Nick) Lynn Childress (BBA ’79) died July 11, 2000. He worked in the real estate appraisal field.

Daryl Gene Moody (BS ’80) died on August 6, 2000. He served as a Red Cross Disaster Specialist, and worked for Southwestern Bell for over 15 years. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Rebecca Miller (BS ’84) died on August 9, 2000 in Plano. She was a teacher in Anna, Princeton, Kennedale, and Aston, PA. She was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority.

Leah Nadine (Poco) Dent (Current Student) passed away on July 22, 2000. She was a senior at Texas A&M University-Commerce majoring in Early Childhood Education.

Wanda Patrick Guest (Former Student) passed away on July 17, 2000. She worked as a cashier in several banks in East Texas, serving most of her time at The National Bank of Daingerfield. She was also an active volunteer in the community.

Benny Kennith “Kenny” Rae (Former Student) passed away on August 21, 2000. He was an officer for the Taylor Jaycees, and he received the 1999 Jaycee of the Year award. Also, he was the director of the Taylor Chamber of Commerce.

Thomas “Tom” Singleton, Jr. (Former Student) died on August 21, 2000. He had a successful career in real estate and residential building and land development.

Dorothy Reaves Staton (Former Student) passed away July 11, 2000. She taught school at Leesburg and owned Staton Building Materials in Jacksonville, TX.

Al “Larry” Watson (Former Student) died on August 27, 2000. He retired as a Vocational Technical Professor at Kilgore College.

Louise Decou (Former Employee) passed away on July 5, 2000. She was a secretary in the Financial Aid Office at Texas A&M University-Commerce.