Axe ’Em, Jacks!
1960s
Forty-one members of SFA's Pi Kappa Alpha chapter from the 1960s celebrated their 22nd annual reunion in April at Log Country Cove on Lake Lyndon B. Johnson.
Larry Allen '60 served in a 43-year career with the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona and New Mexico and is chair of the board of the Malpai Borderlands Group, a collaborative conservation group formed by Arizona ranchers and allies. Allen received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry with an emphasis in forest management.
1970s
James Migliore Jr. '72 was recently honored by the Las Vegas Numismatic Society as the recipient of the Outstanding Service Award for the state of Nevada. Migliore received a Bachelor of Science in history.
Joe May '76 & '77 was named chancellor in residence for Educate Texas, an educational initiative from Communities Foundation of Texas. May received a Bachelor of Science in education and a Master of Education in counseling.
Joe Crawford '79 & '88, who currently works as Arp High School's head men's basketball coach, earned his 400th career victory as a high school head basketball coach in January. Crawford received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education, both in physical education.
1980s
Betsey Griffin Jones '82 of Phoenix, Arizona, was honored by the Phoenix American Advertising Federation in March with the Phyllis Ehlinger Women of Excellence Award. She also married Michael Jones in January 2021. Jones received a Bachelor of Science in communication.
Pam Glass Nicholson '82 of Dallas delivered the commencement address at the May 2022 graduation ceremony for the University of Texas at Arlington's College of Education and College of Science. Nicholson received a Bachelor of Business Administration in management.
Laura Simmons '84 was promoted to vice president of corporate human resources for Remington Hotels. Simmons received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.
Wendy Buchanan '85 was named by Forbes as a top female wealth advisor in Texas. Ranked No. 49 in the state, Buchanan is managing director of investments at Buchanan Wealth Management in Nacogdoches. Buchanan received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.
Kelly Pickle '85 & '87 retired from public education in June. During her 37-year career, she served in a variety of educational roles, including as principal, curriculum director, director of elementary education and superintendent. Pickle received a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and a Master of Education in secondary education.
Rob Nading '87 was promoted by Campus Federal to vice president of purchasing and facilities. Nading received a Bachelor of Arts in communication and political science.
David Brewer '88 was elected as a Navarro County commissioner for Precinct 4. Brewer received a Master of Education in secondary education.
Tiffany L. Smith '89 of Arlington, Virginia, was named vice president for global trade policy at the National Trade Council in Washington, D.C. Smith received a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
Dr. Elizabeth Wallace '89 & '96 was named the inaugural assistant vice president for Tarleton State University's Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Wallace received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and a Master of Business Administration.
1990s
Richard Boyer '91 was elected mayor of The Colony. Boyer, an SFA regent from 2005-11, received a Bachelor of Business Administration in management.
Michael Crockett '91 was named chief data officer for Xactus, a verification innovator for the mortgage industry. Crockett received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting.
Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis '91 & '01 was reappointed to the Texas County and District Retirement System's board of trustees. Davis received a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences and a Master of Public Administration.
Greg Owens '91 retired from Sulphur Springs Independent School District as athletic director and head football coach. Owens received a Bachelor of Science in education.
Gerald Clarke '92 & '94 of Anza, California, was appointed to the California Arts Council. Clarke received a Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts, both in painting.
Financial advisor Richard DeYoung '92 launched a new independent practice, Highland Wealth Partners, through affiliation with LPL Strategic Wealth Services. DeYoung received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.
John '92 and Gillian Norman '94 own Christian Brothers Automotive in Aubrey. John received a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication with an emphasis in journalism, and Gillian received a Bachelor of Arts in art.
The Rev. Jason R. Pointer '92 of Lindale is the East Texas regional director of crime victim services for Crisis Response Ministry of Texas. He was elected to the state board of directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness and delivered a TEDx talk on destigmatizing mental illness. Pointer received a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication with an emphasis in radio/TV.
Kevin Schweers '92 was named athletic director for Baytown Christian Academy. Schweers received a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.
Paul McNutt '94 was named managing director and head of power, energy and infrastructure for Mizuho Securities in New York City. McNutt received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.
Gov. Greg Abbott reappointed Jon "Mark" Sjolander '94 of Dayton to the Coastal Water Authority board of directors for a term set to expire in April 2024. Sjolander received a Bachelor of Arts in art.
Amy Denton '96 of Houston was chosen as a faculty member of the 2022 Killer Nashville International Mystery Conference. Denton received a Bachelor of Arts in humanities.
Jennifer Warren '96 was named executive director of special programs for Bryan Independent School District. She received a Master of Arts in counseling.
Eric Stone '97 was named president of Lawless West, previously named CANOW Inc. Stone received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.
Rick Garcia '98 was elected to the Fort Bend Independent School District's board of trustees. Garcia received a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.
2000s
Aimee Johnson '00 was named principal of Grapeland High School. Johnson received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Wes Moorehead '00 was named associate director of forest resource protection and fire chief for the Texas AandM Forest Service. Moorehead received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry with an emphasis in forest management.
Adam Pruitt '00 led a team at USAA that earned two patents for the display panel portion and the animated graphical user interface used by customers seeking the company's financial services. Pruitt received a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication with an emphasis in radio/TV.
Ben Shields '00 was named operations manager for KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune. Shields received a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication.
Will Whitehead '00 was named an athletic trainer with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, a minor league baseball team based in Madison, Alabama. Whitehead received a Bachelor of Science in biology.
Deana Eubanks '01 was named director of athletics for Splendora Independent School District. Eubanks received a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.
Don Robert Holcomb '01 joined Triumph Bancorp as associate general counsel in the company's Dallas headquarters. Holcomb received a Bachelor of Science in political science.
Dr. Donny Lee '02 was named lone superintendent finalist for Wichita Falls Independent School District. He received a Bachelor of Science in special education and kinesiology.
Tim N. Norman '02 & '07 was named superintendent for Mathis Independent School District. Norman received a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and a Master of Education in educational leadership.
Stephanie Ellis '06 of Longview was promoted to director of marketing for Robroy Industries. Ellis received a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication with an emphasis in radio/television.
Melanie Northcutt '06 of Longview was named by ETX View magazine's 40 Under 40 as the most influential real estate agent in East Texas. Northcutt is the broker/owner of Sugar Magnolia Properties and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.
Britany Vinson '06 of Lufkin was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the minority-owned small business of the year for her company, Tomé Catering. Vinson received a Bachelor of Science in hospitality administration.
Jeremy Abshire '08 & '14 and Brianna Spoonts '14 were married in May. Abshire received a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Master of Science in kinesiology, and Spoonts received a Bachelor of Science in health science.
Gerald Fonzie '08 & '10 was named principal for Nacogdoches Independent School District's McMichael Middle School. Fonzie received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education, both in kinesiology.
Rachel Gardner '09 was named a 2022 featured artist in True North, a sculpture project based in Houston's Heights neighborhood. Gardner received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art.
Morgan Tomberlain-Strong '09 was named to the Hallsville Education Foundation board of directors. Tomberlain-Strong received a Bachelor of Science in fashion merchandising.
2010s
Melanie Hill '10 & '10 was promoted to general manager of shale for Danos. Hill received a Bachelor of Business Administration in public accountancy and a Master of Public Accountancy.
Jordan Kitchens '11 of Houston was named director of sales and marketing for The St. Regis Houston. Kitchens received a Bachelor of Science in hospitality administration.
Alex Meng '11 & '14 was named softball head coach for Manvel High School. Meng received a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and Master of Education in secondary education.
Chuck Isaac '13 was named principal of Longview Independent School District's Foster Middle School. Isaac received a Master of Education in educational leadership.
José Barrientos '14 coaches Timber Creek High School's Dali Quartet, which won the bronze medal in the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition's Junior Wind Division. Barrientos received a Bachelor of Music in music education.
Caitlin Bunch '14 was hired by Clark Condon, a Houston landscape architecture firm. Bunch received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis in horticulture.
Shelbe (Blacklock) Rodriguez '14 was named public affairs manager for Lamar University. Rodriguez received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
Ángel Rivera '15 was named deputy superintendent for Mesquite Independent School District. Rivera received a Doctor of Education in educational leadership.
Tristian L. Harris '16 of Hallsville graduated from Mississippi College School of Law, where he received a pro-bono certificate and was recognized as the 2022 Mr. MC Law. Harris received a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
Amanda Sheriff '16 & '18 was awarded first prize in the 24th Lotte Lenya Competition in New York City. Sheriff received a Bachelor of Music in music education and Master of Music in vocal performance.
Michael Chapa '17 and his quartet, Mixed Media, won the gold medal in the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition's Senior Wind Division. Chapa received a Bachelor of Music in music.
Braden N. Foster '17 of Diboll and Olivia K. Buford '19 of Huntington were married in April 2021. Foster received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance, and Buford received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Marshall Gorham '18 received the Samuel Gee Gill Teacher of the Year Award from Lufkin Independent School District. Gorham received a Bachelor of Science in secondary education.
Amber Wilson '18 was named principal at Nacogdoches Independent School District's Brooks-Quinn-Jones Elementary School. Wilson has a Master of Education in educational leadership.
Laura Stevens '19 received the Beulah Dominy Teacher of the Year Award from Lufkin Independent School District. Stevens received a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in secondary education.
2020s
Meridian Parham '21 of Hays County reached the Writers League of Texas 2022 manuscript contest finals with her short story "Daughters of the Mountain." Parham received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing.