fall 2006 newletter layout.qxp - Trinity Valley Community College

theFALL 2006

THE VALLEYWELCOME TO THE VALLEY!We are very proud to present toyou the third edition of “TheValley.”This year, we have included aspecial tribute to the rich history ofsports at Henderson County JuniorCollege-Trinity Valley CommunityCollege, as well as other informativearticles and information aboutthe many positive things that continueto happen on our campuses.Homecoming 2006 will beSaturday, Oct. 21, and we hope youwill join us for that event. This year,former students from the classes of1966-1970 will be attending thegame and having a post-gamereception.Should other groups wish to gettogether in the future, please let ouroffice know and we will be happy toassist.Also, our alumni associationneeds your help. We are always seekinginformation about those whohave called TVCC home in the past.For more information on joiningour alumni association, call 903-670-2620 or send an e-mail todhubbard@tvcc.edu.We also encourage you to visitour online virtual alumni store atwww.tvcc.edu/alumni, where youwill find many items designed foralumni.This portion of our Web site alsoincludes a forum where former studentscan tell us about their livessince leaving HCJC-TVCC.I look forward to hearing fromyou soon!David Hubbard - Office ofDevelopment & Alumni RelationsClass of ‘71Honoring HCJC-TVCC athleticsCardinal Brandon Verrett avoids a tackleduring a game against TJC in 2001.The 1989 Lady Cardinals celebrate after winningthe confernece title.Jimmy Griffey - a member of the Cards basketballteam in the 1970s, dribbles around aLon Morris defender.The Cardinal Cheerleaders show their championshipstyle during the 1996 NCA Finals.Classes were just beginning atHenderson County Junior College whenthe students held a meeting to make somevery important decisions.The student body met in the summer of1946 and selected the colors red and whitefor their new school and the cardinal asthe mascot. That gathering was the beginningof the Henderson County JuniorCollege-Trinity Valley CommunityCollege sports program.When practices first began for HCJCsports that summer, the college had nogym and classes were being held atAthens High School. Students traveled tohigh schools in Cross Roads, Malakoff,Athens and Brownsboro to practice.Over the years, the face ofTrinity Valley CommunityCollege sports has changed... But one thing hasremained the same: Thesports program is an importantpart of life at TVCC.Between that summer meeting and thestart of the fall semester, the land wherethe Athens campus now stands was purchasedand students had a place to practiceand play outdoor sports. That firstyear, students played baseball, tennis,football, volleyball and basketball.A building which later came to beknown as the A.L. Tompkins Gymnasiumwas moved onto the campus the next year,and was renovated into a spectator gymnasiumin 1951.Over the years, the face of TrinityValley Community College sports haschanged. Activities such as track, tennis,baseball and even intramural badmintonhave come and gone.But one thing has remained the same:The sports program is an important part oflife at TVCC.In this issue of “The Valley,” we willlook at sports of yesteryear and today.Specifically, we will focus on the fouractivities which have been constantthroughout HCJC-TVCC history: football,girls and boys basketball and cheerleading.2

THE VALLEYCARDINAL FOOTBALLHCJC-TVCC teams build a reputation on the gridironWhat could arguably be the highestmoment in Cardinal football historycame in 1994, when Coach RandyPippin led the Cardinals to the team’sfirst national championship 24-17 inovertime against NortheasternOklahoma A&M.That performance would be repeatedthree years later, when Coach ScottyConley would coach the undefeatedCards to a 12-0 season and their secondnational title.But those years were not by far thefirst glory days on the gridiron forHCJC-TVCC. The team has won 18conference championships over theyears and has 328 all-time wins.The Cardinal football program madea name for itself from the start. The firstplayers hit the field in the fall of 1947,under Coach Wallace ‘Rock’ Johnson.In the first season, Johnson led theCards to an 6-3 record. “Dawg”Dawson, Reggie Gilbert and RobertHooks were named to the all-conferenceteam that first year.In the Cardinals’ second year, theteam finished 6-3-2 and played its firstbowl game, falling in the Little OilBowl to Wharton.From 1947 until 1957, the Cardinalswent through five head coaches.Wallace Johnson was followed in 1949by Cecil Johnson. In 1951, WallaceJohnson again took the reins for a yearbefore being replaced by Ray Fuller. In1954, Leland Willis spent a year as headcoach and was succeeded the next yearby John Owens.Despite the turnover in the headcoaching staff, the early Cardinals stilldid well for themselves, having sevenwinning seasons out of their first 101956 Cardinal football gameyears. Therewere many shiningmoments,such as in 1955,when CardinalEd Cheek brokethe national juniorcollegerecord for throwing52 touchdownpassesduring hiscareer.In 1956, therewas no football.Financial concernsled the board to vote unanimouslyagainst having games that year. Owensleft his position as head coach duringthat year.In 1957, Tommy Steigleder took overthe Cardinals, bringing stability to theteam.Steigleder took the Cardinals to a 3-6record in ’57, but quickly turned thingsaround and the team was 7-4 in 1958.He led the team until the end of the1963 season. The team only had onelosing season under his leadership.Steigleder was succeeded by hisassistant, Bob Baccarini. The first yearof Baccarini’s dynasty was explosivefor the Cardinals. The team went 10-1that year, with the only loss coming inthe last game of the season, when theCardinals were defeated by Fullerton,CA, 20-15 in the Little Rose Bowl.Agreeing to compete in the LittleRose Bowl was a bold step for theCardinals, since it was against TexasEastern Conference regulations. Themove placed the Cardinals on athleticsuspension for the next 12 months,keeping the basketball team from competingthat winter.The next year, the Cards went 10-1again (the only loss came 44-30 againstCisco) and found themselves again inCalifornia. They took Pasadena Collegeby storm, winning the Junior RoseBowl 40-13.In the 1960s, the Cardinals won orshared the conference title four yearsThe 1994 Cardinals were the first football team in the history of HCJC-TVCC towin a national title. They defeated Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 24-17 in overtimeto claim their victory.Roger Edmonson breaks free of his defendersduring the 1965 Rose Bowl game in Pasadena,CA . The game was played in front of a crowd of55,000 fans.straight. They were knocked frompower in 1969 by Tyler Junior College.Baccarini went on to coach theCardinals for five more seasons beforeleaving the position in 1972. For a year,Bob Lee led the Cardinals and wasreplaced in 1973 by Jim Owens.In 1973 the Cards went 8-2, bestingthe record of the past five years. Owensled the Cardinals until the 1978 season.Ray Penn was head coach from 1978until 1981, when he was replaced byCarl Andress. Andress was the coachwhen HCJC became TVCC in 1986.The team’s best season of the 1980swas in ’88, when the Cards went 9-1-1See FOOTBALL, Page 133

THE VALLEYCARDINAL FOOTBALLCardinals starting season with high expectationsTVCC football Head Coach MarkSartain knows his team has the talent togo all the way this year.The 2005-06 season ended with theCardinals as champions of the SouthwestJunior College Football Conference andRegion XIV. In the last game of the season,the Cards took down NortheastMississippi Community College 24-14in the Pilgrim’s Pride Bowl Classic, endingthe season at 9-3.It was a great season for the Cardinals,who were ranked seventh nationally.Sartain believes the team can go evenfurther in 2006-07.“I’m not going to make a bunch of predictions,but we control our own fateright now. The opportunity is there toplay in the national championship. We’llsee if we’re ready to seize it,” Sartainsaid.For the Cardinals, controlling theirown fate means holding the number twospot in the national rankings. When theseason is over, the first and secondranked teams play in the national championship.This is Sartain’s fourth year as headcoach. At the beginning of last season,Sartain put forth a “no excuses”approach. And the team responded.“The ebb and flow of the season was alittle unusual last year, but it flowed at theright time,” said Sartain. The team endedthe season on a four-game winning streakand defeated five of the top 10 nationallyranked teams.This year, the players have developedan “it’s up to you” theme.“We’ve been seeing ‘National champions– it’s up to you.’ scrawled on boardsall around here,” said Sartain. “We havethe talent and we have a focus I haven’tseen before in my coaching career.”The sophomores are strong in thisyear’s starting lineup. A total of 13starters and 32 lettermen return to theplaying field.Of the returning group, two werenamed to last year’s First Team All-American last season: tailback EricRansom and placekicker Sinisa Vrvilo.Both players are also on this year’sABOVE: A group of Cardinals take down a Tyler Junior College player during the 2005 season. BELOW:Tailback Eric Ransom was named to the First Team All-American team last season and is on the preseasonhonor roll for 2006.pre-season honor roll, joined by freesafety Nevin McKenzie, quarterbackBen McMahan, offensive tackle JacobPatton and linebacker Jacob Martin.There is one new face on the coachingstaff: offensive line coach Scott Hawks.Hawks is a graduate of Idaho StateUniversity and Fort Hays StateUniversity. He coached the offensiveline at Lanett High School and NewMexico Military Institute and was a linebackercoach at Garden City CommunityCollege in Kansas.Other coaches are OffensiveCoordinator Nick Jones, DefensiveCoordinator Corey Chancellor, WideReceiver Coach Chris Gillert andLinebacker Coach Cody Robinson.2006 CARDINAL FOOTBALL SCHEDULEDATE OPPONENT TIMEAug. 26 Garden City CC 7:00 p.m.Sept. 2 @Tyler (Chapel Hill HS) 7:00 p.m.Sept. 9 Georgia Military 2:00 p.m.Sept. 16* @ NEO 7:00 p.m.Sept. 23* Cisco (Family Day) 7:00 p.m.Sept. 30* @Navarro 7:00 p.m.Oct. 7* Blinn 3:00 p.m.Oct. 14* @Kilgore 3:00 p.m.Oct. 21* Tyler (Homecoming) 3:00 p.m.Oct. 28OpenNov. 4 Conference Playoffs TBANov. 11 SWJCFC Championship TBADec. 2 Conference Bowl Game TBA*Southwest Junior College Football Conference Games4

THE VALLEYCHEERING ONCardinal squad creates winning traditionWhen the first cheerleading squad atHCJC-TVCC organized in the late1940s, it was an informal group.A few of the students got togetherand decided they would like to cheerfor the team, and so the college’s cheerleadingprogram was born.In the early years, the squad oftendidn’t cheer at away games and didn’ttravel with the team.Frances Grayson led the squad from1953 until 1955, making her the college’sfirst cheer coach.Today, the Cardinal Cheerleadershold more national titles than any otherTVCC team – eight in all.Five of those titles came through theleadership of former cheer CoachConnie Russell. Russell joined the staffat HCJC in the mid-1960s. For her firstfew years at HCJC, Russell had herhands full teaching physical educationclasses and serving as coach for boththe girls basketball team and the cheerleadingsquad.In the late 1970s, Russell gave up herrole as basketball coach and concentratedon the cheerleading squad. Bythe mid-1980s, the Cardinal team wascompeting in National CheerleadingAssociation events.The squad captured its first nationaltitle in 1989 at a competition in Dallas.That year, TVCC was the only juniorcollege allowed to compete.Russell and the Cardinal squad continuedtook national titles in 1990,1991, 1993 and 1996. The same yearthe squad took its fifthnational title, the groupwas invited to participatein the opening of theOlympics in Atlanta, GA.In 1997, Russellretired from TVCC. Shewas succeeded byShannon Davidson, whocontinued meeting thestandard set by her successor.Davidson – whoworked at first in the studentactivities office inaddition to leading thecheerleaders – coachedthe squad to two nationaltitles in 2001 and 2002.Partway into her time as acoach, she took over theposition full-time.Davidson left TVCC in2002, taking a job as abasketball and golf coachat Eustace High School. Davidson hadplayed both sports in college and hadnever been involved in cheerleading.Until she came to TVCC, neither hadRussell.For several years, Lucy Strom servedas team aide, driving a van when neededand traveling with the Cardinalsquad. When Davidson departed,Strom took her place. Like her twopredecessors, Strom also has neverbeen a cheerleader.The TVCC squad brought home itsMembers of the 2003 Cardinal cheerleading squad perform theirannual homecoming routine as the bonfire blazes on behind them.most recent national title in 2004-05.The school holds more national cheerleadingtitles than any other school inthe nation.Although the team finished secondin last year’s national competition inDaytona, FL., the Cardinals set arecord during the preliminary round ofthe competition. TVCC scored higherthan all the Division 1A schools at thecompetition, the first time a junior collegehas earned that honor.The squad will return to the nationalcompetition in spring 2007.A few members of the 1969 cheerleading squad strike a pose during acheer.The 1954-55 cheerleaders cheer on the Cardinals, proving that stunts canbe done in long skirts.5

THE VALLEYSAYING GOOD-BYESpencer a big part of Cardinal historyWhen the TVCC-HCJC Cardinalsplayed their first game in the 1946-47season, the program had a few obstaclesto overcome. But didn’t take long forthe basketball program to get rolling.Under the watchful eye of coach A.L.Tompkins, the team played its way to an8-12 record in conference play, takingthe fledgling Cardinals to third in theconference.In honor of their season, Tompkinstook the boys on a fishing trip.Tompkins was an impressive force inthe early days of the Cardinals. Heserved as both coach and athletic directoruntil 1952, when he became vicepresident.There were good seasons and badseasons, but by 1951 the Cardinals werea force to be reckoned with. That year,while still under Tompkins, the teamnotched a 15-4 record and was namedthe Zone 2 champions in the TexasJunior College Conference.The Cardinals later played inside thecampus gymnasium, which eventuallywas named after Tompkins.By 1956, Tompkins had moved on toadministration and Leland Willis hadtaken the reins of the Cardinals.One year later, the team picturereveals a grainy face that would soonbecome the central figure in TrinityValley Community College basketball:Leon Spencer.The Spencer yearsSpencer came to the college in 1957on a basketball scholarship. In his childhooddays at Harmony High School nearThe 1982 Cardinals basketball team saw moresuccess than any other boys basketball team inthe school’s history. That year the team finishedthird in the nation.Spencer watches his team play during a game in2004. In the background are the banners commemoratinghis winning record. Now, a bannerhonoring Spencer’s 800th win hangs in the gym.Gilmer, he had spent a little time on thecourt.But he also had a love for the gridiron,a fact football coach TommySteigleder learned shortly after Spencerarrived. So that year, he played bothsports.It was the only year he would playHCJC basketball. The second year heplayed football only.After his time at HCJC, Spencer wenton to earn his bachelor’s and master’sdegrees at East Texas State University.“I was offered a three-year scholarshipand I thought, being a poor boyfrom the country, I’d better take it,” saidSpencer.Spencer went into coaching after college,starting his career as head basketball coachand assistant football coach at Atlanta HighSchool. But in the fall of 1964, when a coachingposition opened up at HCJC, he took thejob, which was previously held by CoachJames Culpepper.“I came here and it was the only job I hadafter that,” said Spencer.Over the years, Spencer wore a variety ofhats, including dorm director, biology labinstructor and teacher of physical education6Members of HCJC’s 1947-48 A basketball team were:(front, from left) R.C. Dodd, Glenn Gandy, Truett Wallace,Harold Johnson, W.E. Daniel Jr, Raymond Stephens,(back row) Coach A.L. Tompkins, Grady Cumbie, AaronConard, Clyde Crow, James L. Black, Melton Willingham,Lawrence Crist and Mgr. Loye Kinabrew.classes in addition to his teaching duties. Fivemonths into his tenure at HCJC, he took onthe athletic director’s position, a job he wouldhave until his departure in 2006.The one constant for Spencer for morethan 40 years was his job as the head coachfor the Cardinals basketball team. Afterworking as assistant football coach for severalyears, Spencer concentrated on just basketball.“It was hurting my recruiting becausesome people said we weren’t puttingenough emphasis on basketball,” saidCardinals’ Season recordunder Spencer 1964-2006Season Record1964-65 14-91965-66 17-91966-67 14-191967-68 13-191968-69 25-41969-70 27-61971-72 11-171972-73 26-51973-74 21-61974-75 25-101975-76 21-91976-77 27-81977-78 27-51978-79 20-81979-80 19-111980-81 21-121981-82 33-31982-83 25-61983-84 22-81984-85 19-141985-86 24-71986-87 21-11See SPENCER, Page 13Season Record1987-88 17-111988-89 15-151990-91 15-151992-93 14-151993-94 19-111994-95 30-81995-96 24-81996-97 16-141998-99 25-121999-00 23-92000-01 22-102001-02 13-182002-03 8-222003-04 7-232004-05 19-132005-06 10-20

THE VALLEYWinning waysLady Cards take TVCC to the topLady Cardinals’ Record1975-2006Season Record Head Coach1975-76 7-10 Connie Russell1976-77 5-141977-78 3-19 Gary Yancey1978-79 10-16 Gary Ashlock1979-80 25-51980-81 25-41981-82 34-71982-83 29-41983-84 21-101984-85 20-111985-86 21-101986-87 26-51987-88 27-41988-89 30-41989-90 13-161990-91 17-12 Joe Curl1991-92 23-71992-93 26-41993-94 35-1 Kurt Budke1994-95 31-21995-96 32-41996-97 34-21997-98 34-11998-99 36-01999-2000 24-62000-2001 28-4 Michael Landers2001-02 32-32002-03 30-12003-04 36-02004-05 28-32005-06 32-3Trinity Valley Community Collegehas become a household name amongthose involved in junior college basketball.In the past 12 years, the LadyCardinals have brought home five nationalchampionships and been the mostdominant team in the former TexasEastern Conference, now the RegionXIV Conference.Not bad for a team that got a slow start.For the first 10 years of TVCC sports,female students were involved in sportssuch as tennis and volleyball, but werenot involved in conference play.The first step toward forming the LadyCards came in 1957, when an eight-girlbasketball squad came into existence.The members of that first squad wereJackie Elkins, Helen Hardin, WandaMurphy, Mary Lou Walker, CharleneAlphin, Anita Richardson, BarbaraWoolverton and Will Ann Brewer.The group had no team name and didnot participate in conference play.The squad got its first name in 1968,when Connie Russell came on board ascoach and began to build the girls’ basketballprogram. The team becameknown as the Chicks. Sandra Andrewsand Sue Matthews were co-captains ofthat team.In the 1975-76 season, the Chicksearned the respect they deserved andbecame a conference team. The first yearof conference play, the Chicks went 7-10.Captains Sharon Shelton and TheresaLeigh led their team to the first round ofthe Region XIV Tourney, where theChicks fell to Temple Junior College, ateam ranked third in the nation. Sheltonled the team in scoring and rebounding.The second year of conference play,the Chicks went 5-14. The third year inconference play, the team went 3-19under Coach Gary Yancey.Russell remained with the college, butgave up her basketball coaching duties inthe late 1960s.The 1978-79 season was the beginningof the Gary Ashlock dynasty. The firstseason under Ashlock was 10-16. Thatwas also the first year the group went bythe name Lady Cardinals.After finishing fourth in the TexasEastern Conference in Ashlock’s firstyear, the Lady Cardinals began to comeinto their own as the powerhouse teamthey are today. In the 1979-80 season, theladies took the regional title.The next three years, HCJC took theconference title. In the 1980s, the LadyCards earned a total of five conferencetitles.Ashlock ended his career with TVCCin 1990 with a record of 281-96 and wassucceeded by Joe Curl.The 1975-76 Chicks were the first girls basketballteam to represent HCJC-TVCC in conference play.Team members were: (back, from left) Mgr.Vernell Hammer, Debbie, White, Debbie Luce,Sharon Shelton, Coach Connie Russell, BeckyDonaldson, Jean Brysch, Mgr. Judith Toney, (frontrow), Judy Mewbourne, Debra Minifee, TheresaLeigh, Cassandra Lowrie and Bobbi Evans.7In the 1991-92 season, the team finishedin the top 15 ranked teams in thenation. The team played once again in theconference championship and Curl wasnamed Coach of the Year in the TexasEastern Conference.In 1992-93, the Lady Cards again tookfirst in the conference, coming in secondin the region. Curl left in 1993 with a 66-23 record.It was not until the coming of HeadCoach Kurt Budke that the Lady Cardswould move on to the next level. Budke’sfirst year with the team, the ladies went35-1 and ended the 93-94 season asnational champs.It would not be the last time.In 1995, the team finished second inthe national tournament. They didn’t staydown for long, taking the national title in1996 and 1997. In 1998, they were secondplace again, but once again bouncedback and brought home a fourth nationaltitle in 1999.Budke left the Lady Cards in the 2000-2001 season with a 226-16 record.Michael Landers took his place and isstill the Lady Cards’ coach.Under Landers’ direction, the LadyCards now have a fifth national trophy,earned in 2004. The team was unsuccessfulin a bid for a sixth national championshipin 2005, ending last season with a32-3 record.

THE VALLEYSTANDING TALLTechnology Center set to open by springThis time last year, the last remnantsof the A.L. Tompkins Gymnasium werebeing swept away from the face of theAthens campus. Now, in only a fewmonths’ time, the site is home toTVCC’s latest – and largest – constructionproject.The 51,000 square-foot building hasbeen named the Technology Center, anapt description of what the new structurewill hold once it is complete. Eachof the building’s three stories containsfive classrooms, four computer labs andoffice space.The new facility is expected to opennear the end of the fall semester.In addition, the parking lot betweenthe campus Learning Resource Centerand the Gibbs Academic Building hasbeen converted into a plaza.Both projects are part of the college’smaster construction plan, said TVCCPresident Ron Baugh.The plaza was originally planned adecade ago, said Baugh. However,when the bids for the project were notwithin the college’s budget, the projectwas placed aside.“It hurt me that we didn’t get to carryit through. However, it was designed toaccommodate the (Tompkins) gymnasiumand it would have been very difficultto tie in with the Technology Centerif it were already in place,” said Baugh,noting that the original plaza wasdesigned at a different height than thenew.The contractor is WRL ConstructionCo., of Flint. The company has completedtwo other building projects forthe college.The new facility will be home to theThis architect’s rendition is a rough outline ofthe new building and adjacent plaza.classes now taught inthe Technical Building,which is located justsouth of the new structure.Those classes includecomputer operations,drafting, business education,criminal justiceand child care.The project began asa way the campus couldkeep up with the growthin the computer-aideddrafting and computerprogramming classes.The building isdesigned to shoulderfuture growth, whichmeans at first the facilitywill not be completelyfull.Since some spaceswill not have a designateduse, Baugh said he isconsidering using one ofthe computer labs – ifpossible – for generaluse. Decisions have notyet been made on howother undesignatedspaces in the buildingwill be used.“We’ve never had theluxury of having roombefore,” said Baugh.Once those departments have movedfrom the old building to the new, theremodeling of the old TechnicalBuilding will begin.There is asbestos tile in the old building,and so the remodeling process willtake time. The entrances to the buildingwill have to be closed off while theasbestos removal takes place.The building will have to be rebuiltso that it meets the requirements of theAmericans With Disabilities Act, saidBaugh. An elevator must be added andother changes will be made to make thebuilding more accessible.Baugh said he will decide at a laterdate what purpose the old building willConstruction is almost complete on TVCC’s newest structure. TheTechnology Building will contain classrooms, computer labs andoffice space.have after the remodeling is finished.Among the options he is considering,he said, is transforming part of thebuilding into a home for the college’scontinuing education program. Theoffices for that program – which offersnon-credit job training to well over1,000 students a year – are now in theadministration building and there are noclassrooms dedicated for continuingeducation.“All options are open at this point,”said Baugh.Future construction plans includeexpansion of the Fine Arts Building, anew spectator gymnasium and remodelingof the Cardinal Gym for use as astudent activity center.8

THE VALLEYFOUNDATION AT WORKFund to help 21 more students attend TVCC this fallThe Trinity Valley CommunityCollege Foundation’s capital campaignhas come a long way from its beginning.The efforts toward building theEnhancing Opportunity and Excellencethrough Endowment capital campaignfund began with only $125. The campaignis now approaching $1.5 million.Several different scholarships areavailable through the scholarship fund,including the Cain Endowed AcademicScholarship, the Ginger MurchisonEndowed Academic Scholarship,Archie and June Dennis EndowedMath and Science Scholarship, Willardand Sarah George Endowed BusinessScholarship and the Opportunity andExcellence Endowed AcademicScholarship.Using the interest from the scholarshipendowment fund, the first scholarshipswere awarded during the 2004-2005 school year. That year, 12 studentsreceived aid. The next year, 16scholarships were awarded.For the 2006-2007 school year, 21scholarships were awarded. The 2006scholarship recipients are:Ginger Murchison EndowedScholarship Award(seven scholarships)• James Ayscue of Gun Barrel City isa graduate of Mabank High School andplans to major in nursing at TVCC.• Dustin Turner of Kemp is a graduateof Kemp High School and has notyet decided upon a major.• Ratana Khy of Malakoff is a graduateof Malakoff High School andplans to study architecture.• Devin Groothuis of Brownsboro isa graduate of Brownsboro High Schooland has not yet declared a field of studyfor when he attends TVCC in the fall.• Jaclyn Largent of Neches, a graduateof Neches High School, is planninga career in physical therapy.• Chelsey Hoffman of Palestine is agraduate of Neches High School andplans to major in physical education.• Megan Maltos of Eustace is a graduateof Eustace HighSchool and plans topursue a career inphysical therapy.Archie and JuneDennis EndowedMath & ScienceScholarship(six scholarships)• Caitlin Roland ofTerrell is a graduate ofForney High Schooland plans to studynursing at TVCC.• Jamie Hass ofEustace is a graduateof Eustace HighSchool and plans tostudy nursing.• Diana Salinas ofTerrell is a graduate ofCanton High Schooland plans to pursue acareer in nursing.• Austin Monroe ofAthens is a graduate ofMalakoff High Schooland will study architecture.• Seth Jezek of Athens is a graduateof Malakoff High School and is planninga career in chiropractic care.• Joshua Cole of Poynor is a graduateof LaPoynor High School and willmajor in animal science – pre-vet.Cain Endowed AcademicScholarship (four scholarships)• Jennifer Crow of Fruitvale is agraduate of Fruitvale High School andis planning a career in education.• Brandon Smith of Wills Point is agraduate of Wills Point High Schoolwill study theater at TVCC.• Monyca Warren of Athens is agraduate of Athens High School isplanning a career in secondary education• Stormy Pearce of Athens is a graduateof Cross Roads High School andis planning a career in nursing.Leaves on the Tree of Opportunity and Excellence identify donors in the college’scapital campaign to raise funds for student scholarships.Willard and Sarah GeorgeEndowed Business Scholarship(two scholarships)• Karen Morris of LaRue is a graduateof Celina High School and plans tostudy property taxation.• Chandra McClelland of Grapelandis a graduate of Slocum High Schooland will be studying business managementat TVCC.Opportunity & ExcellenceEndowed Academic Scholarship(two scholarships)• Laci Goodrich of Mabank is agraduate of Eustace High School andplans to study early childhood education.• Bridgette Franklin of Elkhart is agraduate of Elkhart High School andplans a career in speech pathology.The money for the scholarships hasSee FOUNDATION, Page 139

THE VALLEYCARDINAL ACHIEVEMENTSPHI THETA KAPPA CHAPTER EARNS CONTINUED EXCELLENCE AWARDBy Tina PerkinsIota Alpha, the TVCC chapter of Phi Theta KappaInternational earned numerous honors at the Phi ThetaKappa 2006 International Convention in Seattle April 18-23.Iota Alpha received the Beta Alpha ContinuedExcellence Award. To receive this award a chapter must beranked in the top 25 chapters for three consecutive years.The Hallmark Awards pertain to the three Phi ThetaKappa honor topics: service, leadership and scholarship.“To receive one of these awards is a great honor and wewon three,” said Yulanda McGilvra, president of Iota Alpha.“The chapter officers set goals for each Hallmark andworks throughout the year to successfully complete them,”said LaCrisha Keeling, member of Iota Alpha. “At the endof the year each chapter writes an essay explaining thegoals they made, the programs they implemented and theoutcomes whether positive or negative.”These essays were judged against more than 600 chaptersinternationally and 10 awards were presented in eachHallmark area for an outstanding job.Iota Alpha received the Hallmark Leadership Award andthe Hallmark Scholarship Award.Keeling won the Bierkoe Distinguished Member Awardfor going above and beyond in her works as a member.Keeling was nominated by Iota Alpha officers, advisor, andDorothy Hetmer-Hinds, management instructor.Tina Perkins, vice-president of Leadership, won the MostDistinguished Officer Award at the state level and at internationallevel. Perkins was nominated by the chapter president,the advisor, and Nancy Whitworth, business instructor.According to Nancy Long, Phi Theta Kappa advisor,“We have never had a d istinguished chapter officer win atstate level. The reason this is such an accomplishment isthat there is only one chosen from the entire state. At theInternational level they are chosen 1 out of 25.”Long was awarded the Distinguished Advisor Award.This was the fifth time she has received this award. Longhas been a Phi Theta Kappa advisor for 33 years.SHOWGIRLS WIN NATIONAL ACADEMIC COMPETITIONThe Cardette Showgirls proved they have thebrains to match their beauty at the American DanceNational and International Championship this spring.The Showgirls, the competitive arm of theCardettes, won the national collegiate academiccompeition, which is based on the particpants’ gradepoint average .They compete with squads from Division I, IA andII colleges and universities.The Showgirls placed third in the Division IIDance competition.“I’m absolutely ecstatic about their win,” CardetteDirector Darla Mansfield said. “They have raised thebar. They’re headed up and not going to stop.”10

THE VALLEYCARDINAL ACHIEVEMENTSRODEO TEAM SET FOR DEBUT IN THE NATIONAL ARENACara Mizell is making rodeo history at Trinity ValleyCommunity College.The Buffalo sophomore finished the year as the SouthernRegion Reserve Champion BarrelRacer and became the first TVCCRodeo Team member to qualifyfor the College National FinalsRodeo (CNFR).Each year approximately 350college students begin their campaignto qualify for the CNFR,but only the top three contestantsin each event will fulfill their goalMizell traveled to Casper, WY,in June to compete against thetop collegiate barrel racers in thecountry. She finished 17th, buther place in TVCC history was set.Cara Mizell“Cara has been an excellent student and cowgirl this year,”said Steve Keith, TVCC Rodeo coach, “Mizell has won three All-Around Cowgirl titles, and was also the Champion Barrel Racerat the Northeast Texas Community College Rodeo, which washeld this year at Panola College.”Mizell also competes in break-away calf roping and goattying.Keith said the team is poised to send more students to thenational finals next year.Other members of the TVCC Rodeo Team who were in contentionto qualify for the National Finals were Will Lowrancefrom Jacksonville, who finished fourth in bareback riding;Michael Tarrant of Jacksonville, who finished fifth in tie-downroping and 12th in team roping and won five of the 10 firstrounds this year; and Clayton Hamil of Montabla, who earnedpoints in tie-down roping and team roping.Keith said he expects the TVCC Rodeo Team to continue togrow and increasingly be contenders for the CNFR with improvementsto the TVCC rodeo facilities over the past year and with thetalented students who have come to compete.Keith said he has signed some key recruits for the 2006-07 season.TVCC awarded five $1,000 scholarships to the Texas HighSchool Rodeo Region IX Champions in goat tying, break-awayroping, barrel racing, and two scholarships in men’s all-around.TVCC SHOW TEAM WINS BIGAGAIN IN HOUSTONThe Beef Cattle Show Team has earned quite a name at theHouston Livestock Show. The team won the Good HerdsmanAward for the sixth consecutive year this past spring.They also brought home numerous other awards, including theJunior Champion Female and First in Class awards.The team competes in the Charolais division and each year fillsa wall of the Agriculture Building with its ribbons.The team also competed in the SouthwesternExposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth thisspring, where, among other honors, they won the ReserveJunior Champion Female and First in Class awards.The Good Herdsman Award is a prestigious honor anddifficult to win since it takes constant vigilance. For theaward, students are judged on how well they keep the livestockand exhibits throughout the show.Show Team members with their champion yearling.CARDETTES, BAND INVITED TO PERFORM IN IRELANDThe Cardettes and CardinalRegiment Band have been invited tojoin the St. Patrick’s Day celebrationin Dublin, Ireland this comingMarch.The two groups will march in theLord Mayor of Dublin’s St. Patrick’sDay Parade through the heart ofancient Dublin. They will be joinedby other parade participants fromaround the world with various typesand styles of parade entries.Between 300,000 and 500,000people attend the parade each year.The band and Cardettes receivedthe invitation during the springsemester and both have fund raisingactivities planned through thefall.Both groups were well traveledduring the past year. In additionto numerous parades, theCardettes traveled to Virginia forthe Azalea Festival and the WildCard Jazz Ensemble traveled thissummer to Washington D.C.along with the Cardinal Choir.11

THE VALLEYALUMNI AWARDS - 2006HONOREE TO BE RECOGNIZED AT HOMECOMINGCARDINAL AMBASSADORAWARDBenny RogersWhen Benny Rogers first startedcovering HCJC sports in 1979,Rubik’s Cubes were flying off theshelves, The Knack was crooning out“My Sharona” over the airwaves andnobody had ever heard of TVCC.Rogers began covering HCJCsports in 1979, writing as a correspondentfor the Athens Daily Review anddoing work for The Malakoff News.When he became a full-time journalistin 1981, covering the Cardinals waspart of his job. Five years later, in1986, the name change took place andTVCC became a common sight inRogers’ stories.Over the years, Rogers has pennedthousands of articles about theCardinals, covering students fromtheir first warm up to their post-collegedays. In his career, he estimateshe has covered over 500 football and1,000 basketball games at both thehigh school and college levels.Rogers is a lifelong resident ofMalakoff, the son of Leamon andBobbie Rogers. He has two sisters,Lori Douglas of Athens and MandyRogers of Keller. Mandy is the headgirls basketball coach at Haltom HighSchool.A 1977 graduate of Malakoff HighSchool, Rogers was the quarterbackfor the Tigers. As a senior, he received thecoveted Charles M. Turner SportsmanshipAward, the highest honor given to a maleathlete at MHS. He also attended HCJCfrom 1977-79 before going on toattend the University of Texas at Tyler.Rogers says there have been manyhighlights in his time on the TVCCsidelines, but perhaps the best yearswere in the mid-1980s.“The biggest thrill was getting tocover my youngest sister Mandy as aLady Cardinal for two seasons,” saidRogers.In his time writing TVCC sports,Rogers has watched the football teamgain both of its national titles in 1994Rogers, who has been covering HCJC-TVCC sports since the 1970s, can often be seen watching Cardinal teams atpractice. Here he observes this year’s Cardinal football players going through their paces during a pre-season workout.and 1997. He was on the sidelines fornine of the Lady Cardinals’ 12 nationaltournament appearances, and celebratedwith the team when theybrought home five national titles.When he first started writing aboutTVCC, Rogers said the football programwas strong and the men’s basketballprogram was already “establishedas a powerhouse.” The biggestchanges in TVCC sports in his time,he said, have come in the cheerleadingand girls basketball programs.“The women's basketball programwas still in its infancy, though it hadstarted having success under GaryAshlock, who had taught and coachedme at Malakoff,” said Rogers. Thecheerleading program under ConnieRussell, Rogers added, was alsobeginning to evolve into the nationallyrecognized team it is today.“Once the 1990s rolled around, theoverall athletic program took off andwas one of the most successful in thestate and in the nation, especiallywhere women's basketball is concerned,”said Rogers.Although he has always worked forarea newspapers, Rogers says he feelshe is a part of TVCC.“No question about it, TVCC(beloved HCJC back in the day) is avery special place. I have many fondmemories from my days there as astudent and even more from havingthe “best seat in the house” for sportingevents.“There's a bond between students,former students and fans that you cansense at events, and I don't necessarilysense that when I visit events atother schools. The Valley is special.”12

THE VALLEYSPENCER (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6)Spencer. “And it was really hard on me.I remember in September and October Iwould have to work out with football inthe afternoons and then go back at nightto work out for basketball.”As with any other coach, theCardinals had good seasons and badunder Spencer’s tutelage.However, the seasons that stick out inSpencer’s mind are the few where thenational title was within his grasp. In1982, 1995 and 1999 the Cardinals madethe trip to nationals. In 1982, the teamcame the closest ever to the top title, placingthird. In the other two years, TVCCplaced seventh and ninth respectively.Then there was one year when theCardinals almost made a fourth nationalsbid.“There were so many exciting nightsand great games,” said Spencer. “Iremember one regional championshipwhere we went four overtimes during thethird of a three-game series. We lost thatgame to San Jacinto. We didn’t go tonationals that year, but it took three-anda-halfgames to decide who would.”Spencer out, Smith inSpencer said good-bye to Cardinalbasketball following the 2005-2006 season,retiring as the winningest coach injunior college basketball with 809 wins.FOOTBALL(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 )“I don’t knowhow many lossesright off. You tryto forget those,”said Spencer.Over the years,he said, TVCChas become hishome and thereare so many peoplehe will alwaysremember. Overthe years, dozensof TVCC playershave gone on toplay in the NCAA. Players Nick VanExel and Shawn Kemp have gone on toplay on NBA teams.Spencer has coached numerous All-American, All-Region and All-Conference players. He took theCardinals to more than a dozen conferencechampionships and three regionaltitles.He also led teams at events such as theNational Sport Festival, the USAInternational Cup Team and the WorldUniversity Games in Mexico.He was named to the National JuniorCollege Athletic Association BasketballCoaches Hall of Fame in 1996.“I’ve had just great assistants andFOUNDATION(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8)Spencer disputes a call with an official during a game in 2001.have so many good memories of themand their hard work. I’ve had agreat support staff, good fans andstrong administrative support. Youdon’t go anywhere without thosethings,” said Spencer.Spencer has been replaced as headcoach by Pat Smith, who was mostrecently the head men’s basketballcoach at Bimidji State University inMinnesota.Lady Cards head coach MichaelLanders took over Spencer’s position asathletic director when Spencer retired inMay 2006.The Cardinals finished the 2006 seasonwith a 10-20 record.and defeated Holmes, MS, in the TexasJuco Shrine Bowl.In 1991, still under Andress, theCards had a 7-3 season and were coconferencechampions. After a 3-7 seasonin 1992, the Cardinals went 8-1-2 in1993.Pippin took over the team from 93-95. He was succeeded by Conley, whoended his time in the 1999 season withthe college’s second national title to hiscredit.Coach Chuck Langston took the nextthree years. He ended his career withTVCC in 2002 after taking the team tothe conference championship. TheCards lost 7-14 to NEO and ended theseason with a 10-2 record.Coach Mark Sartain came on boardin 2003. The Cards ended last season 9-3 and were ranked second in the nationat the beginning of the 2006 season.been provided by the faculty and staffof TVCC, individual members of thecommunity and various organizationsand businesses. Those who contribute$1,000 or more are given recognitionon the leaves of the Tree of Opportunityand Excellence, which is displayed inthe Orval Pirtle AdministrationBuilding.Those who have given $10,000 ormore have their names engraved on thesmall stones at the base of the treewhile those who have contributed morethan $25,000 have their namesengraved on the large stones at thetree’s base.In addition to general fundraising,efforts have been made to conductevents in the community in order tosupport and raise awareness of thescholarship program, said TVCCAssistant to the President David13Hubbard. Those events included wineand cheese fundraisers as well as anannual pledge campaign.Planned giving awareness programshave been developed, directed atincreasing visibility of the college andthe campaign. Potential donors areencouraged to give through wills, estateplanning and bequeaths.The college has been working toincrease awareness and participation byworking with area service clubs.College alumni are being encouraged togive by supporting the AlumniScholarship program for sons, daughtersand grandchildren of former HCJC-TVCC students.Also, a golf tournament was held inMay 2006 at Indian Oaks Golf Coursenear Kemp, Texas. Another golf tournamentis scheduled at Athens CountryClub on Monday, November 6, 2006.

THE VALLEYMEMORIESRecent thoughts and updates from alumniFor other memories, visit our website: www.tvcc.edu/alumni‘40’sEdo Biasatti, Class of '49-'50,passed away June 6, 2005.Edo was a proud member of thefirst Cardinal football team.‘60’sJames Jenkins, Class of '68,played football for Coach Baccariniand was captain of the team in 1968.He now lives in Ft. Worth, Texas.Grady Smith and Peggy DeanSmith, Class of '68, live in Garland,Texas and would like to hear fromtheir classmates.‘70’sSharon Schmitz Kuver, Class of'73, was Student Senate Secretaryand a Cardette co-captain. She livesin Combine, and works for CrandallISD as the network manager.She has one living child, Sam,who graduated from Texas A & M,is married and lives in Houston. Herdaughter, Amy, passed away in 1994at the age of 17.Dewayne Vaughan, Class of '77,graduated from Southwest TexasState University in 1981.He now serves as a NationalProgram Director with theDepartment of Veterans Affairs inWashington, D.C.He is married to Cynthia Oelkersfrom San Antonio and they have twogrown children, Dewayne II, who isin the U.S. Air Force and Kimberly,who is married.Dan Walls, Class of '75, passedaway in the spring of 2006. He wasa member of the Cardinal Band,Wild Cards, a member of theExecutive Council of the BSU and amusic major. He wrote a column forthe Athens Review entitled, "AthensMemories," about things and peoplethat he remembered from his days ofgrowing up in Athens. He alsoenjoyed playing the guitar.‘90’sDaryl Davis, Class of '91-'93,graduated from Dallas Institute ofFuneral Service in 2001.He passed the State Board ofFuneral Service in February of thisyear.He was married in May of thisyear. He is currently funeral directorand operations manager for GregoryW. Spencer Funeral Directors, Inc.in Fort Worth.Donna Flowers Teague, Class of'92, was a Cardette. She is marriedand has two children. She lives inRowlett and works as a legal assistantfor a Dallas law firm.Amy Carrizales Tyre, Class of'95, was a Cardette from 1993-1995.She taught third grade for fiveyears and is now staying at homewith her two year old daughter,Trinity Scarlett.She and her husband now live inNacogdoches.Cynthia Wiley, Class of '97, wasa member of the Cardinal Regiment,Color Guard and Student Senate.She was runner up for Cardinalbeauty.She can be reached by e-mail atsmgrad800@aol.com.14Ashley Williams, Class of '97,was a Cardette and has moved fromTexas to California. She works forLong Beach Mortgage as anaccounts manager.James Zotzky, Class of '93, graduatedfrom Regis University inDenver, CO, and currently is thepharmacy purchasing supervisor atSt. Luke's Episcopal Hospital inHouston.He is married to Mimi Baty, Classof '96, and they have three children.‘00’sMichael "Jamaica" Matthew,Class of '00, played football atTVCC and later attendedNortheastern Oklahoma University,where he also played football andreceived his bachelor’s degree,passed away in February of 2005.(Information furnished by JeffMallory).Christian Reed, Class of '00,graduated from UT Tyler after leavingTVCC.While at UTT, he was on theDean's list and in the UTT Choir.He also held lead rolls in universitymusicals over a two year period andgraduated Magna Cum Laude.He now teaches music forMabank ISD. He is married and hasthree children.

THE VALLEYTHE LOST SPORTSImages from activities no longer offered at TVCCCardinal baseball player Gary Mathews keepshis eye out for the pitch during a 1956 game.The 1948 baseball team was 5-3 and defeated Clifton to winthe conference championship.Scott McNeal, a member ofthe 1975-76 HCJC linksters,practices his shot.Mary Russell, a member of the 1955 tennisteam.Students in the 1965 women’s archery class.The 1966 HCJC track team poses for a team picture.WE NEED YOU!Our Association has the opportunityto grow and flourish…but its going to take a lot of effort andenthusiasm to continue this growth.For more information e-mail us atdhubbard@tvcc.edu or call 903-670-2620Join the HCJC-TVCC Alumni Association Today!15

HOMECOMING 2006 SCHEDULECardinal Athletics Through the YearsSATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2006• 10:00 a.m. —Reception for classes of 1966-1970Orval Pirtle Administration Building• 12:00 noon-2:00 p.m.—Tailgate PartyBruce Field - $6.00 per person(Reservations and payment required in advance. Call 903-670-2620)• 12:00 noon-1:30 p.m.—Awards luncheon for honored alumniTVCC Cafeteria Conference Room• 2:30 p.m.—Pre-game activitiesincluding the crowning of the Homecoming Queen for 2006HCJC MULTI-CLASS REUNION 1966-1970This group is looking for classmates from 1966-1970 to invite to a reunion ofthese classes during Homecoming 2006 on Saturday, October 21, 2006. Eventswill include:• Reception• Tailgate Party at Bruce Field• Homecoming football game• Evening social gatheringIf you attended HCJC during this time period and are interested in the reunion,please contact Nancy Brown at 214-675-5708 or nbrown@latexoisd.net (for informationregarding classes 1966-1968) or Rita Sterling at ritamck@swbell.net (forinformation regarding classes 1969-1970, or contact the TVCC Alumni RelationsOffice at 903-670-2620 for more information and to make reservations.Return Service RequestedTRINITY VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE100 Cardinal DriveAthens, Texas 75751NON PROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGEPAIDTYLER, TXPERMIT NO. 240