Banquet honors distinguished alums

Once a year, the Daingerfield Alumni Association gathers to honor graduates of Daingerfield High School who have moved on from their time in the hallowed halls of Daingerfield to make extraordinary contributions to their communities. On Sept. 24, the group met once again, honoring four graduates from various years. The evening began with alumni and their families perusing the silent auction, making bids on everything from collector’s coins to signed Daingerfield Tiger footballs. After Mike Gilmore, who was in charge of mood music and the sound system introduced the Mistress of Ceremonies, Pamela Lee, an invocation was offered up by Donald Roy Vaughn, DHS class of 1962. Those present then partook in a steak dinner that included steak, baked potato, salad, and peach cobbler, prepared and served by the Daingerfield Fire Department and the Daingerfield High School cafeteria staff.

Following dinner, Lee, a 1964 graduate of Daingerfield High School, introduced Patricia Betts Richardson, who would be introducing the first honoree, Gilbert Wayne Betts, her brother. Betts, a 1958 DHS graduate, went on to the University of Texas at Austin after his graduation, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. According to Betts, college was not easy for him, as he flunked out twice before finishing with his business degree. Following his graduation from UT, Beets was very fortunate to get a job with the Army/Air Force Exchange Services, which controlled the exchanges services of both the Army and the Air Force. After two years, Betts was drafted, and named squad leader due to his Air Force ROTC training. He spent his enlisted years working as an auditor, a profession that he kept even after his retirement from AAFES in 1993. Betts spends his time now working as a volunteer IRS Tax preparer, preparing returns for approximately 100 elderly members of the American Association of Retired Persons. Betts also serves as a trainer for other Volunteers, who also prepare tax returns for retired members of the community.

Offering the invocation for the night was not the only purpose for Donald Ray Vaughn to be in attendance. His main reason was to introduce his cousin, Ms. Theda Ellison Cook. Cook, a 1962 graduate, finished her time at Daingerfield having never made less than an ”A,” a testament she says to the importance her parent’s placed on education. She then attended East Texas State University, where she graduated with a degree in Math and Physics. The former Daingerfield Valedictorian continued her streak of perfect grades in college, and finished with the highest academic standard in the colleges history. Cook went on to work for TRW, who was responsible for working up the computer systems that would eventually put the first man on the moon. Cook, who worked with many of the smartest minds in the country, still considers being a part of that history as a highlight. “There is a special feeling knowing you a part of something bigger than yourself,” said Cook. Not only was Cook a part of the team that helped put a man on the moon, she also worked on the systems that helped develop the shuttle system, and later the systems that would become the International Space Station.

Dr. Ted French graduated from Daingerfield in 1965. He was introduced by life-long friend, Tom Forrest. French, who overcame severe speech impediments, has gone on to become the founder of the Texas Academy of Laser Dentistry. French also has spent time working with soldiers returning from Afghanistan, who have had facial trauma that affected their dental health. French spoke of the connection to Daingerfield that he has seen during his travels, noting that it was a teacher at Daingerfield, Preston Curry, who gave him something to succeed in, while athletes he knew from Daingerfield drove him to succeed. French, quoting a patient of his, said “Nothing exceeds being acknowledged by those you have known your whole life.”

The final honoree of the evening was the late Richard Woods. Mike Alcorn, current Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD Board member and Daingerfield graduate, spoke on behalf of the Woods family. Woods served in many capacities in Daingerfield. He became the first junior high quarterback for the Tigers, as well as the first four-year starting quarterback. He was the first Tiger to play in a college bowl game, was a coach of the first district championship Tiger team, and a member of the coaching staff of the first State Championship team. According to Alcorn, “Woods was an outstanding role model, mentor, and friend. He took boys and turned them into gentlemen.” Alcorn went on to add “Woods taught us to ‘Win with honor, and lose with dignity.’” Woods was previously recognized when the district renamed the field house in his honor. Two of Woods’ sons, Rick and Ron, were on hand to accept the Distinguished Alumni Award.

The Daingerfield Alumni Association was founded in 2007 to give back to the district. Since 2008, the association has donated over $80,000 in scholarships to Daingerfield graduates.