HPHs alumni awards
Since opening its doors in 1914, Highland Park High School has graduated countless men and women who have gone on to distinguish themselves through outstanding professional accomplishments, exemplary community service, and loyal support of the school district. To honor such remarkable achievements, the Highland Park High School Alumni Association started the Alumni Awards program in 1989. Since then, we have honored nearly 150 Highland Park graduates, former staff, and community leaders.
Now accepting nominations for the 2023 Alumni Awards!
to make a nomination please Click to download the nomination form
and submit by Nov. 1, 2022
Awards criteria
Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award shall be open to any alumni who attended Highland Park High School for a minimum of two (2) years and is at least 30 years of age at the time of nomination. Awards for alumni will be given for achievement in various fields of service which include, but are not limited to, the arts, athletics, business, education, entertainment, law, medicine, military, music, philanthropy, politics, public service, religion, and science. Please note that awards may be given posthumously and, in such instances, there shall be no age requirement.
Distinguished Young Alumni Award
The Distinguished Young Alumni Award may be given as a special award to recognize and honor any alumni who attended for a minimum of two (2) years and graduated from Highland Park High School and has achieved great success in their first 20 years after graduation. The Distinguished Young Alumni Award will be given for achievement in various fields which include, but are not limited to, the arts, athletics, business, education, entertainment, law, medicine, military, music, philanthropy, politics, public service,
religion, and science. Please note that awards may be given posthumously and, in such instances, there shall be no age requirement.
Distinguished Service Award
To qualify for the Distinguished Service Award, a faculty member must have completed at least ten (10) years of service to the District. At least three (3) years must have lapsed between the nominee’s last full-time service to the District and the end of the school year in which the award is to be granted.
Highlander Award
To qualify for the Highlander Award, an individual or group must have demonstrated significant commitment to HPISD through the giving of time, energy, and/or resources.
Please contact Meg Boyd, Director of Alumni Relations, at 214-780-3060 or meg.boyd@hpef.org for more information.
congratulations to the 2022 hphs alumni awards recipients!
On April 21, 2022, the Highland Park High School Alumni Association and Highland Park Education Foundation proudly hosted the 32nd annual Alumni Awards dinner. The 2022 honorees were surrounded by their family, friends, and peers, as they were celebrated throughout the evening at the Dallas Country Club. Personalized videos of interviews, commentary, and photos were produced for each honoree and shared with the audience at the event. A special performance by the HPHS Lads and Lassies made for a fantastic evening had by all.
Once again, congratulations to this year's deserving award recipients. Please enjoy reading the bios and viewing the honoree videos below.
the honorable harold "hal" demoss '48
2022 Distinguished Alumni Award (posthumously)
Click to view honoree video for Hal DeMoss
Integrity, attention to detail, a deep sense of principal, and the love of the United States Constitution describe Hal DeMoss. Born in Houston in 1930, Hal’s family moved to Dallas in 1943, where he would spend his formative teenage years. Hal quickly became a leader at Highland Park High School by serving as the President of the Student Council, Editor of the Bagpipe, Senior Class President, and Co-Captain of the Scots Varsity Basketball team. In 1948, Hal attended Rice University and played on the freshman basketball team before an eye injury ended his playing days. Hal’s curiosity and love of the law then sent him on to the University of Texas Law school in 1952. After spending 2 years at the Pentagon in the US Army JAG Corps, he joined the law firm of Bracewell and Patterson as an associate in Houston. Hal used the same intellect and work ethic that had been a trademark through his high school and college years to develop the real estate, oil and gas, and maritime practices, helping Bracewell to become a full-service firm. All through the years, Hal continued to stay involved with his church, local politics, and taking time with his family to enjoy fishing and boating at their bay house in Galveston. In 1988, he took a sabbatical from his law practice to work in the Presidential campaign for George H.W. Bush, a personal friend, fellow member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, and political ally for many years. In 1991, Hal was appointed and confirmed to the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and served in this role until his retirement in 2015. Colleagues describe Hal as a Judge who was exceptionally polite, extremely hard working, a true gentleman, and diplomatic to all sides. During his time on the bench, Hal authored two to three thousand opinions and would be prompt on commenting on other judges’ opinions. Throughout the success of his career, a core trait of Hal was the love and care of his family and extended family of law clerks and court staff. Judge DeMoss executed commitment to service and devotion to the law, while maintaining a love of his family and his faith.
garry weber '54
2022 Distinguished Alumni Award
Click to view honoree video for Garry Weber
Garry Weber, Class of 1954, used to make his trek to Highland Park High School with his hitchhiker’s thumb and a drive for adventure and success that eventually became the trademark of his life and career. Living just outside the district lines, Weber earned his enrollment in HPISD by cleaning the gym floors every morning, practicing hard for the football team, and proving himself academically. Garry attended SMU on a football scholarship, and in 1957 he earned All-American Honorable Mention before graduating in 1958 with his B.A. in Finance and Management. After serving six years in the Air National Guard, Garry settled in Dallas to give back to the community that gave him so much. He founded Weber, Hall, Sale and Associates where he served as Chairman of the Board for over 50 years. From 1969-1976, he served on Dallas City Council, followed by service as Dallas County Judge and Dallas County Hospital Board of Managers. His extensive civic involvement includes the SMU Board of Trustees, Dallas Salesmanship Club and Explorer’s Club, Chairman for the March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy, and United Way Campaigns, and Highland Park United Methodist Church Board of Trustees. Garry is a renowned world traveler, serving on the International Council of Advisors for Research, Exploration and Conservation for the National Geographic Society and the Board of Directors for the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M where he has been involved in several deep-sea salvage projects. Garry is currently an individual investor in venture capital and hedge funds and serves on the SMU Cox School of Business Executive Board, the SMU Investment Committee, and is an active member of the Dallas Country Club and Brook Hollow Golf Club.
paul peters, m.d. '76
2022 Distinguished Alumni Award
Click to view honoree video for Paul Peters
Paul has blue and gold running through his veins, and it is his character and compassion that developed at Highland Park that has made him the man he is today. Paul and his three siblings graduated from HP, as did his three children. He was an active participant in school events, from the Hyer carnival to a Friday night football game, and you can still find Paul active and engaged in the life of our HP community. This commitment and care for others is partially why he became a physician, and Paul’s love for helping others shines through all of his work, inside and outside the hospital. There are many awards he has accumulated throughout his career as a renowned orthopedic surgeon at the Carrell Clinic in Dallas, but it is not those that tell you the full story of who Paul is. His volunteerism knows no bounds and is on display at places like Texas Scottish Rite Hospital where he has helped children through his pro bono work. He is affectionately known as an honorary grandfather to approximately 100 children who he has bettered at Scottish Rite. Paul has also served on the Board of Directors of Circle 10 Boy Scouts of America and been an active member in the Salesmanship Club of Dallas for many years. He is an outstanding representation of what it means to “Enter to Learn and Go Forth to Serve.”
connie o'neill
2022 Highlander Award
Click to view honoree video for Connie O'Neill
The consummate volunteer, Connie O’Neill thrives in every arena she walks into, always putting forth every effort to better the organization or community that she serves. Graduating high school in Little Rock, AR, she found her way to the Park Cities by way of Southern Methodist University. From there, she thrived and grew into the leader she is today, being nominated SMU Homecoming queen and serving as president of her sorority. She would go on to work at Ernst and Young after graduation and would eventually raise four children who attended HPISD. Her volunteerism was on display throughout the District with her time spent serving on PTAs in elementary, middle, and high school. She also chaired the Foundation’s Mad for Plaid campaign and would eventually become HPEF Board President. Outside of Highland Park, Connie has given her time and talent to so many wonderful causes and organizations. She chaired the boards of Children's Medical Center Foundation and Susan G. Komen Foundation, and is a current member of the SMU Board of Trustees and Communities Foundation of Texas Board of Trustees. Her civic pride and involvement across Dallas have led to her receiving countless awards and achievements, but that is not what drives her. Connie remains involved because of the innate passion she has to better the community and city she calls home.
special thanks to the 2022 sponsors!
Presenting Sponsor
Garry Weber
Video Sponsor
The Peters Family
Invitation Sponsor
Lucy Johnson | Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International
Flower Sponsor
Connie O'Neill
Plaid Sponsors
Academic Advancement Partners
Anonymous
Bracewell LLP, in memory of Hal DeMoss
Janis and Roy Coffee, Jr.
The DeMoss Family, in memory of Hal DeMoss
Judy and Jim Gibbs
Margo and Bill Goodwin
Cindy and Guy Kerr
Sally and Olin Lane
Judy and Jack Myers
Randa and Doug Roach
Gold Sponsors
Anonymous
Gayle and Jeff Barnes
Anne and Alan Feld
The Hickey Family
Sarah Losinger, in honor of Connie O’Neill
Dr. Linda Salinas, Ed.D.
Southern Methodist University, in honor of Garry Weber and Connie O’Neill
Wanda Branch Spoonmore
Navy Sponsors
Anonymous
Meg and Chris Boyd
Louise and Guy Griffeth, in honor of Connie O’Neill
Dianne and Dick Kilday
Stephanie and Justin Lilley, in memory of Hal DeMoss
Taste of Texas Restaurant, in memory of Hal DeMoss
Lydia Novakov, in honor of Connie O’Neill
Nancy M. O'Neil and John Q. Stilwell
Kristina and Phil Whitcomb, in honor of Connie O’Neill
Laurie Wright
additional support
Anonymous
Suzanne Babcock
Cyndi and Mark Bassel, in honor of Connie O’Neill
Vivian and John Duhe, in memory of Hal DeMoss
Leta Badgett Harrell, in honor of Connie O’Neill and Paul Peters, M.D.
Kathy and Patrick Jenevein, in honor of Connie O’Neill
Kathy and Art Krueger
Shirley Gows McDonnold
Susan and John Rutledge
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Houston, TX, in memory of Hal DeMoss
Nancy S. Wilson, in honor of Paul Peters, M.D.
Ana and Jim Yoder, in honor of Paul Peters, M.D. and Connie O’Neill
Past recipients
1989 – Andrew P. Rollins, Jr. '35*, Charles H. Webb, Jr. '51, Kyle Rote, Jr. '68, Ben W. Wiseman* (Service)
1990 – Charles E. Seay '32*, Doak Walker, Jr. '45*, James W. Cronin '48*, Martha Mary Stewart '34* (Service)
1991 – William J. McClanahan '27*, Warren R. “Bob” Lilly '51*, Carol Hall '54*, Sara Ferguson Styring '42* (Service)
1992 – Jane Manton Marshall '42, John Mathis '49, John Duckett '54*, Peggy Pace Duckett '58, Margaret Wasson* (Service)
1993 – Ben Carpenter '41*, Lindalyn Bennett Adams '48, William Howard Beasley '64* (Posthumous), Walter M. Spradley* (Service)
1994 – Margaret Milam McDermott '29*, William P. Clements, Jr. '34*, Trisha Wilson '65, Winston C. Power, Jr.* (Service)
1995 – Robert F. Ritchie '35*, David G. Fox '41*, Peter O’Donnell, Jr. '41, David “Skippy” Browning '48* (Posthumous), Frank Monroe (Service)
1996 – Don M. Houseman '40*, Louis A. Beecherl, Jr. '43*, Charles Paddock Otstott '55, Alton K. “Butch” Thompson '56, Edith Harris* (Service)
1997 – Donald D. Clayton '53, Lee Cullum '56, William T. Solomon '60, Frank Bevers* (Service)
1998 – Robert “Bobby” Layne '44* (Posthumous), Justice James A. Baker '49*, Ward L. Huey, Jr. '56, Michael M. Boone '59, E.A. Sigler, Jr. (Service)
1999 – John F. Anderson, Jr. '37*, A. Starke Taylor, Jr. '39*, Lynn C. Ashby '56, Walter Cecil Holmes, Jr. '55* (Service)
2000 – L. Lowry Mays '53, Gifford Touchstone '54, Wendy Kopp '85, Floyd R. Hightower* (Service)
2001 – Harvey Roberts “Bum” Bright '38*, Sylvia Ford Little '51, Sandra Jean Ford Fulton '55, Newton L. Manning* (Posthumous - Service)
2002 – Henry C. Beck, Jr. '34*, Ted Votteler '44*, Jack E. Little '56, Kellis White (Service)
2003 – James Cleo Thompson, Jr. '48*, Donald Zale '51, Thomas E. Campbell '56*, Kenneth Thomas (Service)
2004 – George E. Hurt, Jr. '50*, William L. Hutchison '50, Henry D. Jacoby '53, Elaine S. Prude* (Service), James “Brad” Bradley (Highlander)
2005 – George Underwood '37*, Ed Bernet '51, Peggy Nowlin Hanley '52, Lisabeth List '86, Frank Story* (Posthumous - Service), Barbara Lomax Hitzelberger* (Highlander)
2006 – Pat Hudson Robertson '37*, John Roach '51*, Medora Doherty White '56*, Rodney Pirtle (Service), Margo Goodwin (Highlander)
2007 – Jack A. Turpin '47*, Charles Pistor '48*, Jack Lowe, Jr. '57, Mary Dillard (Service), Kirk Dooley '73 (Highlander)
2008 – Dorothy Nettleton Masterson '52, George Reynolds '53, Richard Quick '61*, Bo Snowden* (Service), David R. Webb '51 (Highlander)
2009 – Elizabeth Gamble Miller '43, Art Barnes '51*, Doug Wright '81, Becky Nugent (Service), Roger W. Blackmar, Jr. '50* (Highlander)
2010 – Elliot See, Jr. '45* (Posthumous), Bob Coffee '51, James A. Gibbs '53, Sam Burford, Jr. '60, Wanda Branch Spoonmore (Service), Susan and Marc Hall (Highlander)
2011 – James M. Moroney, Jr. '38* (Posthumous), Jerry Fullinwider '46*, Wade Smith '54, Albert J. “Bud” Toole, III '55, Shirley Kochman ’53 (Service)
2012 – Pierce Allman '50, Don Bowman '53, Mike Sorrells '59, John P. Connolly (Service), Julie Ann Hudson O’Connell '52* (Highlander)
2013 – Richard "Dick" Bass '46*, Charles Robert "Bob" Palmer '52, G. Lee Griffin '56, Linda Salinas (Service), La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas (Highlander)
2014 – Mary Frances McClure Burleson '53, James “Blackie” Holmes '53*, Barbara Lehde deRubertis '57, David “D” Smith (Service), Cathy Bryce (Highlander)
2015 – W. Richard "Dick" Davis '53, Nat Read '57, Herb Weitzman '57, Cathy Wheat (Service), Judy Gibbs (Highlander)
2016 – Robert E. "Bob" Wilbur '59, Joanne Leedom-Ackerman '64, Trevor D. Rees-Jones '69, Orvil L. Jones, Jr. (Service), Cindy Vaughan Kerr '71 and Guy Kerr '71 (Highlander)
2017 – David Pines '40*, Speight Jenkins '53, Tom Luce '58, Doug Gibbins (Service), Sally and Forrest Hoglund (Highlander)
2018 – Gary Morchower '55, Byron Egan '61, Douglas Coldwell '67, Jerry Sutterfield (Service), Syd Carter '54 (Highlander)
2019 – Roy Coffee, Jr. '55, Dorothy Elliott Leidner '83, Laura Claycomb '86, Don Richardson (Service), Leslie Melson* (Highlander)
2020 – Olin Lane '51, Martin True '64 (posthumously), Amber Venz Box '05 and Baxter Box '01 (Young Alumni), Tom Shelton (Service) and Gage Prichard '54 (Highlander)
Click underlined names to view the honoree video.
*= Deceased