Hall of Honor
Commerce ISD Hall of Honor
2024
2024 Inductees
Jim Faires
Class of 1978
Jim’s leadership capabilities were fostered while a student in Commerce ISD, which he attended from first grade through graduation. He was president of the Key Club and band captain his senior year. He was named to the all-district band his sophomore year and he developed his interest in journalism on the Tiger Tips newspaper column and Sregit yearbook staffs. Participating in the CHS Band, called back then The Big, Mean Orange Machine, Jim said was a great memory--especially when the band won first
place at the Parade of Champions in the Fall of 1977.
Jim attended Southern Methodist University where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism in 1982. He worked as a student intern with the SMU Sports Information Office for two years.
His first job out of college was as sports director with a new TV station, Channel 18 that served Commerce, Greenville and Sulphur Springs. He enjoyed broadcasting games at Memorial Stadium for the Tigers and Lions where he spent so much time as a kid.
Jim then moved out-of-state to radio managerial positions in Tupelo, Mississippi; Asheville, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Cocoa Beach, Florida; Springfield, Missouri; and Kansas City. Currently, he is in the Greensboro-Winston-Salem market as senior account manager/special projects director with Audacy Broadcasting. He celebrated 40 years in broadcasting in August.
He has continued his leadership in honoring veterans in his hometown while he lived out of state—recruiting volunteers, keeping logs of newly passed veterans, keeping the maps of graves, purchasing flags and organizing the on-site flag setting. This year the total flags set was 750. The legacy began by that postmaster in 1889 has continued through the postmaster’s son, W. Y Goff and for the last 37 years with Jim Faires.
Dr. John D. Horn
Class of 1959
Leadership qualities surfaced early in the life of John Horn. Growing up on a farm south of Fairlie, John had many opportunities to lead as a sibling to seven sisters and a brother. Six of his sisters also graduated from Commerce High School, including Loretta Kibler, former superintendent of Commerce ISD and fellow CISD Hall of Honor inductee.
After entering Commerce High School as a freshman, John quickly established himself as a leader after being elected president of the Greenhand FFA chapter. He played basketball, acted in a school play and won District in UIL Debate competition with partner Gerald Lacy. He was an FFA officer all four years. A highlight for him was winning a registered Hereford heifer for a paper he wrote. He praises several CHS teachers for encouraging him as a leader and inspiring him in debate and speech.
John received his BS and master’s degrees from the University currently called Texas A&M-Commerce. He received his Doctor of Education degree from the University of North Texas in 1971.
His leadership capabilities were quickly recognized as he was moved to assistant principal in Mesquite ISD after only three years of teaching experience. He rose from that position to becoming an elementary principal and then as an administrative assistant to the superintendent. He left Mesquite to become superintendent of Allen ISD where the student population grew from 1200 to 4500 during his eight-year
tenure. He returned to Mesquite ISD as superintendent in 1986 and saw enrollment grow from 19,000 to 35,000 students.
While serving as superintendent of Mesquite ISD, John was instrumental in establishing a partnership with TAMU-C that has garnered national recognition as a model for preparing future teachers and administrators. He was named Texas Superintendent of the Year in 1996. In 2000, Mesquite ISD honored him with the naming of John D. Horn High School.
After his retirement in 2001, he remained active in public education, conducting superintendent searches for districts and serving as a senior associate with the Schlechty Center and as a consultant for the Texas Association of School Administrators.
John’s family is deeply rooted in Commerce. His wife, Lynda, is a CHS graduate who also attended Texas A&M University-Commerce. His daughter, Katrina, received master’s and doctoral degrees from TAMU-C and his son, Greg, received his BS from the university. Seven grandchildren received BS degrees from TAMU-C.
The individual nominating Dr. Horn for the honor stated: “He has devoted his life to serving as a servant leader who believes in the transformational power of public education.”
Col. Jerry B. Hendrix
Class of 1957
Jerry Hendrix was the youngest of seven children raised by his mother Ora Hendrix in a little house on Mayo Street. He graduated from CHS in 1957 where he excelled in both academics and athletics, being voted most athletic and most likely to succeed and having been selected to the all-district and all-East Texas football teams.
After high school, Jerry attended Texas A&M University on a football scholarship but after one year returned to Commerce and attended East Texas State University on a United States Air Force ROTC scholarship. He graduated in 1961 with a degree in Journalism and was the Sigma Delta Chi Outstanding Male Graduate in Journalism.
Upon graduation from ET, he entered the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant and embarked on what would be a 30-year military career in public affairs. During his military career, Jerry was assigned to Osan Base in Korea, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., Wiesbaden and Ramstein Air Force Air Bases in Germany, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, and Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Jerry was director of Public Affairs at the Air Force Academy, Chief of the Community Relations Division at the Pentagon and Director of Public Affairs for Headquarters Air Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base.
Jerry also coached and played on the Air Force Interservice Tennis Team when the team and he and his doubles partner won the 1979 championship.
Throughout his career, Jerry’s high standards, intelligence, good judgment, and strong work ethic gave him great success and he retired from the United States Air Force in 1991 with the rank of Colonel.
After his retirement, Jerry and his wife taught tennis skills to children with cancer through Camp Discovery and to children with Down Syndrome through Raquets Up!.
One of the most coveted awards given by Commerce High School is the Dexter trophy. Given to the year’s outstanding scholar-athlete, the award was the brainchild of Jerry Hendrix. After the death of his CHS football coach, Charles Dexter in 2006, Jerry was motivated to establish a memorial for the coach at CHS. He proposed the idea to other players on the 1956 team and the Dexter trophy was presented to CHS in 2007.
Colonel Jerry Blake Hendrix passed away on December 7, 2023, and was buried with full military honors in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
He is represented here today by many family members including his daughter, Dana, and son, Dave.
Maranda Neal -Auzenne
Class of 1984
Maranda is a 1984 graduate of CHS. She was a member of the Drama Club, Future Homemakers of America, and Who’s Who Among American High School Students. She competed in the prose and poetry interpretation in UIL. During her freshman year, she received the Drama Club award for “Most Promising Underclassman.” Maranda placed second and third place in UIL regional poetry interpretation competitions for two years, advancing to the state competition.
Maranda is an executive level commercial real estate professional who brings more than 20 years of experience in providing leadership for both property and asset management. Most recently, as senior vice president of property management at Trademark Property Company, she provided oversight and guidance for Trademark’s national business. Before joining Trademark in 2014, Maranda worked with MG Herring Group for six years where she managed a 630,000-sq-ft lifestyle center.
Prior to her venture into retail property management, Maranda worked with Ryan, LLC, a Dallas-based international accounting consulting firm where she was the national director of operations. At Ryan, she oversaw the operations of 28 office locations across the U.S. and Canada.
Believing strongly in community service, Maranda is a city councilwoman in Cedar Hill, Texas, and is active within the commercial real estate industry. She is the 2023 recipient of The Dallas Business Journal’s Influential Women in Business, Cedar Hill Woman of the Year and has received several other leadership and service acknowledgements. Her most recent appointment has been to serve STAR Transit to help identify and address mobility/transportation issues.
Maranda holds a BS from Amberton University. She is married to her husband, Jay, and has one son and two grandchildren.
2023
2023 Inductees
Glenda Henderson
Commerce High School Teacher, 1999-2020
Anthony Henry
Class of 1986
In high school he participated in basketball and track. He said one memory stands out of his time at CHS—Steve Scroggin’s government class. Anthony said in Mr. Scroggin’s class he developed the drive to pursue participating in politics which has led him to serve on the Parks and Recreation Board and now the Commerce City Council, where he is currently Mayor Pro Tem.
P. J. Winston
Class of 1999
P.J. showed leadership as class president his senior year. He was named 1998 homecoming and prom king and selected for induction to the National Honor Society.
P.J. says his goal is to be a role model for the Commerce community, influencing the youth to make good choices and always give back to the next generation of kids. Through hard work and sacrifice, he has continued to break boundaries to promote positivity for everyone. He has been diligent in serving local communities and shelters wherever he may live as well as be an active member of the church. Speaking to under-privileged youth is a priority with his message being that hard work, sacrifice, good
choices and dedication will produce success.
2022
2022 Inductees
Betty Casselberry
Director of Finance 1984 - 2000
Betty Casselberry was one of those people who came to East Texas State University and stayed after receiving both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Her 31 years of service in education began in Trinidad where she was a typing and shorthand teacher. As a beginning teacher in 1963, Betty was able to board in the home of a widow. Her future as an educator was in jeopardy when she announced that she would be marrying. The widow’s objection wasn’t because of Gene Casselberry but rather during that time teachers were encouraged to avoid matrimony.
Betty also taught in Paris ISD before joining ETSU as assistant dean of women. She was promoted to assistant director of financial aid where she stayed for 11 years. Her ability to manage funds and people was recognized when she joined Commerce ISD as the director of finance in 1984.
During her 16-year tenure at CISD, she oversaw the financial operations of a changing district with ever-increasing demands from the Texas Education Agency. The complexities of school finance law coupled with increased student information management demanded that she become much more than a bookkeeper. Her expertise in these areas elevated her influence across the county as well as throughout the state.
She successfully secured financing for many major school projects including the construction of Commerce Elementary School in 1991 and Commerce High School in 2000. A large part of her success can be contributed to her ability to instill trust among coworkers and the community. Her integrity is without question and her countenance and manner belied the heavy responsibility on her shoulders.
Since her retirement in 2000, Betty has continued serving through the Hunt Regional Hospital Auxiliary, the Bargain Box and is a 50-year member of Chapter AH of P.E.O. Betty and her late husband, Gene, were staunch supporters of Texas A&M-Commerce University Lions and the Commerce Tigers and could be found at many athletic events.
Betty has two children who attended Commerce schools--Matt Casselberry and Amy Williams who are in attendance today.
Amy Johnson
Class of 1978
the football field during a 10-0 season. An athlete herself, she played tennis and golf on Tiger teams.
● Clerked for Federal Judge William Wayne Justice in Tyler,
● Appointed as the first Public Insurance Counsel by Governor Ann Richards,
● University lecturer for Suffolk University in Dakar, and
● Received the Texas Outstanding Service Award.
Amy has been involved in several large profile legal cases over the last 23 years as a private environmental justice attorney. She led the Water Act Citizen Suit against Formosa Plastics Corp., Texas, which settled for $50 million. The settlement will be used to support projects to reverse water pollution damage in Calhoun County. The ongoing case was featured in the Netflex documentary, Dirty Money, Point Comfort. She can talk for days about nurdles, which are the plastic pellets found to be polluting the waterways and injuring wildlife. Cleanup begins this month under a $28-million contract.
Jimmy Ogden
Class of 1991
Jimmy Ogden is a man of many talents and interests. Beginning at Commerce High School, Jimmy was captain of the undefeated 1991 Bi-District Champion basketball team during which he scored two key free throws in the final minute of the 88-85 win over Southlake Carroll to win the title. Jimmy was class president, valedictorian, a two-time state UIL science competitor and a National Merit Finalist.
While a student at the University of Texas-Austin, he received the Texas Excellence Award of Scholarship and Leadership scholarship, founded and served in the Texas Blazers men’s service organization and was named Cactus Yearbook Outstanding student. He had internships at NASA Ames Research Center, UT Austin’s Applied Research Laboratories and the German satellite manufacturer Dornier. He left UT with a BA degree with highest honors and BS degree in Aerospace Engineering.
From 1997 to 2012 he worked in the software industry primarily for Trilogy. He founded his own company in 2006 and in 2014 he had a start-up brewery in London. While in London he received a culinary degree from Leith’s School of Food and Wine.
At the present he is a stay-at-home dad while he continues to serve as a board member for fundraising for the Forty Acres Scholars Program.
Jimmy lives in Dallas and is married to his wife Kathryn and they have two children. His parents, Bill and Nancy Ogden, continue to live in Commerce.
Eddie Pannell
Class of 1992
In high school, Eddie was an all-around athlete competing in football as a right tackle, basketball as a strong forward and track, throwing the shot put and discus. After graduating from CHS, he attended Tyler Junior College, Texas College and Williams Barber College. Before setting up his own shop, Eddie served in the United States Army for 10 years.
Although staying abreast of the latest trends in men’s hair styling consumes his work life, Eddie’s main passion is helping others. He is a deacon at his church, The Potter’s House. Other activities include teaming with the Fort Worth Police Department to reduce domestic violence, offering free haircuts and mentoring young people.
The person nominating Eddie for this honor said, “Eddie is an example of hard work, learning a skill or trade and then taking it to the next level of a successful small business.”
Eddie is married to Karmen Cobbs and they live in Crowley, Texas. His parents are Eddie and Billie Pannell.
Jerry Speight
Class of 1958
Having been born in the Scatterbranch community near Commerce in 1940, Jerry was set to be Commerce Tiger throughout high school. He was an officer of the school newspaper staff, student council and band. He won UIL competitions in typing, student conducting and band solos. After high school, he attended Draughon’s Business College in Dallas, specializing in engineering drafting.
Jerry delayed his post-secondary education when he joined the Air Force in 1959 where he received honors as well.
Here’s where we get busy…The person nominating Jerry for this honor stated, “no biography can come close to describing what a wonderful community servant he really is and does not begin to tell how much, on a daily basis, that he gives of himself to others.”
A list of his activities and accomplishments includes:
● Received a BS degree in Bible & Missions at Dallas Bible College, and was ordained in the ministry in 1969,
● Assisted coaches in founding the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Greenville High School,
● Co-owned the first ACE Hardware store in Hunt County while inventing, manufacturing, and
marketing numerous Underwriters Lab-approved wood burning stoves,
● Worked for over 15 years in audio and video media for national Christian publishers as well as the National Religious Broadcasters,
● Was one of the founders of the Greenville Christian School in 1976, serving on the Board of Directors for 17 years, and
● Founded a non-profit organization, Hope Center of Greenville, as an inner-city ministry to offer tutoring, mentoring, literacy and life-skills training at no cost to recipients.
Jerry married Brenda Gaines in 1960 and they have two grown daughters. The couple resides in Greenville.
We are adding another entry into his long and varied resume—a 2022 Commerce ISD Hall of Honor Inductee.
2019
2019 Inductees
Carolyn Burt
Class of 1955
secretary, FHA District II vice president and class reporter. She was named a Fall Festival Duchess, football sweetheart and class favorite.
Texas State University as a graduate assistant in 1964. After going full time in 1965, Burt taught the rest of her career, 35 years, at the university teaching and coaching.
University-Commerce Athletic Hall of Fame because of her achievements as an athletic coach and mentor.
Kristin Barker Hames
Class of 1996
superior ratings at regional band festivals and the RNJH Symphonic Band was named first runner-up in the Texas State Honor Band competition.
honored with a PTA Lifetime Membership. While Hames was the assistant band director at Shepton High School in Plano, she was named the Beginning Teacher of the Year in 1999.
others makes her stand out.”
Medley Wilson
Class of 1976
work there as a team leader.
Norris school. Mt. Moriah had purchased the school and Wilson opened it up most Sunday afternoons for students 9 through 18 years old to practice and develop their basketball skills.
Wade Wilson
Class of 1977
the Cotton Bowl.
championship.
season. East Texas finished the year with a playoff appearance, beating No. 1-ranked Central Arkansas in the quarterfinal round before falling in the national semifinals.
diabetes education and research and has continually raised money for the American Diabetes Association.
from 2007 to 2016. In his most recent stint with Dallas, he has had the opportunity to work closely with Tony Romo and with rookie sensation Dak Prescott.
2018
2018 Inductees
Chris Elliott
Class of 1980
Elliott attended Austin College in Sherman where he was awarded the Trustees Merit Scholarship and Hatton Sumner Scholarship in Political Science. He was a member of the Pi Gammu Mu honorary fraternity, president of Sigma Tau Epsilon social fraternity and he played baseball. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Political Science and Economics.
After working as legislative aide for State Senator Ted B. Lyon, Elliott attended Baylor University School of Law where he graduated with a Juris Doctorate degree.
His career has centered in Austin where he served as briefing attorney for Chief Justice Bob Shannon of the Third District Court of Appeals and general counsel for the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. He started the law firm of Ivy, Crews & Elliott, PC. He is currently a shareholder in the Austin law firm of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, PC, a firm consisting of 68 lawyers which handles cases involving probate litigation, personal injury litigation and commercial/business litigation.
He has received honors for ethics and legal ability and has served various leadership roles in legal associations. He has served on the boards of Austin Habitat for Humanity and the Capital Area AIDS Legal Project. He is the former chair of the Travis County Democratic Party and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin. His ties to Commerce led him to become supportive of the Commerce Schools Educational Enrichment Foundation in various ways.
Elliott is the son of Charles and Paula Elliott of Commerce. He and his wife, Tish Hinojosa Elliott, have two children, Lily and Boone.
Harry Turner
Class of 1964
When Turner was a youngster, the centerpiece of the community was Norris School and the local churches. The school, which had been built in 1952, comprised grades K-12 and employed many community leaders including Harry’s father, Warren Turner, and key administrators such as Harry Champion (Turner’s uncle) and A. C. Williams. The 1950s were turbulent times for African-Americans as segregation was the norm. It was through strong family ties and a supportive community that Harry began to understand life and thrive, according to his son, Dominic.
By the mid-1980s, Turner was called on by university students to share his experience as an African-American in the 1960s. He became a local spokesperson about the African-American experience in Commerce, sharing stories about when African-Americans did not have equal rights.
Turner worked at Raytheon, which became L-3, in Greenville for 22 years. He is currently a deacon and Sunday School superintendent at Mt. Moriah Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Commerce, where he has served since 1973.
Although he has long retired from L-3, he still does odd jobs for area churches and serves as a community leader and spokesperson when called.
Turner met Mary Hill while attending Norris School and they celebrated their 52nd anniversary this year. They have four grown children including Christopher, Dominic, Cory and Terra Camille.
Scott Williams
Class of 1991
Williams was involved in debate, theater and Future Business Leaders of America at CHS. His future was forecast the night he spoke at a CISD school board meeting following an attempt by a parent to remove books from the library. His talents to inform and persuade have served him well in the corporate and political arenas.
After graduating from CHS in 1991, Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He then spent two years teaching English in a Japanese middle school and another year as traveling accountant on an 18-city tour of Japan with Toy Story on Ice.
In 1998, he began learning the ropes in Washington, D.C., working as an assistant to an economics reporter in the Washington Bureau of Japan’s largest daily newspaper Yomiruri Shimbun.
After two years as a reporter, Williams joined the Federal Reserve Board in Washington in September 2001 as an entry level public relations employee. This marked the beginning of his career as a crisis communications specialist in both Washington, D.C. and New York City, working with government institutions and some of the largest U.S. corporations, continually searching for a way to best explain to the public what these institutions were doing.
Williams had a ringside seat to the financial crisis that started in 2007 while working at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and then at the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington during the first two years of the Obama administration serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. Following his government service, he worked for General Electric as director of media relations and moved to Goldman Sachs as vice president for media relations in August 2012. He is currently Managing Director, Corporate Communications, Goldman Sachs, Greater New York City area.
Scott and his wife, Trisha, live in Brooklyn, New York, and have two children.
Wyman Williams
Class of 1965
In 1969, Williams earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology and Business from East Texas State University. He was owner and operator of Williams Motors in Commerce for 40 years. He sold the dealership in 2010 and joined the staff of Texas A&M University-Commerce where he is now Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement.
Williams has been active in civic and university activities for many years being instrumental in helping establish the Northeast Children’s Museum, Commerce Leadership Institute, and the Commerce Schools Educational Enrichment Foundation. He has served on the TAMU-C Foundation Board, The Heritage Society and the Chancellor’s Council Century Club of the Texas A&M University System.
He chaired three successful school bond election committees which resulted in building CHS, Commerce Elementary School and A. C. Williams Elementary.
Williams received TAMU-C’s Gold Blazer Award in 1989 and the Spirit of Mayo Award in 2005. He was chosen Citizen of the Year in Commerce for the years 1989 and 2008.
In his nomination, a former colleague and friend said, “Wyman has spent much of his life in making this community, its schools, university and Hunt County a better place to live, work and raise a family. With a strong commitment, he has supported these efforts with an investment of volunteer time, physical effort and considerable financial support. It is my opinion that his strong leadership skills and ability to develop trustworthy communication skills has made this possible.”
Williams lives in Commerce with his wife Harriet. They have two grown children, Meredith Williams of Dallas, and Scott Williams of New York.
2024 Hall of Honor Inductees
Dr. John D. Horn
2023 Hall of Honor Inductees
Glenda Henderson
Anthony Henry, Sr.
P.J. Winston
2022 Hall of Honor Inductees
2019 Hall of Honor Inductees
Carolyn Burt
Kristin Barker Hames
Medley Wilson
Wade Wilson
2018 Hall of Honor Inductees
Chris Elliott
Harry Turner
Scott Williams
Wyman Williams
2017 Hall of Honor Inductees
Chris Clark
Janet John
Dr. Mary Thomas
Charlie Wilson
2016 Hall of Honor Inductees
Steve Lineweaver
Sharice Henry Chasi
Dr. Jerry Lytle
Neal Stewart
2015 Hall of Honor Inductees
Bruce Hineman
Anne Mills
Michael Oglesby
Billy Relford
2014 Hall of Honor Inductees
Donna Crosby
Conner John
Harriet Williams
2013 Hall of Honor Inductees
Myra Beadles
H. Dan Farell
Billie Garrett
Mary Spencer
2012 Hall of Honor Inductees
Buddy Jones
Sue Sheppard
Norris Tanton
2011 Hall of Honor Inductees
Alvis Alderman
Ann Champion
Bill Fuhrmeister
Mary Hendrix
Loretta Kibler
Janet Peek
2010 Hall of Honor Inductees
Harry Champion
Emmett Day Sr.
June Moore Dunn
Dr. Jack Pirkey
Make up of the selection committee
Committee members are chosen initially by the superintendent and two community members. Members of the committee remain anonymous and must have been members of the community for ten or more years. The committee will be made up of not less than four members, but no more than five. Two members will rotate off every two years and will recommend a replacement. The entire committee will vote on new members each year.
Student Qualifications
- Nominee must be an ex-student of Commerce ISD or Norris School;
- Nominee must be out of high school at least ten years;
- Nominee, or family member if deceased, will be expected to attend the festivities for the day; and
- Nominee must possess good character throughout their lives.
Staff Member Qualifications
- Employed in Commerce ISD or Norris School for at least four years;
- Nominee, or family member if deceased, will be expected to attend the festivities for the day; and
- Nominee must possess good character throughout their lives.
Nomination Process
Persons wanting to nominate someone for the Hall of Honor may do so in the following ways:
- Download and type in the fillable PDF form or print and complete
- Email or mail as directed on the form
- Request a hard copy nomination form by calling 903 886-3755.
Nominations are not open at this time.