On Thursday, April 15, 2021, we gathered for the 32nd annual HPHS Alumni Awards dinner and program to celebrate the accomplishments of six
distinguished honorees. For the first time in event history, we were able to livestream the event to over 70 households.
Please join us in congratulating our honorees
by learning more about them!
Tom Shelton
Distinguished Service Award
Compassion, hard work, and trust are just a few fundamentals Coach Tom Shelton taught to the basketball teams he coached for 25 years at HPHS. Players and coaches have said these fundamentals of life were learned on the hardwood, but Shelton knew they would be practiced in the game of life. Beginning his coaching and education career at HPHS in 1969, Shelton was always seen as a “player’s coach” who mentored students and players inside and outside of the classroom. He amassed an incredible 220-96 Varsity career record while coaching, earning multiple District awards, including coach of the year, titles, and even ended the 1989 season as state semi-finalist. Off the court, Shelton has two children that he raised with his wife, Linda. Now, he imparts the same fundamentals of compassion, hard work, and trust to his grandchildren.
Amber Venz Box '05 and Baxter Box '01
Young Alumni Awardees
Amber Venz and Baxter Box graduated from HPHS in 2005 and 2001, respectively. After graduating college- Amber from SMU, and Baxter from the University of San Diego- the two married and quickly transformed the fashion world. Upon completing his MBA at SMU in 2011, Baxter and Amber started rewardStyle. This digital creation completely changed the fashion industry by connecting brands with influencers and ultimately consumers. Business soared and has spread to more than 100 countries, and with that has come great profits and recognition in the community. In 2014, the couple launched LIKEtoKNOW.it, a social media focused company connecting retailers with influencers, and allowing consumers to shop based on posts by what those individuals follow. Amber was named one of Forbes’ Top 30 under 30 and both received SMU’s Cox Outstanding Young Alumni awards, all while remaining rooted in the HP community. With offices all around the world, those that know them believe this dynamic duo will remain in Dallas with their three children for years to come.
Olin Lane '51
Distinguished Alumni Award
Former Mayor Olin Lane’s story started much earlier in the community he served. Olin graduated from HPHS in 1951 and went on to earn degrees from SMU and Stanford. He served in the Texas National Guard, while also beginning his career at IBM. He continued to build his career in data processing and management before starting his own business in 1971. He was successful, focusing on real estate development and went on to become a pillar in the community. Serving on a variety of committees and boards in University Park, including Capital Projects and Board of Adjustment, before ultimately becoming the cities’ Mayor, Olin lived his alma mater’s motto of “enter to learn and go forth to serve.” He has been serving his community in some aspect for more than 40 years, seen as a mentor by many. Olin enjoys the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and time with his wife of over 60 years, Sally, as well as his children and grandchildren.
Dr. Martin True '54 (posthumously)
Distinguished Alumni Award
Whether it was through the halls of Highland Park High School, in the Air Force, or in private practice, Dr. Martin True was committed to a life of service. The Salutatorian of the HPHS Class of 1964, Martin went on to Rice University and then to UT Southwestern Medical School. After completing medical school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he would be honorably discharged with the rank of Major. Long before his nearly thirty-year career as an Internal Medicine doctor, Martin was committed to helping others. Fellow classmates recall him having such an impact on those around him while in school, and he would continue to do that throughout his career and his life. Martin was very active in the community as a professional and father of three, serving as president of the HPHS Dad’s Club and founding the Teacher’s Cup Gold Tournament, which raises money for HPISD teachers. His mind was meant for the medical profession, as was his heart. His bedside manner with patients was impeccable and that would lead to being named Best Doctor and Super Doctor in D Magazine and Texas Monthly multiple times. Survived by his wife Kay and his children and grandchildren, Martin always had a gracious word to offer to those he came across in school, in his profession, and in the community.
Gage Prichard '54
Highlander Award
Helping his team swim its way to a State Championship in 1954, Gage Prichard graduated that same year and would remain in the neighborhood and the pool, receiving his bachelor’s from SMU in 1959. While in school, his Mustang squad (H20 Mustangs) secured a Southwest Conference Swimming and Diving Championship in 1958. After SMU, he began a career in real estate that would last nearly 50 years. Outside of work, Gage was visible in the community and at church, serving on the University Park Community League, Treasure Street Board for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, a 30-year trustee at Presbyterian Hospital, and held multiple roles within Highland Park Presbyterian Church. He has been celebrated multiple times for his work in home building and design, receiving the Texas and Dallas area Pinnacle awards for best custom builder, as well as receiving the Hugh Prather Award given annually to a builder of note. He served as the past president of home and apartment builders association, as well as the life director of the national association of home builders association. He is currently serving his third term on the University Park City Council. Gage and his wife Gwen have been married for more than 60 years and have two children and enjoy time with their grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Scroll through photos from the event by clicking on arrows below!
HPHS Alumni Awards
Thank you to our Underwriters
2020-2021
Presenting Sponsor
The Family of Dr. Martin E. True, Jr.
Video Sponsor
Petro-Hunt, L.L.C
Livestream Sponsor
Anonymous
Flower Sponsor
Robin and Bernay Box
Photographer Sponsor
Judy and Jack Myers
Plaid Sponsors
Cyndi and Mark Bassel
Kay and Will Beecherl
Maryjane and Chris Bonfield
Jennifer and Bob Carter
Margo and Bill Goodwin
Janis and Roy Coffee
Margaret Sharpe Fanning
Rena and Kenneth Glaser
Louie and Guy Griffeth
Annie and Teal Griffeth
Laurie and Jim Hitzelberger
Cindy and Guy Kerr
Valerie and Lewis McMahan
Nancy O’Neil
Ana and Jim Yoder
Southern Methodist University
Gold Sponsors
Meg and Chris Boyd
Jenny and Jim Castellaw
Jana and Bob Dransfield
Eddie DeLoach
Mary Joy and Richard Hinton
Jan and Marc Myers
Blaire and Scott Sherer
Laura and Ron Ward
Garry Weber
Laurie Teeple Wright
Navy Sponsors
Mary and Jody Bass
Susie and Ed Bernet
Maryann and Michael Denton
Jane Manning Glasser
Jackson Harkey
Ann Heard-Sakhaee
Beverly and Rick Herrscher
Cindy Klutts
Dian Moore
Kathleen Parsons
Susan and John Carl Rutledge
Allen Taylor
Kelly and Jim Walker
Tucean and Dave Webb
Additional Support
Margaret and Syd Carter
Melanie and Paul Jackson
Kathy and Art Krueger
Sandy Nachm
Ashley and Blake Purnell
Donna and Andy Small
Debbie and Bob Spies
Highland Park High School Alumni Association started the Alumni Awards program in 1989. Since then we have honored over 50 Highland Park Graduates with this honor at our yearly award ceremony. We also honor former employees of the HPISD school district with the Service Award.
To be considered for these awards the following criteria must be met:
**The Distinguished Alumni Award Shall be open to any alumnus or alumna who attended Highland Park High School for a minimum of two (2) years and is at least 30 years of age at 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, scholarship and science.
**To qualify for nomination for a 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 elapsed 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.
**To qualify for nomination for a Highlander Award as an individual, that person’s service to and support of the District must be outstanding.
**Awards may be given posthumously and, in such instances, there shall be no age requirement.
All nominations are due November 1st to be considered for the award the following spring. To nominate a potential honoree please use the DAA nomination form. Please e-mail info@hpef.org to request a nomination packet or an invitation be sent to you.
Note: We are not receiving nominations for 2021. We will honor all nominations received for Spring 2022.
We appreciate any donations made to this event. You will receive a tax letter for your donation.
PAST RECIPIENTS
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1989 – Andrew P. Rollins, Jr. ’35, Kyle Rote, Jr. ’68, Charles H. Webb, Jr. ’51,
Ben W. Wiseman (Service) -
1990 – James W. Cronin ’48, Charles E. Seay ’32, Doak Walker, Jr. ’45,
Martha Mary Stewart ’34 (Service) -
1991 – Carol Hall ’54, Warren R. “Bob” Lilly ’51, William J. McClanahan ’27,
Sara Ferguson Styring ’42 (Service) -
1992 – John Duckett ’54, Peggy Pace Duckett ’58, Jane Manton Marshall ’42,
John Mathis ’49, Margaret Wasson (Service) -
1993 – Lindalyn Bennett Adams ’48, William Howard Beasley ’64 (Posthumous),
Ben Carpenter ’41, Walter M. Spradley (Service) -
1994 – William P. Clements, Jr. ’34, Margaret Milam McDermott ’29, T
risha Wilson ’65, Winston C. Power, Jr. (Service) -
1995 – David “Skippy” Browning ’48 (Posthumous), David G. Fox ’41,
Peter O’Donnell, Jr. ’41, Robert F. Ritchie ’35, Dr. Frank Monroe (Service) -
1996 – Louis A. Beecherl, Jr. 43, Don M. Houseman ’40, Charles Paddock Otstott ’55, Alton K. “Butch” Thompson ’56, Edith Harris (Service)
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1997 – Dr. Donald D. Clayton ’53, Lee Cullum ’56, William T. Solomon ’60,
Frank Bevers (Service) -
1998 – Justice James A. Baker ’49, Michael M. Boone ’59, Ward L. Huey, Jr. ‘56, Robert “Bobby” Layne ‘44 (Posthumous), Dr. E.A. Sigler, Jr. (Service)
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1999 – Dr. John F. Anderson, Jr. ’37, Lynn C. Ashby ’56, A. Starke Taylor, Jr. ’39, Walter Cecil Holmes, Jr. ’55 (Service)
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2000 – Wendy Kopp ’85, L. Lowry Mays ’53, Gifford Touchstone ’54, Floyd R. Hightower (Service)
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2001 – Harvey Roberts “Bum” Bright ’38, Sandra Jean Ford Fulton ’55, Sylvia Ford Little ’51, Newton L. Manning, Posthumous (Service)
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2002 – Henry C. Beck, Jr. ’34, Dr. Jack E. Little ’56, Dr. Ted Votteler ’44, Kellis White (Service)
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2003 – Thomas E. Campbell ’56, James Cleo Thompson, Jr. ’48, Donald Zale ’51, Dr. Kenneth Thomas (Service)
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2004 – Dr. George E. Hurt, Jr. ’50, William L. Hutchison ’50, Henry D. Jacoby ’53, Elaine S. Prude (Service), James “Brad” Bradley (Highlander)
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2005 – George Underwood ’37, Lisabeth List ’86, Peggy Nowlin Hanley ’52, Ed Bernet ’51, Frank Story, Posthumous (Service),
Barbara Lomax Hitzelberger (Highlander) -
2006 – Pat Hudson Robertson ’37, John Roach ‘ 51, Medora Doherty White
Jan ’56, Dr. Rodney Pirtle (Service), Margo Goodwin (Highlander) -
2007 – Jack Lowe ’57, Charles Pistor ’48, Jack Turpin ’47, Mary Dillard (Service), Kirk Dooley ’73 (Highlander)
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2008 – Dorothy Nettleton Masterson ’52, George Reynolds ’53, Richard Quick ’61,
Bo Snowden (Service), Dr. David Webb ’51 (Highlander) -
2009 – Elizabeth Gamble Miller ’43, Art Barnes ’51, Doug Wright ’81,
Becky Nugent (Service), Roger Blackmar ’50 (Highlander) -
2010 – Sam Burford ’60, Bob Coffee ’51, James A. Gibbs ’53, Elliot See, Jr. ’45 (Posthumous), Wanda Spoonmore (Service), Susan and Marc Hall (Highlander)
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2011 – Jerry Fullinwider ’46, James M. Moroney, Jr. ’38 (Posthumous), Albert “Bud” Toole ’55, Wade Smith ’54, Shirley Kochman ’53 (Service)
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2012 – Pierce Allman ’50, Don Bowman ’53, Mike Sorrells ’59, Dr. John P. Connolly (Service), Julie Ann Hudson O’Connell ’52 (Highlander)
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2013 – Dick Bass ’46, G. Lee Griffin ’56, Bob Palmer ’52, Dr. Linda Salinas (Service), La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas(Highlander)
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2014 – Mary Frances McClure Burleson ’53, Barbara Lehde deRubertis ’57, James “Blackie” Holmes ’53, Dr. David “D” Smith (Service), Dr. Cathy Bryce (Highlander)
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2015 – Dick Davis ’53, Nat Read ’57, Herb Weitzman ’57, Cathy Wheat (Service), Judy Gibbs (Highlander)
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2016 – Joanne Leedom Ackerman ’64, Trevor Rees-Jones ’69, Bob Wilbur ’59, Orvil Jones (Service), Cindy Vaughan Kerr ’71 and Guy Kerr ’71 (Highlander)
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2017 - Speight Jenkins '53, Tom Luce '58, David Pines '40, Doug Gibbins (Service), Sally and Forrest Hoglund (Highlander)
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2020- Olin Lane '51, Dr. Martin True '64 (posthumously), Amber Venz Box '05 and Baxter Box '01 (Young Alumni), Tom Shelton (Service) and Gage Prichard '54 (Highlander)