Sawdust: Class Notes

Issue: Winter 2016

stietz The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council recently honored Henry Steitz ’57 of Conroe with a unique distinction. For more than 10 years, Steitz has treated Girl Scouts and their volunteers to a special trek at Camp Agnes Arnold in Conroe. Each participant who completes the walk receives a special patch with the wording, “I Hiked with Henry and Friends.”

Steitz’s family owned property adjacent to the camp for many years, and as a child, Steitz recalls learning to swim in the 40-acre lake on the property. He also credits the wooded land with piquing his interest in obtaining a forestry degree from SFA.

“I remember one of the things I did as a kid, the Texas Forestry Association gave away a bunch of trees,” Steitz said. “I took them home, and my dad and I planted them on our 100 acres.”

Steitz measured one of those trees recently, and it’s reached 23 inches in diameter. Steitz estimates he was in the seventh or eighth grade when the seedlings were planted. He’s now 84.

During his hikes with the Girl Scouts, Steitz teaches attendees about the property’s vegetation and wildlife. He also discusses how he’s working with the Girl Scout Council to preserve the camp so visitors can enjoy it for years to come.

Joe Hahn (left), who served in the Coast Guard during World War II, traveled with his son, Mike Hahn ’76, on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in 2015. During the flight, the pair met George “Moose” Morton (right). Both veterans met again during the Battle of the Piney Woods. Joe is now 92 years old and lives in Dickinson. In addition to Mike, Joe watched another son, Larry ’69, and granddaughter, Amy ’11, also graduate from SFA.

Justyss Esquivel ’14 of Whitney was recognized as the 2016 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Fort Worth District Employment Opportunity Employee of the Year. Esquivel is a natural resource specialist for the district. She was recognized for her efforts mentoring contract gate attendants, coordinating water safety outreach events and seeking training on new ways to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment throughout the Whitney Lake Project Office and Three Rivers Regional Office.

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1960s

Jim Dunlap ’69 & ’76 of Longview was recently named a Carthage High School Distinguished Alumnus after serving in public education for 48 years. He has been married to Linda Sample Dunlap ’70 & ’71 for 47 years, and he currently serves as chief operating officer and lead consultant for Arrow Educational Services Inc.

1970s

Robert C. Ballard ’70 of Millwood, Virginia, hosted an exhibit of his original paintings titled “Whimsical Landscapes,” according to The Winchester Star. He said his paintings are meant to “evoke some emotion, raise questions and create doubts.”

Jim Drennan ’73 of Pittsburg, Texas, retired as purchasing manager at Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Joe Martino ’73 & ’83 to the five-member Texas Crime Stoppers Advisory Council. Martino was an educator for Marshall ISD for 30 years and, after retirement, returned to work in 2003 at Trinity Episcopal School where he was employed for 11 years. He currently works for McKool Smith Law Firm.

SFA alumni and educators Linda Daniel ’77, Lee Brown ’90 & ’93, Angie Self ’87 and Becky Godell ’94 celebrated being Lumberjacks during College Day on their Houston campus, Cloverleaf Elementary School.

1980s

Richard Illmer ’83 of Dallas has been named office-managing partner of the Dallas-based law firm Husch Blackwell.

1990s

Patti Eden ’90 of Jacksonville, Texas, made her Carnegie Hall conducting debut in October with members of her choir from Brook Hill School during a concert with Lauren Daigle and Francesca Battestelli.

Liz Wilson ’93 of Dallas is vice president of Corgan Architects in Dallas.

Author Amy Denton ’96 of Houston was the 2016 Killer Nashville Jimmy Loftin Memorial Scholarship Award recipient and a guest speaker at the 2016 Literary and International Mystery Conference.

Ashley Pasquier Klamfoth ’98 of Lumberton is a co-owner of and therapist at NewPath Counseling Group in Lumberton. NewPath also has offices in Woodville and Jasper.

Ted Bowen ’99 of Houston was named senior destination sales executive for the new Marriott Marquis Houston.

Jesse Hunter ’99 of Sanger was promoted to captain in the Lewisville Police Department.

2000s

Erin Jones ’01 of Lufkin was named director of business development for the southwest division of Transervice Logistics Inc.

2010s

Sarah Robinson Davis ’14 and Jay Davis of College Station were married Oct. 8.