On Monday, May 8th, the Freemasons, Order of Eastern Star & Scottish Rite Club hosted their annual Seniors Banquet for the 2011 class of seniors of Cherokee, Richland Springs and San Saba high school. Over 80 people were in attendance and enjoyed a fine meal of fried fish, fries and hushpuppies furnished by Richard Smith.
After supper, introductions, the Mirabeau B. Lamar Awards were presented by Worshipful Master Dewey Mack Cason and the Albert Pike Awards were presented by Scottish Rite Club President Douglas H. Merritt. A program was presented by Dr. Robert A. Norcutt, 33°, Personal Representative of the Austin Scottish Rite Bodies, who addressed the graduating seniors on methods to be successful in life after high school.
The retiring and retired teachers each received a $25.00 gift from the Masonic bodies and three $1,000.00 scholarships were presented to a college bound senior.
The Masonic bodies of San Saba County takes this opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of these individuals and the senior class of 2011, wishing for them the best success possible.
Lamar Medal
Cherokee ISD
Charles J. Perry Jr.
His teaching and coaching career has spanned over 45 years with football, basketball, track and tennis. In 1972 his high school girls basketball team was state runner-up and the following year they became state champions. Five years ago, Charles came out of retirement and joined the Cherokee staff sharing his vast teaching experience.
Sara Gisell Thomas
Sara was born in San Antonia, Texas, June 6, 1992 and is the daughter of Todd and Malinda Thomas. She is ranked 4th in her class and has participated in basketball, golf, cross country, pep squad, theater and yearbook. Sara plans to attend Howard Payne University and will major in education. She will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Richland Springs ISD
Emelia Kathleen Brockman
Brennen Dakota McGinty
San Saba ISD
Linda K. Culpepper
Nicholas James Tasker
Pike Medal
Cherokee ISD
Sonya Lee Griffin
Richland Spring ISD
Dr. Joseph J. Huckenstein
San Saba ISD
Johnny W. Clawson
Bonnie Marie Hunt
Elsie Oliver Millican
Mrs. Millican was born in the spring of 1914, the second child of Robert Lee and Norma Risien Oliver. In that year Woodrow Wilson was president, Babe Ruth began his professional career, the 8 hour work day was established by Henry Ford, Poncho Villa led the Mexican Revolution, the Panama Canal was completed and World War I began in Europe. She grew up in the Harmony Ridge Community and attended school there for six years until finishing high school in San Saba. Mrs. Millican attended John Tarelton (now Tarleton State University) Texas Tech University and received her degree from Howard Payne University.
Miss Elsie, as she was then affectionately called, began her teaching career at the height of the Great Depression of the 1930s in a small two-room, two-teacher school house at Colony. Her salary was $45 per month and she in turn had to pay $15 per month for her room and board. Sometimes she was paid in vouchers or promissory notes until enough tax money could be collected. During the winter, Miss Elsie came to work early in order to build a fire in the wood stove and heat the classroom before the students arrived. She also served as custodian and classes were from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. each day.
After receiving a years experience, Miss Elsie went to work for the Live Oak School, where her salary jumped to $90 per month. She worked at Live Oak for three years and retuned to Colony and taught there for three years.
In 1938, Miss Elsie married Winston Millican and to their union were born three children. She retired from the teaching profession for 21 years to raise her family but returned to teaching in 1962, where she taught 5th and 6th grade language arts for 20 years at San Saba ISD. Mrs. Millican lives in San Saba where she has been and still is active in the community. She has contributed much of her time to Rylander Library, San Saba County Museum, Pierian Study Club, Meals on Wheels and Child Welfare Board and is an active member of the First Methodist Church of San Saba. She is living history!
Bonnie is the daughter of Aralia Hunt of San Saba and is ranked 17th in her class with a GPA of 3.9627. She participated in FCCLA, FFA, Spanish Club, Band, PALs and the livestock judging team. She has received the English II and III Student of the Year Award, Football Trainer Award, Student of the Month Junior Award and was the 2010 Homecoming Queen. Bonnie plans to attend San Angelo State University and will major in Athletic Training. Bonnie will receive $500.00 from the San Saba Scottish Rite Club.
Mr. Clawson was born June 12, 1947, graduated from Llano High School in 1965 and attended San Angelo State University, where he graduated with his BS in 1971. He received his Masters of Educational Administration there in 1982. His post graduate studies were done at Texas A&M University, 1989. He is married to Sharon Landers Clawson and born to their union is one daughter.
Mr. Clawson began his teaching career as a teacher/coach at Lampasas Middle School in 1971. He continued teaching that position at Lockhart Middle School, Rich Consolidated HS, Mason HS, and Reagan County HS. From 1979-1983, Clawson served as Athletic Director for Schleicher County ISD. He served as Assistant Principal in Fredericksburg HS from 1986-1994, and in 1994, became the Superintendent of San Saba ISD, where he served until March 2007. He is also the recipient of the Community Builder Award presented to him by San Saba Lodge in 2007.
Dr. Huckenstein received his BS in Biology and Education from Lamar University in 1960, his Master's of Science Education from Sam Houston State University in 1965 and his Doctorate of Education from Nova University (Ft. Lauderdale, FL.) in 1977. He began his teaching at Lamar University and continued his career at Houston ISD, Saint Piux X High School, Goose Creek ISD, San Marcos ISD, Fabens ISD, Marble Falls ISD, Lampasas ISD and Richland Springs ISD. During his career he has been responsible for nine major science and education publications.
Dr. Huckestein has also worked for the Texas Education Agency and after retiring from the agency continued his passion for teaching young people Advanced Biology, Physical Science, Chemistry, IPC, Anatomy, and Physiology preparing many of them for college. He also has been associated with NASA, the Houston Zoo and Planetarium and very active in state and national organizations. Dr. Huckestein will retire at the end of this school year with over 40 years of dedicated service.
Mrs. Griffin was born in San Angelo on March 11, 1943. She attended Mason High School and later Howard Payne University where she graduated in 1980. Her fields of study include Special Education, K-12, Psychology grades 1-8 and art. She is the wife of Joseph Griffin, the mother of two children and an active member of the First Baptist Church of San Saba.
Sonya has been with the staff of Cherokee ISD for 12 years where she has dedicated herself to the improvement of children with special needs. Her students have excelled in UIL events such as Music Memory and Art Smart bringing home many 1st place medals. After 31 years of teaching Sonya will retire at the end of this school year and plans to pursue her passions of art and gardening.
Nicholas is ranked 12th in his class of 44 and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gonzales of San Saba. He has a 4.1 GPA and has participated in band, FFA, UIL calculator, Shattered Dreams, One Act Play for 3 years, and is a Rotary Honor Student. He has also received the Louis Armstrong Music Award. He plans to attend Texas Tech University and major in nursing. He will receive a $1,000.00 scholarship.
Mrs. Culpepper was born in 1945 in Sand Spring, Texas. In 1963, she graduated with honors from high school and married Gary Culpepper. Together they have one child. She attended Howard County Jr. College and later Dallas Baptist College where she graduated with honors, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. In 1970, she obtained her Master's of Education degree from Sul Ross State University, in Alpine, Texas.
Since 1970, she has taught at Kress ISD, McCamey ISD, Manahans ISD, Pflugerville ISD, and San Saba Elementary for the past 6 years. She is retiring at the end of this school year from teaching with over 40 years of faithful service.
Brennen was born April 15, 1993, and is the son of Jerry and Jayme McGinty. The family has lived in San Saba County for the last 15 years. He is ranked 3rd in his class and has participated in Football, basketball, C-X debate, National Honor Society, FFA, one act play, tennis and track. Brennen plans to attend Texas Tech University and major in sports science. He will receive a $1,000.00 scholarship.
Mrs. Brockman was born November 1, 1954, the daughter of Hoot and Nona Gibson. She was raised in Richland Springs and finished high school there in 1973. Mrs. Brockman attended Howard Payne University graduating in August 1985. She began her teaching career in San Saba in 1985, where she taught for 19 years grades K-2. In 2004, she began teaching in Richland Springs and has taught math in grades 4, 5 and 6.
Kathy married Rob Brockman in 1985, and to their union were born four children. She is a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the First Baptist Church of Richland Springs, the San Saba County Museum and Association of Texas Professional Educators. Kathy's math students have led RSISD in the annual improvement of the TAKS scores. She is retiring at the end of this school year.
Mr. Perry was born in Vernon, Texas, October 30, 1940 and graduated from Nocona HS in 1959. He graduated from West Texas State University in 1968. Charles married his high school sweetheart, Elaine and to their union were born five children.
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