HALL OF FAME - HEB Independent School District

2011
HURST - EULESS - BEDFORD ISD
HALL OF FAME
HEB ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION

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TONIGHT’S EVENTS
Registration and Basket Raffle to Benefit the Foundation
Invocation
Dinner and Entertainment
Introductions and Recognitions
Presentation of Hall of Fame Awards
Closing Remarks
We want to thank the musicians, singers and dancers who performed for this special event.
LD Bell High School Student String Quartet
Stephanie Hicks
Tracy Morgan
Logan Rojas
Kevin Wang
Allison King, Director
Trinity High School Show Choir, Harmony
Michael Dean, Director

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Silver Sponsors
Neal and Sonja Adams
Allied Waste Services
Gene and Mary Kay Buinger
Dr. Ronald Caloss
Steve and Claudia Sue Meeks
6 Stones Mission Network
Benenati Law Firm, P.C.
Bill Ridgway
Century 21 Mike Bowman, Inc.
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD Cabinet
2011 HALL OF FAME SPONSORS
As of print date
VIP Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Foundation Friend Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Atmos Energy
Bedford Hotel Association
City of Euless
Delgado Orthodontics, P.A.
Liberty Bank
Tim Philpot and David Schoening of Preservation Financial
Qualtex
ONCOR
Hurst Euless Bedford Chamber of Commerce
Kaner Medical Group, P.A.
Leach & Fox, Estate Attorneys
Shalyn S. Clark Insurance and Financial Services
Tarrant County College, Northeast Campus
The mission of the HEB ISD Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is to raise significant funds for classroom
teacher grants, recognize outstanding educators, students and alumni, and promote the HEB ISD’s proven “Different by Design”
approach to excellence in education.
HEB ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Faye Beaulieu, Ph.D., President
Kay Miller, Vice President
Ellen Jones, Secretary
Jeff Burnett, D.Min.
Andy Cargile
Mark Cyrier
Jim Schooler
HEB ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOARD
Officers
Brent Mcllvain, President
Shalyn Clark, Immediate Past President
Alicia McGlinchey, Vice President
Gene Buinger, Ed.D., Secretary
John Buckalew, CPA, Treasurer
Steve Meeks, At Large
Directors
Rebecca Barksdale
Andy Cargile
Pam Conley
Jeff Corbet, D.D.S.
Larry Darlage, Ph.D.
Darryl Day
Mike Delgado, D.D.S., M.S.
Steve Farco
Roger Fisher
Mary Martin Frazior, IOM
Directors cont’d
V’Ann Giuffre
Jerry Goad
Rick Harwell
Diane Hildreth
Moiz Kurani
David Leach
Terry Leach
Jesus Oquendo
Debbie Paganelli
Tena Pitts
Tim Philpot
Amy Powell
Bill Ridgway
Keith Riewe
Jamie Tongate
Advisors
Derek DeGuire
Lois Nixon
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BUDDY WHITTINGTON Distinguished LD Bell Graduate
Buddy Whittington “entered the arena” December 28, 1956
at Pennsylvania Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Whittington family resided in Richland Hills and young
Bud attended Birdville Schools through 1970, when the
family moved to Hurst and Bud started eighth grade at Hurst
Junior High School. He graduated from LD Bell High School
with the class of 1975.
Whittington’s sister Tanda was a teenager when the
“British Invasion” took America by storm. It was through
investigating and learning from his sister’s diverse record
collection that Whittington was influenced early on by The
Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and John Mayall’s
Bluesbreakers, with whom he would later tour the world.
The Mayall organization offered a coveted guitar chair that
had been previously occupied by a young Eric Clapton,
Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green, and Rolling Stones
guitarist Mick Taylor.
Whittington and Cathy Carlock, LD Bell class of 1976, were
married in 1988. Their son, Robert, was born in September
1990, followed by Chelsea in September 1993. Both Robert
and Chelsea have attended HEB schools.
While Buddy toured with The Bluesbreakers in the
summer months, Cathy was PTA president at Donna Park
Elementary School, and she was very active in all facets of
school life. She is still active in the PTA and is an LD Bell
Raiderette mom. Chelsea is currently a senior at LD Bell, and
Robert attends Tarrant County College Northeast Campus.
“One music critic said that what sets
Buddy Whittington apart from other
singer/songwriters is his awesome
guitar playing.”
Whittington volunteered at school often, performing for
Western Day numerous times at Donna Park. He also
sent a daily postcard to school from whatever city he was
performing in around the world and the kids kept up
with his whereabouts on the classroom map. Whittington
attended the HEB Career Center (then known as “The
Annex”) his junior and senior years at LD Bell and studied
radio/TV repair under the tutelage of the late Mr. A.A.
Battles. Whittington’s son Robert also attended auto
collision classes at what is now the Technical Education
Center, instructed by Mr. Eric Stevens.
Throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century,
Whittington made music news. In 1994, he opened for ZZ
Top’s “Antenna World Tour.” In 2003 he played with former
Bluesbreakers Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor in a reunion
performance with John Mayall in Liverpool for Mayall’s
70th birthday party and benefit for UNICEF’s fight against
child exploitation. Whittington was a guest at the House of
Lords in London during his stay. The birthday concert was
recorded and released as a critically acclaimed live album.
In 2008 Whittington’s fifteen-year tenure with John Mayall
ended with Mr. Mayall disbanding The Bluesbreakers.
Whittington is now listed in “Rolling Stone’s Encyclopedia
of Rock & Roll” as lead guitarist for The Bluesbreakers.
Whittington released the first of three solo albums to date,
and continues to tour the US and Europe promoting his
own music. He has also appeared on “The Tonight Show”
with Jay Leno.
“Through her involvement with
PTA and the Board of Trustees,
Nancy Rippy Welton devoted a
major portion of her life to the
children of HEB.”
NANCY RIPPY WELTON Distinguished Former Board of Trustees Member
Nancy Rippy was raised in Fort Worth, graduated from
Carter Riverside High School, and attended NTSC, now
known as University of North Texas.
She married Bill Welton and they raised three children.
When Bill was transferred they lived in Michigan, Texas,
and Colorado before returning to Texas and relocating to
the HEB area in 1963.
As her children were growing up, Welton was active in
PTA and served as a leader of Blue Birds, Camp Fire Girls,
and den mother. She was PTA President of Shady Oaks
Elementary School and L.D. Bell High School, and she
received a Life Membership in PTA.
After her children were grown, Welton worked in
Dallas in the apparel industry, and she retired from
DFW International Airport in finance and purchasing.
In 1967 she decided to run for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford
ISD Board of Trustees and defeated the incumbent and
another candidate. Construction had begun on Trinity
High School but the District had run out of money, so the
first order of business was to pass a bond issue for new
schools and finish Trinity. During this time Harwood and
Bedford Junior Highs were built, along with six elementary
schools: Bedford Heights, Bell Manor, Lakewood, Shady
Brook, Hurst Hills, the present Administration building,
and South Euless Elementary was renovated.
Superintendent Odell wanted students in first through third
grade to attend West Hurst Elementary School and fourth
through sixth grade students to attend Hurst Hills Elementary
School. Welton kept the viewpoint of parents and
teachers in the forefront of her decision making and raised
the issue that parents would have to attend meetings and
school events at both schools as well as transport students
to and from both schools. After serious consideration,
Superintendent Odell agreed with Welton.
During Welton’s tenure, times were chaotic with issues
such as boys’ hair length, bussing, and dress codes being
questioned. At that time, girls could not wear pants to
school and the Board of Trustees realized Trinity High
School students would be cold since Trinity was an open
campus. The board changed the dress code to allow girls to
wear pantsuits when the weather was below 32 degrees. As
luck would have it, the temperature the next morning was 31
degrees, so Welton allowed her daughter, Fannette, a Trinity
student, to wear her new pantsuit to school. Principal BJ
Murray called Welton and requested that she pick up
Fannette, as he knew the rules had been changed, but
he had not been officially notified.
During this period, the HEB ISD board was recognized as
State Board of the year. When Welton decided not to run in
1979, her twelve-year tenure was the longest time served by
an HEB ISD Board member.
Welton’s oldest daughter, Debi, graduated from LD Bell High
School and her other children, Fannette and Greg, graduated
from Trinity High School. Welton has four grandchildren
and four great grandchildren.
The family joined the First United Methodist Church of
Hurst forty-eight years ago and Welton is still an active
member. She has always been active in the United Methodist
Women, where she has served in every office and has been
treasurer for many years.
Welton is currently serving her third term on the Hurst City
Council and still enjoying her life in this great community.
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JERRY LONGWELL Distinguished Former District Employee
Jerry Longwell grew up in Hamilton, Missouri. He earned
a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central
Methodist University, Fayette, Missouri, and a Master of
Music Education degree from Texas Christian University.
Beyond the master’s degree, he completed studies at the
University of North Texas to earn the Professional
Administrators Certificate.
While in graduate school, Longwell taught in the Chico and
Alvord, Texas schools. Upon completion of two years in the
U. S. Army, he returned to North Texas to teach band and
choir at Northwest High School in Justin. He came to the
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD in 1961, serving seven years as the
Band Director at L. D. Bell High School and eighteen years
as Director of Fine Arts. Upon his retirement he entered a
second career with New York Life Insurance Company and
became a senior partner in the Fort Worth office. Since
his second retirement he has continued to work as a
retired agent.
Longwell was the first Fine Arts Director in the HEB ISD.
During his tenure, the Fine Arts Department developed into
one of the most outstanding fine arts programs in Texas, a
reputation it has maintained for fifty years. The foundation
for the high standards present in the music, art, and theater
programs of today were laid down in those early years.
During Longwell’s seven years as Band Director at L. D. Bell
High School, the Blue Raider Band became recognized as
one of the outstanding high school bands in Texas. Both the
“Upon induction, Texas Bandmasters
Hall of Fame thanked Jerry Longwell
for his abilities, knowledge, service,
humor and smile. All of these
attributes have served music and
our state very well.”
marching band and the concert band earned high honors
in UIL, TMEA, and other contests. Many of the traditions
and performance standards that characterize today’s Bell
Band originated in those years. Longwell’s achievements as a
band director have been recognized by his induction into the
Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame and the TMEA Region 5
Band Directors Hall of Fame.
Longwell also served as President of the Texas Music
Educators Association and two terms as Chairman of the
UIL Music Advisory Committee. In addition, he served
on the Executive Committees of the Texas Music
Administrators Conference, the Texas Music Adjudicators
Conference, the Texas Music Educators Conference, and
the Texas Art Education Association. The Texas Education
Agency (TEA) appointed him as a member of the State
Textbook Committee and he was a contributing author
to the TEA Band Handbook.
Longwell and his wife, Maudell, live in Southlake, Texas.
They have two children, Erin and Kris, and three
grandchildren. They are members of the First United
Methodist Church of Hurst where he teaches adult classes
and has served in a number of lay leadership positions. He
has volunteered locally and nationally in a variety of social
justice causes and is currently the Chairman of the Global
Aids Fund Committee for Central Texas Annual Conference.
He is now the Treasurer for the HEB Retired School
Employees and has served as a volunteer mentor in the
HEB schools.
“Amy Sorlie said in a recent
interview that she was fascinated
with sharks at a very young age.”
AMY SORLIE Distinguished Trinity Graduate
Amy Sorlie is a screenwriter/journalist based in Los
Angeles. A 1996 graduate of Trinity High School, she was
raised in Colorado Springs until the age of twelve, when
her family relocated to Bedford, Texas.
Following her longtime writing aspirations, Sorlie moved
to Los Angeles in 2000 after graduating with a B.A. in
Communications/Journalism from the University of Texas
at Arlington. In 2010, her first feature film screenplay was
purchased and began production in South Africa and
London. “DARK TIDE,” a shark thriller starring Halle Berry,
is set to be released in 2012. An accomplished journalist,
Sorlie’s published works can be found in the pages of “Men’s
Journal,” “Los Angeles Magazine,” and “American Way.”
Currently residing in Los Angeles, Sorlie enjoys frequent
travel to the DFW area to visit family and friends. Vic and
Linda Sorlie (retired American Airlines Captain) and brother
Eric Sorlie (Trinity class of 1993 and current American
Airlines Captain) currently reside in the HEB area.
In her free time, Sorlie enjoys remaining active, cooking, and
enjoying the California sunshine. A longtime sports lover,
she lives for NFL Sundays as well as cheering on the Los
Angeles Lakers. Sorlie is currently working on other
film projects in development, as well as a television pilot.
She is currently a member of The Writers Guild and Women
In Film.
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GEORGIA KIDWELL Distinguished Community Leader
Georgia Kidwell grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She
attended Beloit College and graduated from the University of
Kansas. She received a master’s degree from Texas Woman’s
University. She and her family moved to Hurst in 1967. Bell
Helicopter had offered her husband, John, a position there.
The family chose a home close to Shady Oaks Elementary
School in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, where their children
could attend. They later attended Bedford Junior High and
Bell High School.
Kidwell became involved with Girl Scouts, PTA, and League
of Women Voters. Through the years, she served on the
Hurst Planning and Zoning Commission, the Traffic Safety
Committee, and the Historical Preservation Committee.
Currently, she is Chairman of the Hurst Planning and
Zoning Commission. In 2008, she received the Hurst
Citizen of the Year-Leadership Award.
In 1969, Kidwell helped found the Hurst Branch of the
American Association of University Women (AAUW), now
known as the Northeast Tarrant County Branch. She has
served in many positions in the organization. She also served
on the Texas State Board as Public Policy Chair. The Branch
established the Georgia Kidwell Research and Projects Grant
Endowment ($35,000) which was completed in 2006.
She has been an active member in the Tarrant County League
of Women Voters since she joined in 1969, including serving
as President 1979-1980. She is best known for moderating
candidate forums for city councils and school boards in the
Northeast area. Voter service and education are her big
interests. She was Member of the Year in 2005.
Kidwell has chaired the JPS Northeast Advisory Board since
1996. Her interest in providing health care for area children
led to the establishment of school-based clinics in area school
“Georgia Kidwell has a passion for
health and education issues, which
is why the second HEB ISD
school-based clinic was named in
her honor.”
districts. She was honored with having the second HEB ISD
school-based clinic named the Georgia Kidwell Child Health
Care Center in 2010.
After substitute teaching in HEB ISD for 12 years, Kidwell
accepted a position as a teacher at Bellaire Elementary
School in 1984. She served until her retirement in 2002.
While teaching, she served as President of the HEB Texas
State Teacher Association (TSTA) 1990-1991. She received
the Who’s Who Award in 1995 for her service to the HEB
TSTA. While teaching, she served on HEB strategic planning
committees and the Committee of Teacher Representatives.
She is a Life Member of the Texas PTA.
Since retirement, Kidwell has been active in the HEB Retired
School Employees, serving in various capacities, currently
Program Chair.
Joining the Rotary Club of HEB after retirement, Kidwell
took on the Vocational Services Chair position. In this
position, she oversees the HEB local scholarship program
and the Four Way Speech Contest. She was named Rotarian
of the Year 2008-2009.
Other groups she is a member of include Mid-Cities
Supporters of the Shelters, Mid Cities Pan-Hellenic,
Kappa Alpha Theta, and Pi Lambda Theta. She attends
St. Vincent’s Church. She has been a Girl Scout for more
than 50 years and has received the Service to Volunteers
Award and the “Thanks Badge.”
Kidwell’s husband, John, passed away in 1996. She has a son,
Jeffrey, a daughter and a son-in-law, Susan and Clyde Pine.
She has been blessed with grandchildren Savannah, Sydney,
and Jackson.
“One teacher said that Holley
Hendrickson is a great mentor in our
Trojan Talk Program. She helps teach
and build those attributes necessary
for strong values and character.”
HOLLEY HENDRICKSON Distinguished Volunteer
Holley Walker Hendrickson was born and raised in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After graduating from Oklahoma
State University, she moved to Dallas. Her first job in Dallas
was working for Titche’s Department Stores, and she later
worked for the “Dallas Times Herald.” During those years,
she greatly enjoyed her career and travelling.
While living in Dallas, she met her future husband, Michael,
through a co-worker. They married in 1983, and have been
Bedford residents since 1987. Their first child, Hayley, was
born in 1985, and son Jay was born in 1989. Although
Hendrickson never returned to a full-time career after the
birth of her children, she had interesting part time jobs
including working at the Dallas Apparel Market and
American Airlines. When her children began attending
Spring Garden Elementary School, she volunteered in their
classrooms and was an active member of PTA.
In the spring of 2000, her son Jay was diagnosed with
cancer. During the two years he went through treatment,
the Hendrickson family learned the true meaning of
service through the support of their church, school, and
neighborhood. After Jay’s death in 2002, Hendrickson
found great joy in trying to serve the community that
had embraced her family.
She volunteered to be a mentor for Trojan Talk at Trinity
High School, and she began helping Spring Garden with
their sixth grade program. For many years, she has
costumed hundreds of sixth graders for this annual
tradition. The Hendrickson family has helped fund the Jay
Hendrickson Memorial PTA Scholarship at Spring Garden.
After volunteering in her local schools for 20 years, this past
May she vigorously campaigned for the successful approval
of the HEB ISD Bond Proposal.
In addition to her service to the HEB ISD community,
Hendrickson serves on the Executive Board of the Fort
Worth Ronald McDonald House and is Vice President of
Bedford Library Friends. When not volunteering or working
at American Airlines, she enjoys travelling, tailgating at
Trinity Trojan football games, and Christmas in her
Glenbrook neighborhood. She is deeply grateful to her
husband Mike and daughter Hayley for their patience
and support.
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HURST - EULESS - BEDFORD ISD
1849 Central Drive • Bedford, TX 76022-3311