Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

Class of 1952 | Inducted 1958

(In fondest memory of Ted Spencer, who passed away October 23, 2006)

• While at Navarro was involved in several student organizations: Choir, Dramatic Club, Tennis, El Navarro and The Growl, and Phi Theta Kappa.

• He was President of the Student Council.

• He was voted Sophomore Class Favorite and Who’s Who of Navarro.

• Met his wife at Navarro College.

• He graduated from Navarro in 1952.

• After Navarro, Ted graduated from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He was a minister at various churches in Texas and was the Director of the Texas Mental Health Association where he was instrumental in organizing many programs for the MHMR Association.

Class of 1947 | Inducted 1959

(In fondest memory of Charles Skelton, who passed away December 21, 2001)

• The first student to enroll at Navarro College was part of the first graduating class in 1947.

• During WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and installed radio transmitter stations.

• He attended Texas A&M where he majored in Electrical Engineering.

• Designed the flight programmer for the Titan ICBM, telemetry for the Saturn Rocket used in the Apollo Moon Program.

• Designed surveillance equipment for the CIA and intrusion detection equipment for the US Army which was used in Vietnam

• Founded and was president of the International Data Systems, Inc.,

• Co-founder and Vice President of Data Point Corporation

• Chairman of Johnson Electronic Inc.

• He was an engineer, inventor & entrepreneur.

Class of 1947 | Inducted 1960

(In fondest memory of Jack Baggett, who passed away December 24, 2001)

• WWII veteran

• Attended Navarro College from 1946-1947.

• He met his wife Franchelle McWilliams while attending Navarro.

• He worked at Bethlehem Steel and then opened and operated Humble Oil & Refining in Corsicana.

• Was active member of the Lion’s Club and supported the Cripple Children’s Camp, Program for Glasses and Eye Bank, Christmas parties for the children of the State Home, and the Texas War on Drugs.

• Mr. Baggett was a member of the Lion’s Hall of Fame. 

Class of 1949 | Inducted 1961

(In fondest memory of J.B. Carrington, who passed away May 30, 2007)

• J.B. Carrington was raised at the Corsicana State Home where he later came back to coach the football team after serving in the U.S. Army during WWII.

• While at Navarro he was a tackle on the 1948-1949 Championship Football team at Navarro.

• Selected Who’s Who at Navarro and met his wife Joan Long during chemistry class.

• After graduating from Navarro, Carrington attended Stephen F. Austin University where he received his bachelor’s in history and his Master’s in Education.

• He coached football and baseball at Diboll High School and Allen Military Academy, the latter of which he became headmaster.

• Became Dean of Men at Blinn College from 1972-1991.

• Member of numerous service organizations, including Phi Theta Kappa, National Association of Secondary School Principals and Freemasons. 

Class of 1948 | Inducted 1962

(In fondest memory of Richard Gay, who passed away September 21, 1964)

• Richard Neil Gay an award-winning chemist.

• Attended Navarro after serving three years in the navy during WWII.

• He was manager of the football team, played center on the basketball team and was part of the Veterans Club. Graduated with honors from Navarro in 1948.

• After Navarro he worked at Pan-American Oil Co. and received his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry.

• He was a chemist for the Rexall Chemical Co in Odessa.

• He was a member of the American Chemical Society.

Class of 1949 | Inducted 1963

(In fondest memory of Joe Breithaupt, who passed away May 28, 1974)

• A graduate of Emhouse High School, he served in the Navy during WWII as a radioman.

• He was on the Lexington when it sunk during the Battle of Coral Sea and was on the Yorktown when it sunk during the Battle of Midway.

• The Navy never let him get on another ship again.

• After WWII he graduated from Navarro in 1949 where he was a member of the Pre-Engineering Club and Phi Theta Kappa.

• He went on to Oklahoma University where he graduated as an electrical engineer.

• A long-time employee of Texas Instruments in Dallas.

Class of 1949 | Inducted 1964

(In fondest memory of Kenneth Douglas, who passed away January 27, 2005)

• A Barry High School graduate, Kenneth Douglas joined the U.S. Army and served in Panama. Upon discharge he attended Navarro where he graduated in 1949.

• Soon after he attended Baylor University where he received his law degree in 1951.

• Douglas returned to Navarro County where he practiced law with an office in Corsicana.

• He was appointed judge of the municipal court of the City of Corsicana in 1951.

• He was appointed as constitutional county judge in 1957 and remained in that position until 1972 where he left to become the executive director of the Texas Association of Counties.

• Douglas served as the District Judge for the 13^th District Court of the State of Texas for 20 years.

• Served as President of both the Northeast Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association and the Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association.

Class of 1949 | Inducted 1965

(In fondest memory of Beverly Henson, who passed away August 15, 1998)

• Born into a family of musicians, Beverly Henson grew up surrounded by music. He played piano and tuba while by the age of 13 he was organist/choir director at his church.

• He registered for Navarro College and opened a dance school to pay for his tuition, books and supplies, food, and transportation; he kept the dance school open two years while he attended NC.

• After Navarro, he went to Southwestern University in Georgetown where he majored in piano, organ and music education.

• Successfully built an outstanding high school choral program at McAllen ISD.

• Developed a fine choral department at Trinity University. 

• Built an amazing music program at Texas Christian University while also being a choir director of various churches.

• Helped establish a doctoral level curriculum for choral directors at Oklahoma University.

• After returning to Texas, Henson took over as Director of Choral Activities at Sam Houston State University. 

Class of 1955 | Inducted 1966

(In fondest memory of Billy Moore, who passed away June 26, 2002)

• A 1949 graduate of Ennis High School, Billy J. Moore enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served on an Engineering Intelligence Unit.

• After being honorably discharged in 1954, he enrolled at Navarro College where he was voted Who’s Who and earned his Associates Degree in 1955.

• He attended Southwestern Methodist University, graduating in 1959 with a Bachelor of Law, later Juris Doctor.

• Opened a law business, Moore, McCarty, Wilson and Mash, in Ennis. After his retirement he remained associated with the law firm in an of counsel position.

• He later was active in real estate sales, management, and ranching.

• Moore had been President of the Ellis County Bar, President of Central Texas Bar Association, Director of the State Junior Bar of Texas, Sixth Congressional District, Secretary/Treasurer of the State Junior Bar of Texas, member of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee, Sixth Congressional District, member of the Texas Bar Association since 1959, President and Chief Executive Officer of Landmark Savings Association of Ennis and was former Director of InterFirst Bank of Ennis.

Class of 1953 | Inducted 1967

• Dr. Rawlings graduated from Corsicana High School and attended a two-year general studies program at Navarro College. 

• Member of El Navarro and The Growl staff, a Señorita, the Press Club, and the Spanish Club.

• Graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.A. in Sociology and Social Studies (1956).  She received an M.S. in Psychology (1963) and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (1966) from the University of Wisconsin (Madison).

• A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Rawlings spent most of her professional life as a teacher, researcher, and clinical psychologist at several universities.  These include the University of Iowa as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Indiana State University as an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Psychology Department, and the University of Cincinnati as Professor of Psychologist in the Psychology Department, the Women Studies Program, and Senior Staff in the Psychological Services Center.

• After 26 years, Dr. Rawlings retired from UC as Emeritus Professor of Psychology. 

• Until her retirement in 2002, Dr. Rawlings was a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Association of University Professors, and the Association for Humanist Psychology.  

Class of 1963 | Inducted 1968

(In fondest memory of Bonnie Langley, who passed away August 31, 1992)

• An honor graduate from Sunset High School in Dallas where she was active in the school publications, interscholastic competitions in Latin and Speech, Bonnie Binford Langley attended Navarro Junior College from 1962-1963.

• While attending Navarro, Langley served as editor of The Growl, as a student librarian and was active in the Press and Curtain Clubs.

• Won awards in English, Journalism and Leadership at Navarro Junior College.

• Binford was a journalist for the Corsicana Daily Sun for 16 years, serving for 3 years as editor or the Women’s Department.

• She worked in the editorial, circulation and advertising departments of the Daily Times Herald, Dallas Dispatch and Journal in Dallas.

• She held offices in the Navarro County Council and was former president of the National League of American Pen Women and won first prize in feature writing.

• She received her degree from the University of Texas.

• Was head of the journalism department for Corsicana High School, taught creative writing class at Presbyterian Village and Eastfield College.

Class of 1950 | Inducted 1969

(In fondest memory of Dr. Wendell Cook, who passed away June 3, 2003)

• A Corsicana High School graduate, he graduated from Navarro College in 1950.

• Member of the Aggie Club.

• He served in the Air Force during the Korean conflict, and upon discharged moved to College Station where he enrolled in Texas A&M University and received his bachelor’s in animal science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

• He established his veterinary practice in Ennis and later sold his practice and went to work in animal research for American Cyanimid, Hoffman LaRoche, and Merck, Sharp & Dome.

• He retired from the Texas A&M Extension Service as a poultry specialist in 1992.

Class of 1961 | Inducted 1970

(In fondest memory of Betty Jo Bell, who passed away February 20, 2022)

• Betty, a Corsicana native graduated from Navarro College in 1961.

• Proud graduate of the University of Texas School of Nursing and received her master’s degree in developmental nursing from the University of Florida. 

• Following her graduation from University of Florida, she served as acting director of the nursing division of The Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami. 

• She also completed post-graduate fellowship studies in the care of children with special needs at the University of Washington.

• Betty was a pioneer in the newly recognized field of early intervention at that time.  Following a nationwide search in 1970, she was hired by the University of Alabama at Birmingham to be the Coordinator of the Developmental Program for Infants and Toddlers at the Center for Developmental and Learning Disorders (CDLD), a program that she ran for 13 years until the program was closed.

• The Service Guild was interested in starting an early intervention program, and Betty immediately joined with The Service Guild to start a program known as EIP (Early Intervention Program).  EIP began in a Sunday School classroom and stayed for 10 years until the program outgrew the space provided by the church. In 2002, the program was renamed The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs to honor its long-time program director.

Class of 1960 | Inducted 1971

• Hailed from Joshua, TX, Ray Hildebrand attended Navarro Junior College on a basketball scholarship. He graduated in 1960.

• After Navarro, Ray attended Howard Payne University on a basketball scholarship.

• While at Howard Payne University, he met Jill Jackson and started Paul and Paula. Together they composed the song “Hey Paula” where it was number 1 for three weeks and on the charts for 15 weeks.

• He toured England, Canda, Japan, New Zealand, Hawaii, and the U.S. twice with Dick Clark.

• The record “Hey Paula” went Gold and Platinum and his 1963 album Young Lovers went Gold, over 500K albums sold.

• He later went on to release contemporary Christian albums, 1967’s He’s Everything to Me, 1971’s I Need You Every Hour, 1973 Special Kind of Man and 1976’s Welcome Warrior).

• Hildebrand has been honored by the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, the National FCA Hall of Fame, recognized by the Texas State Legislature and a marker at Howard Payne University by the Texas State Historical Commission for his contribution to music

Class of 1955 | Inducted 1972

• From Mexia, Dr. Derrell W. Bulls graduated with honors from Navarro College in 1955 where he was a member Phi Theta Kappa.

• He received his bachelors and master’s degree from the University of North Texas and his doctorate from Texas Tech University.

• He served for 54 years as a devoted educator retiring in 2014 as the Faculty Ombudsman for Texas Woman’s University.

Class of 1948 | Inducted 1973

(In fondest memory of McAfee Daniel, who passed away August 14, 2016)

• After graduating from Frost High School as valedictorian in 1946, Daniel attended Navarro College where he was part of the “Barracks Bunch”.

• At Navarro, he was a member of the Dramatic Club, the Choral Club, the Spanish Club, and Future Teacher’s Club.

• After Navarro, he attended Southwestern University where he graduated with his bachelors in English.

• He went on to receive his masters and complete his PhD requirements at Baylor University.

• He started his teaching career in Bronte before he joined the U.S. Army during the Korean War, later teaching in Uvalde.

• He returned to his alma mater in 1965 to teach English where he would become chairman of the English Department.

• During his 38-year teaching career at Navarro, McAfee has been recognized at Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Educator of American, Teacher of the Decade, Spirit Award and named Piper Professor, and among many other honors.

Class of 1958 | Inducted 1974

• Attended Navarro College from 1957-1958.

• Graduated with a banking degree from Southern Methodist University.

• Active in many civic affairs serving on the Public Relations Committee of the Corsicana Chamber of Commerce, Secretary/Treasurer of the Navarro Ex-Student Association, member of the Board of Trustees of the Navarro County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Vice President of the Derrick’s Day Committee.

• She was Assistant Vice President at the State National Bank in Corsicana, Director of Student Financial Aid at Navarro College and later worked for First State Bank in Corsicana.

Class of 1957 | Inducted 1975

(In fondest memory of Euin Frank, who passed away February 9, 2020)

• A native from Bynum, Texas, he served in the U.S. Army prior to attending Navarro College.

• After graduating from Navarro College, he worked for General Motors.

• He graduated with his bachelors from the University of Texas in Austin and accepted teaching positions in Spur and Corsicana before earning his master’s degree from Tulane University 1965.

• Throughout his career he served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent until he retired in 1991.

• Frank served on the board of the Central Appraisal District, Central Teacher’s Credit Union, Lions Club and was a member of various other civic organizations in Navarro County.

Class of 1961 | Inducted 1976

• Grady Donald Rains, a businessman and rancher graduated from Stark High School in Orange, Texas and attended Navarro College for a year before earning a degree from Texas State University.

• He served three years in the U.S. Marine Corp.

• Rains owned and operated his own insurance agency and was a member of the San Marcos Rotary Club, San Marcos Chamber of Commerce and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

• Rains was the Texas State Representative for District 45 and served on various committee including the High Education, Financial Institution, Appropriations, Elections etc.

• He was a state representative from 1975-1983.

Class of 1962 | Inducted 1977

• A Mildred High School graduate, McGehee studied at Navarro College.

• After graduating from Navarro College in 1962, he transferred to Baylor University and earned his bachelor's degree.

• After Baylor University, he graduated the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston with a MD.

• He interned at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas.

• He was a Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgeon before retiring in 2002.

• Dr. McGehee currently resides in Benbrook.

Class of 1955 | Inducted 1978

(In fondest memory of Dr. Donald Fowler, who passed away Septmber 5, 2007)

• He graduated from Corsicana High School and Navarro College before attending the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a BA degree in Chemistry.

• He received his MD degree from the University of Texas Southwestern School in 1961.

• He completed a residency in psychiatry at Duke Medical Center.

• In 1972 he joined the staff of Butler Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island as Clinical Director and later director of Education.

• Became Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Brown University.

• He later became Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the Miriam Hospital in Providence.

• In 1979 he became Chief of Psychiatry at the VA Medical Center in Dallas and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, where he served until retiring in 2000.

Class of 1961 | Inducted 1979

Class of 1948 | Inducted 1980

(In fondest memory of Jim Bob Ivey, who passed away February 13, 2020)

• A 1941 Kerens High School graduate, Jim Bob played football at Weatherford Junior College until he joined the military in 1942 where he served until 1946.

• He served in the Army Air Corps 80^th Glider Squadron during WWII.

• After the army, Ivey attended Navarro College where he was part of the Barrack’s Bunch, Co-Captain for the first football team, voted “Best All-Around Boy” in the 1947 and 1948.

• At Navarro College, he was an active member of the Veteran’s Club and manager of the basketball team.

• He retired from the Texas Power and Light Company in 1985.

Class of 1961 | Inducted 1980

• A Corsicana High School graduate, she graduated from Navarro College in 1961.

• While at Navarro College, she was a member of the Honor Society and the Señoritas.

• Graduated from the University of North Texas.

• She was a professor at the University of Texas at Tyler, where she taught primarily graduate classes for 25 years.

• She has traveled all over the world including India, Africa, Miramar, Spain, Greece and Paris, Australia, and New Zealand.

Class of 1959 | Inducted 1980

Class of 1970 | Inducted 1980

(In fondest memory of Anthony Sadberry, who passed away October 28, 2008)

• Sadberry graduated with honors from North Shore High School in Houston in 1968.

• He enrolled in Navarro College where he served as president of the Student Government Association and was a national officer in Phi Theta Kappa.

• Graduated with honors from Navarro College in 1970.

• Received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education at UT-Austin, graduating with honors and served as President of the Student Body Association.

• Sadberry attended Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C. receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1975.

• He worked as an Assistant Attorney General with the Office of the Attorney General of Texas.

• He worked in private practice in several firms and in 1993 was appointed by Governor Ann Richards to serve as one of the three members of the Texas Lottery Commission.

• In 2006, he was named Executive Director of the Texas Lottery where he served until his death.

Class of 1973 | Inducted 1981

Class of 1964 | Inducted 1981

• A graduate of Mexia High School, Dr. Allbright attended Navarro and received an Associate of Arts degree in 1964.

• Transferred to Sam Houston State University where he received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees.

• Received a Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law.

• Began his career as a Sociologist for the Texas Department of Corrections in 1968.

• In 1969, he began teaching at Alvin Community College and became chairman of Behavioral Sciences in 1970.

• In 1976 he was appointed as President of Alvin Community College where he served until 2014.

Class of 1963 | Inducted 1982

(In fondest memory of Dr. Carlos Moore, who passed away May 27, 2007)

• After graduating from Frost High School in 1961, he earned his degree from Navarro College in 1963.

• He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, completed a master’s degree from Baylor and earned a doctorate from Texas A&M University.

• Moore had taught at Baylor University for 36 years and was The Edwin Streetman Professor of Marketing.

• Honored as a Distinguished Professor by the Hankamer School of Business.

• Co-authored a textbook and for three decades, he worked with a team of other professors at the Hankamer School of Business to research and publish major findings in the area of business ethics.

Class of 1975 | Inducted 1983

• Bennett is an honors graduate of Austin College.

• Obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas Law School in Austin, TX in 1980.

• Graduate of the National Judicial College.

• He was in the general practice of law with the law firm Smith, Ralston, Russell and Wright from 1980 to 1983.

• He served as a Constitutional County Judge in Navarro County with both administrative and judicial responsibilities from 1983 to 1988.

• He was senior partner with the firm of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair and Sampson.

• Served on the Management Committee and supervised firm operations in six states in the Southeast United States and California.

• Gary is Deacon at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, where he chairs the Ethics and Religious Liberty Ministry.

Class of 1958 | Inducted 1984

• Graduated from Blooming Grove High School in 1955.

• Following a brief stint as an employee of Bethlehem Steel Co., Ralph completed the pre-engineering curriculum at Navarro College in 1958, where he received scholastic awards for math and chemistry. 

• He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, academically in the top 1% of his class, at the University of Texas at Austin in 1961.

• With the support and encouragement of his bride, the former Reba Daniel, Ralph completed the requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering in 1966. 

• Ferrell began his career in the chemical industry with Conoco Research and Development where he obtained patents in the production of detergents and alumina for catalytic mufflers.

• In 1974 he switched career focus to manufacturing. He managed chemical plants in Oklahoma and Maryland before assuming management of Conoco's Louisiana wide operations.

• In 1984 he joined the newly formed Vista Chemical, a Fortune 500 company, as Vice President of Manufacturing. At Vista he rose to the position of Senior Vice President of Corporate Development with responsibility for engineering, research, and strategic planning.

• Post retirement, Reba and Ralph relocated to Plano, TX to be near close relatives, especially their daughter and her family.

• The Ferrells believe in philanthropy having provided support to all of their educational systems, neurological research and abused children. They are avid travelers having traveled to all seven continents and more than 100 countries.

Class of 1957 | Inducted 1985

• A graduate of the University of North Texas, Worsham began his long teaching career at Corsicana High School.

• He left Corsicana to serve his country in the United States Navy during the early 1960’s and moved to Snyder in 1966.

• At Snyder, Worsham led his students to a record in 13 state championships in one-act play competition, earning a distinction as the most successful theater director in U.I.L. history. In fact, Worsham’s record is unmatched by any coach or director of any sport or activity in Texas interscholastic history.

Class of 1962 | Inducted 1986

Class of 1955 | Inducted 1987

(In fondest memory of Dr. George Barfield, who passed away July 26, 2015)

• A 1953 Nacogdoches High School graduate, Dr. Barfield attended Navarro College where he lettered in football, basketball, and track.

• He graduated from dental school in 1961 and set up private practice in Nacogdoches for six months and was drafted into the Army where he served for two years in the Dental Corp. at Fort Lewis, Washington.

• After leaving the Army, he decided to become an Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon.

• He graduated from the University of Texas Houston in 1967 and set practice in Pasadena, Texas where he practiced for 47 years.

• He had memberships in Houston Society of Oral Surgery, Houston District Dental Society, Texas Dental Association, American Dental Association, Southwest Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, American Society Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Houston Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Class of 1970 | Inducted 1988

Class of 1959 | Inducted 1989

• A 1957 Corsicana High School alum, Muns graduated from Navarro College in 1959 where he was a member of the baseball team in 1958 & 1959.

Class of 1970 | Inducted 1990

• Ricky W. Griffin holds the Jeanne & John R. Blocker Chair in Business and is University Distinguished Professor of Management in Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.

• His research has appeared in Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management, and several other leading journals.

• Professor Griffin has served as both Associate Editor and then Editor of the Journal of Management.

• He has also edited several scholarly books, most recently The Dark Side of Organizational Behavior.

• Griffin is currently involved in research projects related to the topics of talent management and emergent leadership.

• Serves as Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief of Oxford Bibliographies Online, an internet-based resource currently used by several hundred global university libraries.

• Received BBA from North Texas State University, 1972; MBA University of Houston, 1975; PhD from the University of Houston, 1978.

Class of 1956 | Inducted 1991

(In fondest memory of Dr. Don C. Green, who passed away January 5, 2014)

• Dr. Don C. Green graduated with his associate degree from Navarro College in 1956, completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree at Sam Houston State University, and his PhD in Biology from Texas A&M University.

• He moved to San Marcos when a faculty position became open and taught in the biology department at Southwest Texas University.

• Don’s career in academia grew, the growing institution asked Don to help develop an education degree program in health professions.

• After a few years of hard work and dedication, Don hired the first faculty for the new School of Health Professions in 1973.

• As its founding dean, Dr. Green mentored faculty and students. He retired from the university in 1991.

Class of 1959 | Inducted 1992

Class of 1951 | Inducted 1993

(In fondest memory of Homer Wasson, who passed away August 5, 2019)

• He attended school in Powell, Texas. After graduating high school, he attended Navarro College, where he earned a scholarship to play basketball, and earned his degree in 1951.

• He then served in the United States Marine Corps.

• He worked as a cotton farmer.

• Retired after 24 years from the U.S. Postal Service.

• He served on several boards throughout his life, including President of the Kerens ISD School Board, President of Prairie Point Cemetery Association, and Kerens Chamber of Commerce.

• For 30 years, he served on the Navarro College Board of Trustees, 17 of those as Chairman.

• He was an elder at Kerens Church of Christ.

• Navarro College named a Residence Hall after him.

Class of 1953 | Inducted 1994