Alumni Awards Past Recipients | Park Cities | Highland Park Education Foundation

HPHs Distinguished alumni awards

Past recipients

Congratulations to our 2023 honorees!

Foster Poole '50

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Foster Malic Poole, Jr. arrived in Dallas with his family at the age of three and attended Highland Park Schools his entire primary education. In high school, he was head cheerleader and voted class favorite, a telling sign of his friendly, outgoing personality. Upon graduating from HPHS in 1950, Foster graduated SMU and then immediately joined the United States Air Force in 1954 where he served as a lieutenant for two years.

During his service, Foster married his college sweetheart, Nancy Jane Poole (HPHS Class of 1952), and they settled in the Park Cities in 1956. As the story goes, Foster rented an old house on Routh Street to launch a store selling “things nobody needed,” and his first month’s sales rang in at $37.00. Over six decades, Foster grew his business, the Sample House, into a multi-million-dollar operation now with six stores in the DFW area.

Foster’s success with the Sample House is only one facet of his deeply rich life that was rooted in kindness. Giving back to his community was second nature to Foster. He was a founding member of the Park Cities YMCA, leader in Boy Scouts of America and the Texas Delta Investment Club. He received the Texas Outstanding Family Business Award from the Baylor Hankamer School of Business, the Christian Community Action Award, and the Outstanding Partnership Award from the Denton State School.

Foster was a Deacon, Elder, and Elder Emeritus at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, and organized a prominent Bible Study Group that now bears his name, continuing to meet thirty years later. Most notably, though, was Foster’s humble impact on countless lives through his genuine care and investment in relationships. He would hire Highland Park High School students because he believed in creating opportunities for young adults; he would hire folks not yet ready for retirement or who needed help getting back on their feet.

Foster loved his family- his wife, three children, and seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild- his church, and his community, spreading joy with his infectious smile wherever he went. That joy and love created a ripple effect that touched thousands of lives and exemplified the HP motto, “Enter to Learn. Go Forth to Serve.” Foster Malic Poole, Jr. passed away on March 19, 2019.

Steve Van Amburgh '71

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Connection to people, connection to worthy causes, and connection to making a difference personally and professionally is Steve Van Amburgh. Growing up in the Park Cities, Steve valued his upbringing and loved roaming the streets with his four siblings. Playing football for the Scots was a goal Steve achieved, and he took his love of football to become a captain and college football player for Washington and Lee University. Leadership started young with Steve, and along with his work ethic, he graduated from college to return to Dallas to begin his career with the ROMCO Equipment Company in Dallas, a large construction equipment company. Learning a great deal from Robert Mullins, the owner, Steve later found his passion in real estate development and joined The Koll Company, which later became KDC. KDC grew to become one of the nation’s top office developers, and in 2004, Steve became the CEO. Under Steve’s leadership, KDC has completed over 150 corporate build-to-suit office and industrial projects valued at over $11 billion and totaling more than 36 million square feet.

The success of the KDC team is putting “People First,” and Steve believes in a culture of transparency, trust, and selflessness. He believes that the most successful projects require enduring and successful relationships daily. Steve has championed the development of new facilities for various non-profits because he strongly advocates giving back to the community. Over the past 60 months, KDC has completed over seven (7) not-for-profit projects, totaling over 150,000 SF at a cost of over $50 million. The “KDC Way” is to “give back, as much has been given to each of us.” Connection to a cause and connection to the people who serve to help the recovery of homeless alcoholics, Steve championed and developed a new facility for The Dallas 24 Hour Club, which houses 72 men and women daily. Steve believes strongly in the “Three F’s” - Faith, Family, and Friends. He and his wife, Lee Ann, are Highland Park Presbyterian Church members. Together, they have raised three HPHS graduates, Sam, Kate, and Pete. Steve’s willingness to serve others selflessly and his dedication to the community exemplifies being a great Scot.

Chris Young '98

Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Chris Young, a veteran of 13 Major League Baseball seasons, attended Highland Park schools from Hyer through HPHS. While at HPHS, Chris was a scholar and an athlete. Known for his stature, standing 6’10 tall, Chris earned All-State honors in both basketball and baseball and helped the Scots reach the Class 4A Region II basketball finals in 1997 and 4A state basketball finals in 1998. He also tossed a no-hitter in 1997 while compiling a 6-0 record that led the Scots to win the Class 4A state baseball championship in 1998 during his senior year. He was selected District MVP in basketball and first-team All-State selection in basketball and baseball, but he always stayed humble. His good friends describe him as being “kind and compassionate,” “competitive without drawing attention to himself,” and someone who models “character and integrity.” They say he was kind to his teammates and was always there to encourage others or pick them up off the floor.

After graduating from Highland Park in ’98, he went to Princeton University and received a bachelor’s degree in political science in ‘02. At t Princeton, he played baseball and basketball for the Tigers for two seasons each, earning Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors as a center in basketball and a pitcher in baseball in 1999, the first male athlete in Ivy League history to win those honors in two sports. He also received 2nd team All-Ivy Basketball Rookie Cap every week for 7 weeks.

Chris then stepped into his incredible MLB career as a pitcher. Chris began his career with the Texas Rangers and went on to pitch for the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, and Kansas City Royals. Chris was a 2007 National League All-Star player with the Padres and won the 2015 World Series with the Kansas City Royals. Upon stepping back from pitching in 2017, he spent three years working for Major League Baseball and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations. Chris then joined the Texas Rangers as Executive Vice President & General Manager in 2020. At only 43-years-old, Young assumed leadership of the Rangers’ entire baseball operations group in 2022 and is the ninth General Manager in Rangers history.

While having a busy job that requires travel, Chris still finds time to volunteer for various fundraisers to support HPISD. He donates MLB-signed products to school auctions; and he and Clayton Kershaw (a fellow Hyer alum, parent, and MLB star) have hosted a “Hyer Heroes” baseball game to benefit the school and engage students. Chris lives in the Park Cities with his wife Liz, and children Cate, Scott, and Grant, who attend HPHS, MIS, and Hyer respectively. A hometown hero, Chris is proud of his education and certainly values the foundation that started his athletic career.

Donna Pierce

Service Award Recipient

Donna Pierce, also known as the “Star Lady,” served as HPISD’s Planetarium Director for more than four decades, from 1979-2021. Born in the Texas Panhandle, Donna went on to attend Rice University in Houston, where she studied architecture. She started her family and the Pierces moved to Dallas in 1960, where Donna became a member of the Junior League and volunteered at The Dallas Health & Science (later called the Science Place) Planetarium at Fair Park, educating herself about astronomy and giving free shows to students. Her commitment to the Science Place spanned 15 years. But Donna’s love of learning didn’t stop there – she went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in art history from The University of Dallas and a master’s degree in educational technology from Texas A&M University-Commerce, all while raising four children. She is also an avid user of Morse Code.

Donna was hired by Highland Park in 1979, soon after the Planetarium opened, and worked part-time for many years before hired full-time in 1991. As the Planetarium Director, Donna engaged students across all grades and curriculums. Many HP alumni remember their excitement visiting the Planetarium on field trips during elementary school! Donna sponsored the high school’s Astronomy Club and former students recall that the trip she led to the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis had a significant impact on their education. Park Cities parents Winnie and Davis Hamlin were so inspired by Donna’s education of their children, that when they made a significant gift to establish the Hamlin Teacher Appreciation Endowed Fund in 2002, they insisted the Planetarium bear her name. Thus, it was renamed The Pierce Planetarium! In addition to 41 years as an educator, Donna was the Girls Golf Coach for a decade, leading the Scots to three state championships in 1998, 1999, and 2000, and winning the National Women’s High School Coach of the Year award in 2000. Funny enough, Donna didn’t even play golf when she started coaching the Scots. She also directed the high school’s AFS foreign exchange student program. Outside of work, Donna has served since 2003 for SU160 Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas and is an avid traveler, having been to over 40 state parks and several countries throughout the world. Pierce retired from HPISD and the impact she made on thousands of students, is priceless.

Cordelia Boone

Highlander Award Recipient

A humble servant and one that has a heart as big as Texas, is how Cordelia Boone operates. Her charming Southern accent is a voice that commands attention and one that has been heard since her childhood, as she grew up in a family of nine. Cordelia grew up with her parents and 7 siblings in Dolthan Alabama, and loved to be outside playing and fishing. She was involved in the yearbook and other clubs in high school and followed in her father’s footsteps by attending Emory University. While at Emory, she was involved in Kappa Alpha Theta and participated in service opportunities. Cordelia met Tom Boone, HPHS class of 1968, at Emory and upon graduation, they married and moved to Texas. Wanting to serve children and support the church, Cordelia became a preschool teacher at Highland Park United Methodist Church. Cordelia and Tom started to build a family and together they raised five kids through the hallways of Bradfield Elementary to HPHS graduation. From the moment she walked her first child in the doors of Bradfield, she quickly became involved as a volunteer and served the PTA. Leadership opportunities quickly followed and Cordelia served the PTAs throughout her kids schooling. She had leadership roles as the first HPMS PTA President in the new building, chair of one of the first Mad for Plaid campaigns, La Fiesta Gala Chair and President of the Board, and board member of the Highland Park Education Foundation. To this day, with her kids no longer in the district, she still serves on the MIS campus leadership committee. One of her many outstanding attributes is that Cordelia spends countless hours supporting the organizations she is dedicated to by helping wherever she is needed. She shows up to take on any task to complete the work when others don’t show up or want the job. Going beyond HPISD, Cordelia has been influential and led with a purpose for the Junior League of Dallas, Children’s Medical Center, and Crystal Charity ball to name a few. The love Cordelia has for her family and the energy she has to enhance the lives around her, is a gift. Her passion is being around kids and supporting the programs kids participate in. She quietly works behind the scenes to support families, students, staff, teachers, and coaches and holds in high regard, a quality education, character development and the best hopes for our children. We are lucky to have a selfless volunteer who continues to make HPISD exemplary.

Click on our award winners to learn more

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 (Posthumous), Amber Venz Box '05 and Baxter Box '01 (Young Alumni), Tom Shelton (Service) and

Gage Prichard '54 (Highlander)

2022 – The Honorable Harold "Hal" DeMoss '48 (Posthumous), Garry Weber '54, Paul Peters, M.D.'76, and Connie O'Neill (Highlander)

Click underlined names to view the honoree video.

*= Deceased

HPHs Distinguished alumni awards

Past recipients

Congratulations to our 2023 honorees!

Click on our award winners to learn more

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