Mark Bonnen graduated from Angleton High School in 1986 with honors, and if you asked his teachers and peers, Bonnen was likely to head for a career in journalism. He was the obvious choice to receive the AHS Senior Newspaper Award for his work throughout high school interviewing and writing stories on top state government officials about the changes to education in the 1980s. He was not afraid to go after a story and to take the time to follow it through to the end. Bonnen’s strong work ethic has always driven him to be successful and to challenge himself. After high school, Bonnen attended Texas A&M University, and he found that his path led him not toward a future in journalism but instead in an almost completely different direction. He graduated in 1991 with two degrees, one in physics and one in philosophy. He embraced both, finding fascinating connections between such things as quantum theory, relativity and the philosophy of science. After working as a physicist for a while, Bonnen decided he really wanted to pursue a career where he could help people, and he chose to get his medical degree, graduating from the University of Texas Health Science in Houston in 1999. He completed his internship in 2000 at Baylor College of Medicine and his residency at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Bonnen’s combined his interest in medicine and physics led him into radiation oncology, and he found a way to serve his community through his work. He soon started helping residents at the Brazosport Regional Cancer Center in Lake Jackson, and he also founded South Texas Radiation Therapy Associates. Bonnen became a sought-after oncologist specialist, and he was recruited as program director of the Radiation Oncology Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicine in 2013, where he is helping to train the next generation of radiation oncologists. Today, he is chairman of the Radiation Oncology Department at Baylor in the world-renowned Texas Medical Center. Bonnen is at the forefront of technology and advancements in his field. Entrusted with the early development of the department, Bonnen has led his faculty and staff in significant growth and development in academic and clinical work. He has redesigned residency physics, radiation biology and clinical didactics courses, and he has created radiation oncology fellowships as well as attained millions in national competitive grants. At the same time, Bonnen has published research on the use of radiation therapy in several types of cancer, and he has presented at multiple national and international scholarly conferences. Because of his research, the use of radiation therapy is more pointed so that it is most effective with the least possible side effects. Bonnen’s reputation as a highly skilled doctor has spread as much as his reputation for being an extremely compassionate professional. In fact, Bonnen is widely praised for his compassion. People are known to seek his expertise and advice, whether they are his patients or not, and Bonnen will help them locate specialists and help them understand their treatments and procedures. No matter how busy he is, Bonnen is there for those who seek his help, visiting people in the hospital and sitting with families in waiting rooms at surgery centers. Bonnen’s blend of skill, knowledge, dedication and compassion saves lives and makes him a model physician, caregiver and educator in the medical world.

Graduating Angleton High School in 1993, Chris Heatherly knew he wanted to make his mark in interactive communications although at the time few even understood what that field was. For Heatherly, who was a creative and “out-of-the-box” thinker, that meant exploring how the new technology of the time would change the way the world communicated in the future. That path started at AHS as a student in journalism where he started working as a freshman on a brand new machine that would change his life—a Macintosh computer. By the time he was a senior at AHS, Heatherly had twice been presented Tops in Texas awards in computer graphics, and he won national awards in page design. As the school newspaper editor his junior and senior years, his work was noted not only locally but around the state, and the Tattler was ranked in the top 15 school newspapers in Texas. Building on his passion for journalism, Heatherly’s path to the future led him to the University of Texas journalism program, where he continued to hone his computer skills. While at UT, he also worked at Apple Computer and later Power Computing to put himself through college. His strong and ever-growing background in computers led Heatherly to a career in the early days of the web and e-commerce worlds. He was hired by the world-renowned company Frog Design in California, where he helped start the company’s interactive division and founded its strategy group. As chief strategist, he worked with a variety of clients from startups to Fortune 500 brands, and he worked on a variety of design work from physical product to brand overhauls to internet software. His clients included Target, Ford, Real Networks, Macromedia and Nike. While at Frog, Heatherly began working with Disney on an innovative project to develop a line of kid’s consumer electronics. Seeing his tremendous gift in computers and strong work ethic, Disney soon hired him to launch their kid’s electronics business, and Heatherly built that into a global business. He went on to found Toymorrow, Disney’s innovative project focused on the emergent confluence of digital and physical play, creating everything from a real, flying Tinkerbell to a scale-working robot Wall-E to the first toys that interacted with the iPad. It was clear how vital Heatherly was to Disney, and in 2008 he became the vice president/general manager for the company’s toy business, overseeing $3 billion in domestic wholesale sales and all of Disney’s toy lines, including Disney Princesses and Pixar’s Cars. Heatherly even worked closely with the Pixar creative team on the toy lines for Toy Story 3 and Cars 2, and he has worked with every major toy company, expanding relationships with global partners such as Mattel, Hasbro, Lego, Hallmark and Crayola. Additionally, in his time at Disney’s Consumer Products division, Heatherly oversaw product innovation, holding 46 patents in areas of consumer electronics and software. In 2011, Heatherly returned to the digital world as the Vice President of Production and Marketing for Disney’s Interactive Worlds business, and three years later he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Disney’s Social Kids business, where he oversaw the company’s kid’s games and kids-safe social systems. In 2016, Heatherly made a career move, leaving Disney and moving to NBC Universal as their Executive Vice President of Games and Digital Platforms. He now oversees all games on mobile, console, PC and emerging platforms such as VR and AR. This includes work on NBC (SNC, Fallon, American Ninja Warrior); Universal (Jurassic World, Fast & Furious); Dreamworks (Trolls, Shrek); TV Animator (Voltron, Troll Hunters); and Cable (Mr. Robot, Battlestar Galatica). With more than 20 years of experience, Heatherly has become a well-respected and accomplished veteran in the interactive entertainment and consumer technology industry, and he continues to be a visionary and world-wide leader in the games and digital world where he influences and inspires entertainment that is enjoyed by millions around the world.

In 1981, Cal McNeill graduated from Angleton High School, where he was known by everyone for his outgoing personality and ability to make strong friendships. He was also known to be a leader on and off the field as an active member of the Wildcat football team and Student Council president for two years. McNeill left Angleton to attend Texas A&M University, where he walked on to the Aggie football team. After graduating from the university in 1985, he started a career in banking. He has worked with many prestigious Texas banks in and around the Bryan and College Station area, and he currently serves as Executive Vice President of the The Bank & Trust of Bryan/College Station since 2009. McNeill believes that people should take care of one another and should give back to their community. Putting his words into action, he has been a fixture in his community, serving in various roles in several charitable and community organizations. He is the current president of the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students, and he was very active in the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce for many years, acting in various leadership roles including chairman. He was also a member of the College Station ISD Education Foundation from 2004 to 2016, serving as president from 2010 to 2012. Continuing his role as a community leader, McNeill has served in the past as president of the Brazos County A&M Club and as treasurer for five years of the College Station Tiger Club, where he is still an active member today. Additionally, he has served on the Brazos Valley Research Partnership Leadership Council since 2010, and he has also served on several other boards and organizations such as the Children’s Miracle Network, Boys and Girls Club, and Better Business Bureau, just to name a few. Since he was young, McNeill has loved sports. Since 1992, he has worked his way up to officiating football at college games, and after 2009 he started officiating in the Big XII Conference and is currently officiating in the Mountain West Conference. With his constant service mentality, McNeill has also actively sought leadership opportunities in the sports arena. He has been a member of the Texas Association of Sports Officials, serving on the state board of directors for the organization, and he was a board member for the Brazos Valley Sports Foundation as well the Bryan North Little League in past years. From volunteer to president, McNeill’s resume is filled with a multitude of activities that show his commitment to serving his community, but his giving does not stop with the years of service he has given to his community. When a former coworker told McNeill that her husband was in desperate need of a kidney, McNeill did not hesitate to step up again. He immediately applied to be a donor, and in 2017 McNeill gave a friend new life by donating a kidney. McNeill has led a life dedicated to serving his community and to helping others. His life has been filled with examples of charitable undertakings and literal life-saving good deeds that continue to show the community and future generations that a life driven to serve is a life filled with purpose and endless accomplishment.

Catherine Munson Foster, “The Ghost Lady” of Brazoria County, graduated from Angleton High School in 1925. Her love of writing started early. She attended the College of Industrial Arts, now Texas Woman’s University, where she earned a journalism degree in 1929, and she continued her journalistic path writing for the Fort Worth Record-Telegram and later the Houston Press. In 1944, Foster returned to Brazoria County and began writing for the Angleton Times. While still writing a regular column for the Angleton Times, Foster became a librarian at the Brazoria County Library, and she retired from the library after 16 years of service. Foster loved to tell stories, in particular stories that could make a person shiver in spooky delight, but her stories were always rooted in local history. Because of her love of storytelling and history, she became The Ghost Lady and the preserver of classic Brazoria County ghost stories, blending reality with a little folklore as a writer. Her most notable work, Ghosts Along the Brazos, recounts 14 stories of ghosts in Brazoria County. Through her book, countless children and adults would learn about Brit Bailey, the early settler who still searches for his jug of whiskey by lantern light—Bailey’s Light. People would listen with breath held as she recounted how The Lady in the Gray Taffeta Dress was murdered in the Sweeny House and later haunted the house, slowly gliding down the stairs with her skirt rustling with each ghostly step. Foster also helped to write and edit other books rooted in the rich history of the area, including A Narrative History of Brazoria County as well as a pictorial history and a cookbook of historic recipes. Furthermore, she was instrumental in the formation of the Brazoria County Historical Museum. While she did so much to preserve history, she was equally known for educating others about that history, especially its ghostly side. It was in her storytelling where Foster really shined. For decades, Foster shared her tales with the community, giving special readings of her book at schools throughout the county. Even after she retired in 1970, she continued to visit schools. Three generations of students knew The Ghost Lady and were captivated by her visits to their schools. Foster died at the age of 86 in 1995. To honor her legacy, the Brazoria County Historical Association created the Catherine Munson Foster Memorial Award for literature, which is awarded annually. Her tales live on in her book that the can still be purchased through the Brazoria County Museum. She was a master storyteller who loved what she did, which as she self-proclaimed was being “the sort of person who scares little children.” And, it was through her apparitions and her ghostly tales that she was able to make a lasting impact on her community, preserving a special part of Brazoria County history and cementing her forever as The Ghost Lady.

Col. Laura Knapp graduated from AHS in 1990, but even right before graduating she was not exactly sure where her collegiate path was directed. Knapp accepted a scholarship to at-tend Rice University, but when the principal called her to the office in May with an ac-ceptance letter from West Point, her direction shifted to a military path, a path she has never strayed from since. In 1990, she made history as the first woman from Brazoria County to at-tend West Point, and she graduated from the prestigious military academy and was commis-sioned as a Military Intelligence Officer in 1994. Knapp found herself moving up the ranks of leadership. She served as a tactical intelligence officer and platoon leader during assignments with the 2nd Infantry Division (Republic of Korea) and 1st Cavalry Division (Ft. Hood, Texas) as lieutenant, and later she served as assistant Brigade S-2 for the 2nd Infantry Brigade (Strike) and as commander of D Company, 311th Military Intelligence Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. She assumed command in Operation Enduring Freedom I and deployed the company again for Operation Iraqi Freedom I. In 2005, she became the 309th Military Intelligence Battalion Opera-tions Officer in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. After graduating from Air Com-mand and Staff College with a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Military Arts degree, she transitioned to the 743rd Military Intelligence Bat-talion in Aurora, Colorado, serving as NSA Colorado Operations Officer and later as Battalion Executive Officer. In 2010, Knapp reported to the XVIII Airborne Corps and served as the Corps Analysis and Control Ele-ment Chief and the XVIII Airborne Corps Commander’s Initiative Group Chief. Knapp excelled in her role as a military leader, especially in helping soldiers learn and grow. In 2012, she took command again of the 309th Mil-itary Intelligence Battalion and held the post until 2014. As bat-talion commander of the 309th, she trained the Army’s counter-intelligence and human intelli-gence collectors to prepare them for initial assignments in the operational force. Knapp has worked hard helping the Army strengthen its programs. Following her command of the 309th, she completed the Army War Col-lege National Security Agen- fending cyberspace intelligence from infiltration is currently in pilot by the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command in four Army Service Component Commands. One of Knapp’s strengths is her ability to further the development and capabilities of her team. For her, it is important to encourage, coach and mentor her soldiers. Knapp has even gone so far as to aid one of her privates in achieving his own higher education goal by gaining admittance into her alma mater, West Point. She helped him with his application, SATs and admission interviews. For her success comes when her soldiers do well or accomplish great feats. However, Knapp has been successful in her own right and continues to move up in rank. In 2015, Knapp served for 10 months as the Director for the Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence, and she was the ideal candidate in 2016 to take over the Army’s 504th Military Intelligence Brigade located in Fort Hood. With her strong leadership skills and varied career experiences as well as her growing achievements, Knapp again made history by becoming the 504th’s first female Military Intelligence Brigade Commander. In addition, she is a decorated officer, receiving the Bronze Star Medal, Afghanistan Service Ribbon, and Iraq Service Ribbon to name just a few. Excelling to the rank of U.S. Army Colonel, Knapp has proven herself a strong military leader, leaving a significant impact in the area of military intelligence as well as leading troops in day-to-day operations and in combat. Her willingness to push beyond boundaries also extends into her personal life where she has completed three IRONMAN challenges testing her physical toughness and mental strength. For Knapp, family is very important as well. She is blessed with an amazing family including her mother Deborah Knapp, sister Susannah Ferguson, brother Alex Knapp, and nephews Belsey and Jack. Since October 2017, Knapp has been overseas in Afghanistan leading her troops in current missions. The 504th Military Intelligence Brigade is the Afghanistan Theater Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Task Force known as Task Force Ready. Knapp remains a role model for all with her strong spirit and resounding character, and she is a pillar of honor lighting the way for both men and women in today’s military.

After graduating from Angleton High School in 1951, Emma Lou O’Bannon never knew she would become an Angleton legend. She has been a mainstay in the community for decades although many in the community may not even recognize her name. That’s because most people know her simply as “Miss Emmy” from the library. O’Bannon went to work for the Brazoria County Library in 1976 as a cataloger. It was there that her love for children and storytelling would collide. The librarian at the time Catherine Munson Foster (yes, one of the other inductees) asked her to have a children’s storytelling time, and history was made. She loved it because she could share her love of books and reading with those who needed their imaginations to soar most of all, the children. After the Angleton branch of the library opened in 1979, O’Bannon officially became the children’s specialist at the library. She was the first children’s librarian the Angleton library branch had, which is a title she held until her retirement in 2017. For years she made stories and characters come alive for countless children who gathered for her special story time readings. But, O’Bannon did more for the library than just read. She helped the library financially, often modeling in fundraising style shows to garner support. She even gave her own money to support the library and to continue bringing the joy of reading to others. A few years after her first story time, her husband and she donated $1,000 for new children’s books. O’Bannon always looked for ways to make the library and her story time better. She diligently planned her Summer Reading Program every year and even visited local libraries on vacations to get ideas and inspiration. For decades, O’Bannon has offered monthly and even weekly programs for toddlers, local day cares, older children, and local schools. The children at Central Elementary, formerly ECC, would travel across the street to the library once a month for more than 30 years to hear O’Bannon read stories. Teachers at Central Elementary credit her with helping to inspire a love of reading in more than 500,000 students from the campus. O’Bannon just wanted to share her love of reading with as many children as possible. It helped that she had a stylish flare. For her, story time was a chance to entertain children. She loved dressing up to fit whatever program she had and to be on theme with her books. It was not unusual to see O’Bannon dressed as a pirate or a clown while at work. But, her signature garments were always her hats. If she was out and about, it was most likely her hat that you noticed first. While she might have drawn in her crowds of listeners with her creative hats, they stayed because of her enchanting tales. It was her creative accents, gestures and characterizations that made her story time magical. For O’Bannon, being a librarian was not a job; it was a passion, a passion that has touched the hearts of hundreds of thousands of children in this community for many generations. When one of her children, no matter how old, opens a book still, a piece of Miss Emmy will always be with them.

Albert Korenek graduated from Angleton High School in 1948 and earned an athletic scholarship to play football at the University of Houston. While in college, Korenek was part of the Naval Reserves and left for active duty in Washington D.C. immediately after graduation. He played one season on the Washington D.C. Main Navy football team. In 1953, he returned to Texas and began night school graduate courses at UH. It is in graduate school that he found his love of both trees and machinery. For an assignment, Korenek “dug” into his childhood farming background to study a tree service company that hand dug and transplanted large trees all over Texas. He saw the possibility of growing large trees locally as opposed to hauling them from other states. He started planting trees in his spare time and soon discovered the most difficult part was digging and handling the huge ball of tree roots and dirt. This led him to start building a model of his dream tree digger. In 1965, Korenek perfected his design of the Texas Tree Shovel, the first fully hydraulic tree transplanting spade. Several manufacturers were interested in how he successfully transplanted large pecan trees that had 100 percent livability. He soon signed a contract to build and sell a version of his tree digger and received a patent in 1968. He simultaneously was running his own successful company, Instant Shade Trees, Inc., and was growing thousands of oak trees. Still, Korenek was making a name for himself for his expertise in hydraulic tree digging. That reputation led him to save two 250-year-old live oak trees at the state capital in 1987. Officials wanted to relocate the trees instead of bulldozing them, and they turned to Korenek for help. Although the trees were embedded in limestone and trees that large had never been moved before, Korenek developed equipment to successfully transport and save them. Three years later, he again successfully moved the 425,000-pound Twin Oaks at the state capital, earning him praise from the Texas House of Representatives who passed a resolution commending him. Once again in 1990, his expertise was called upon when he was given the honor of digging up and personally transporting the National Christmas Tree from New Mexico to Washington D.C., hauling a 60-foot live blue spruce across three mountain ranges and six states. Korenek also worked on what others considered “impossible” projects and saved large trees at Texas A&M and Space Center Houston. Korenek has had patents issued in five countries, and all hydraulic tree spades manufactured today derive their basic concept from his original patent, which contributed to the creation of a new industry. For more than 25 years, Korenek improved and refined tree digging equipment that has saved beautiful, mature trees instead of bulldozing them. Impressively, 98 percent of the thousands of trees that Korenek has moved are still living today. Korenek has dedicated his life to preserving trees of past generations for future generations, gaining world-wide respect for his work.

After graduating from Angleton High School in 1977, Michael Ramos found that music would be his life’s passion and vocation. Music was a part of his life from an early age. Ramos came from a close-knit family that embraced music every day from different genres. When his family got an old, upright piano, music really clicked for Ramos, and he discovered the intricacies of music and how notes and rhythm intertwined. After graduating, Ramos pursued his music career in Austin, the live musical capital of the world. As part of the infamous Austin music scene, Ramos became a top recording session player, playing synthesizer, percussion and trumpet but specializing in keys/accordion. He soon began to gain the attention of national recording and touring acts and has had a very broad musical career, working with many legendary musicians from different musical genres. He became a permanent member of the band The BoDeans, who he was with for six years, and he toured and recorded with The Rembrandts, playing on their multi-platinum CD L.P. His strength as both a touring and studio musician also caught the eye of musician and singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, and Ramos did a long stint working with Mellencamp. Ramos also did a long stint with Los Lonely Boys and had notable studio appearances with Paul Simon. While working with his friend singer-song writer Patty Griffin, Ramos was inspired and encouraged to record his own music. He kept finding his way back to the Latin music that inspired him when he was growing up, but he wanted to combine his love of Latin music with his love of Rock. Ramos has received critically acclaimed review in the U.S. as well as abroad for his work, especially with his own projects and as front man of Charanga Cakewalk where he blends Latin, Afro-Cuban, Brazillian, funk, and soul music. Ramos remains extremely busy as a musician, composer and producer. He owns Brown Recluse Recording Studio in Austin where he works with clients such as Kevin Fowler, Pat Green, Lila Downs, Justin Pollard, Bart Crow, and the University of Texas. Last year, Ramos won a Grammy for engineering for his work on Lila Downs’ Best Folk Album Balas y Chocolate and has had appearances on other Grammy-winning and recognized works such as Kris Kristofferson’s album The Cedar Creek Session that was also nominated for a 2016 Grammy for Best Album of the Year. In addition, he has scored the music for various films and documentaries. Currently, Ramos plays the keyboard and tours with Texas Country star Pat Green and continues with his own projects and behind the scenes producing and composing. Ramos continues to challenge the music scene with his own philosophical style and blend of musical genres, creating incredible pieces of work that span generations, communities and cultures.

Jeremy T. Stone graduated from Angleton High School in 1995 and attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Stone dedicated his life to community economic development, disaster recovery, and social justice. Stone’s early career included working with Latino entrepreneurs in Washington D.C. and serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia, before returning to school to receive his Master of Public Administration from New York University. There he focused his academic work on international economic development, microfinance, and urbanization. While getting his Master’s, Stone worked at the NY-based nonprofit Seedco Financial where he designed and managed small business recovery programs after disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the BP oil spill, and September 11th. During that time he developed and funded a $1 million Fisheries Assistance Center in Louisiana that brought together nine agencies to support commercial fishermen and rural entrepreneurs. In 2008, he took over as economic development project manager for Ecotrust Canada in Vancouver where he worked with Native-Canadian communities and commercial fishermen engaging in sustainable resource extraction. Subsequently, Stone started his own consultancy, Recovery and Relief Services, Inc., which works with local governments to prepare for, and respond to, economic shocks following disasters. Stone is currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of British Columbia working on issues involving gentrification and community disaster recovery. Stone’s dissertation research explores how African-American residents in New Orleans cope with displacement pressures when higher-income people buy properties in their neighborhoods, drive up rents, and take over commercial spaces. This research is being undertaken with community organizations and neighborhood partners who will use the results to empower neighborhood residents, preserve local culture, and improve the resilience of low-income families to social change. Stone also sits on several non-profit boards including Coastal Communities Consulting in southeast Louisiana, which works with Vietnamese- and Cambodian-American commercial fishing families, and the Eastside Community Fund in Vancouver, which funds microbusinesses engaged in survival trades like street vending and trash collection. In his spare time, Stone raises a six-year-old dynamo named Ellie and works on a certificate in Emergency Management at the Justice Institute of British Columbia. After growing up in a low-income family in Angleton, Stone sees his work as an opportunity to pass on the love and support that he has received from a variety of people and institutions throughout his life, and he hopes that this year’s graduates will be likewise inspired to improve the lives of our society’s most vulnerable residents.

Senator Jimmy Phillips graduated from Angleton High School in 1929, raised by extended family and friends and helping to support himself after being orphaned at an early age. His conviction for education was strong, and he graduated from the University of Texas and later the University of Texas Law School. Phillips soon found his path led to politics. In 1940 he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives for Brazoria County and was re-elected in 1942. However, at the height of World War II, Phillips made a courageous decision to resign as a state representative and to volunteer to become a private in the U.S. Army, where he served in military intelligence until 1946 and was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant. Soon after being discharged, he turned his focus back to politics and was elected to the Texas Senate representing the 17th Senate District that included a wide representative area of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Matagorda, and Wharton counties. Phillips had a long tenure in the Texas Senate, serving from 1947 until 1963. He was respected in the Senate, and in 1953 fellow senators elected him to serve as President Pro Tem. In his career in the Texas Senate, Phillips was known as an ardent champion of the poor and underprivileged. He fought to improve the state hospital system, looking for ways to add charity beds for sick children. He also fought fiercely against any effort by the Legislature to raise college tuition, working hard to control the cost of tuition for state colleges. It was important to Phillips that state colleges grow for new students. Also, he was a strong defender of veterans and conducted a single-handed investigation of a major veterans land scandal during his time on the Senate’s General Investigating Committee. Outside of the Senate, Phillips was active in the American Legion and served as the Brazoria County chairman for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis in addition to starting the Brazoria County 100 Club that helps provide financial and emotional support for the surviving spouses, children and family members of officers who give their lives in the line of duty. Senator Phillips passed away in 2002, but he left a legacy of service for his country, state, county and hometown that is still felt today and that will remain a part of history forever.

Robert “Roly” Rice graduate from Angleton High School in 1959 and received a Bachelor of Science as well as a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University. His education led him to a career at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1963 where he worked on all manned spacecraft programs other than the Mercury, which was before his time at NASA. He was involved in all aspects of the massive space program. During the rise of space exploration and the race to land a man on the moon, Rice was part of the team that helped the United States land the first humans on the moon when Neil Armstrong took his historic first steps on the lunar surface in July 1969. Rice worked on the oxygen and hydrogen tanks that helped fuel the cells and allowed the Apollo 11 crew to breathe. Rice also invented and worked on the Cryogenic Storage Systems for several of the space programs, including the Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle programs. The advancement was groundbreaking in creating the Extended Duration Orbiter kit that allowed for missions that exceeded 21 days. After Apollo 13 experienced major problems related to the oxygen tank, Rice also helped to redesign the system to continue missions to the moon. Rice then became the subsystem manager for the Space Shuttle Reactant Storage System, operating on the Power System and the Crew Escape System for the Shuttle program. Rice led a long career helping to make missions safer for astronauts. After the Challenger accident in the 1980s, he was instrumental in redesigning the Crew Escape System, which included work on the hatch, the parachute pole, and the astronauts’ launch escape suits, giving astronauts a safer means of escape in flight. He then turned his focus toward gaining government approval for the design of the International Space Station, and he ended his career as the Deputy Chief Engineer and liaison between the Engineering Directorate and the Space Station Program. Rice loved his job and has made significant contributions to the world of science and to space exploration.

Dr. James Gregory Bonnen graduated with honors from Angleton High School in 1984, receiving the prestigious MacDonald Award for outstanding character. He later attended Texas A&M University where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry. During his time at A&M, Greg spent two summers working as a counselor at the Texas Lions Camp for handicapped children, and he credits his work at the camp for introducing him to both his future career as a doctor and his future wife Kim, who was also a camp counselor. After graduating from A&M, Greg graduated with high honors from medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston where he also completed both his internship and residency in neurosurgery. Greg served as assistant professor at UTMB before founding the Texas Brain and Spine Center where he practices medicine. In 2003, Greg and his partners founded Houston Physicians’ Hospital, which provides a variety of acute and specialty care to communities throughout Southeast Texas and employs more than 170 people, and he has served as chairman of the board for the hospital since 2006. In addition, Greg serves on the Board of Directors for Heritage Bank and as treasurer of the charitable organization Medical Strategic Network. Through the Medical Strategic Network and his work with Builders without Borders of Texas, Greg has provided medical care and assisted with building schools and homes in Mexico and Panama as well as volunteering his time and services with missions in Haiti, Cuba and the Philippines. In 2011, Greg was awarded both the Patient’s Choice Award and Compassionate Doctor Recognition for his medical care. Greg also maintains a strong interest in government and the future of Texas. In an effort to make an even larger difference in his community, he chose to pursue a new endeavor in politics and ran for office and was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2012. In his second term as a state legislator, he has served on the House Committee on Appropriations, which sets state spending levels, and on the House Committee on Insurance. As a neurosurgeon, Greg has served more than 13,000 patients and is a well-known and well-respected professional who provides quality care to his patients. His success in medicine and his recent success as a state representative as well as his humanitarian efforts have made Dr. Bonnen an outstanding leader and pillar of his community.

Dr. Renard Thomas graduated from Angleton High School in 1972, having started his early schooling at Marshall School in the 1960s. At AHS and Marshall, Renard developed a love for science and scholarship. He graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in biology in 1976 and began work on his masters in chemistry at Texas Southern University. In 1978, he started work as a research chemist at The Dow Chemical Company and held that position until 1997 when he decided to pursue his doctorate in environmental toxicology and started working at Texas Southern. In 2001, he received his doctorate and has been a professor at the university since 2002 and is the university’s current Chairman of the Department of Health Sciences. Renard’s work in his field is extensive. He has received numerous grants and published several papers. Additionally, he holds several US patents and has been awarded fellowships by the Environmental Protection Agency and Texas Sea Grant. His industry background has played a critical role in creating research infrastructure for the environmental toxicology program, and he has been able to make significant contributions in creating research opportunities for Texas Southern University, where he is currently an associate professor of health sciences and works daily with students while conducting environmental toxicology research. Renard’s passion for education and for his community led him to seek a position on the Angleton ISD Board of Trustees. Elected to the board in 1988, Renard held a position as a school board member for 22 years, and he served as president of the board from 2000-2010. Seeking as much knowledge possible, Renard became active in the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and was a state officer for seven years, leading the organization as president in 2008-2009. Through his work with TASB, Renard was able to share his educational ideas across the state and provided AISD with opportunities for statewide and national participation and recognition. Many of the honors the district has received are a result of the decisions Renard advocated for as a school board member. Renard continued his pursuit for educational excellence, serving as a board member of the Texas Academy of Science, and he also is extremely dedicated to both his community and church. Although Dr. Thomas says he never thought a lot about education when he was a “barefoot kid running around the McBeth community”, he has made education his passion in life, leaving an imprint in the world of education through his years of service and dedication.

Olivia Treviño graduated from Angleton High School in 1958. The following September at the age of 19, Olivia took on the responsibility as teacher of the newly founded Little School, which was created as a preparatory school for children in the community who were bilingual or Spanish-speaking only. Olivia educated the Mexican-American children in the Angleton community, providing them with the education they would need in order to attend the first grade in the public school system. The school, which was housed in one classroom at the current Central Elementary facility, operated on donations; therefore, Olivia took on the additional role as fundraising director and worked hard with parents, business owners and community leaders to secure donations to keep the school running successfully. The Little School was a ground-breaking program in the state. The only other school of its kind in the area was the School of 300 in Freeport. Olivia was a huge part of the success of the Little School where she continued to teach until 1963. At that time, Olivia decided to continue her own education by attending St. Thomas University in Houston where she graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree. She then embarked on a career of public service that would span many years. Wanting to continue to make a difference in her community, she became a caseworker for the Texas Department of Public Welfare and Director of the Food Stamp Program where she was asked by the governor to attend a national conference, an honor not many of her peers received. Later, she worked for the USDA Food and Nutrition Program and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as well as the Internal Revenue Service. She also owned two H&R Block franchises and worked as a correspondent for a judge and the White House Counsel. Her pursuit of seeking justice, fairness and equality for all was evident in all the roles she took. Olivia found her path headed in a different direction, but it led her back to teaching. She opened a massage therapy school in McAllen, Texas, being the first in the area to offer the program in Spanish. She retired in 2008 after 49 years of service to her community. With every job that Olivia took, she made sure that she had the opportunity to interact and to assist others in a meaningful way. She always wanted to help make a difference in the lives of others. Olivia’s legacy lives on through the contributions she has made to her students and her community. The Little School later became the successful Head Start Program in Angleton that is still active today. Olivia Treviño helped to pave the way for the success of future bilingual programs in Angleton and in the surrounding area, and she made an impact on countless individuals through her dedication and through her love of her community.

Glenda Miles Dawson graduated from AHS in 1959, where she was active in band and a twirler her junior and senior years. In addition to being voted Class Wittiest, she was chosen as Most Athletic Girl and was a four-year letterman on the basketball team and named to three all-tournament teams and all-district her senior year as well as being selected to play on the South’s AllStar state team. Also, her start in politics came early as she served as a “county official” for the County Commissioner’s Court her junior year and president of the Athletic Club her senior year. After graduating from AHS, Glenda attended Sam Houston State College and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1963, and later she received her master’s degree from the University of Houston. Glenda took great pride in her 34-year career as a school teacher. She taught business and vocational education in Pearland ISD, earning accolades from the district as their 1989 Teacher of the Year. Additionally, she was an adjunct professor and an instructional supervisor for secondary teachers at UH. After her retirement from PISD in 1999, the district created the Glenda Dawson First Year Teacher Award in recognition of her commitment to public education. Her love for her community went beyond teaching as she worked with numerous community groups, including the Vic Coppinger YMCA and the Pearland College Center. Pearland ISD opened Glenda Dawson High School in 2009, recognizing her impact on the Pearland community. Glenda channeled her passion for education into her work as a motivational speaker and as a legislator. She was elected to the District 29 seat in the House of Representatives in 2002 and earned the Outstanding Freshman Education Legislator award. During her two terms in the legislature, she served on the Public Education, Public Health, Higher Education and House Administration committees. Glenda was also very passionate about promoting organ donation in the state as she was an organ recipient herself. In her second term in office, she authored House Bill 120 that created a statewide organ donation registry, and in 2007 the legislature changed the official name of the registry to the Glenda Dawson Donate Life Texas Registry in memory of her contributions. The registry notation can be seen on the back of all Texas drivers’ licenses. Glenda was the ultimate teacher. To her, a true leader was not one who did great things but one who inspired others to do great things. Prior to her death in 2006, Sam Houston recognized her amazing achievements and honored her with the 2005 Distinguished Alumni award and asked her to be its commencement speaker. Her advice to the graduates was simple, but it was how she had lived her life: “By all means, give support and encouragement to others. People don’t really care about what you know and what you do. People care about how you make them feel.

John David Rainey graduated from AHS in 1989, where he served as senior class president and lettered in basketball. After graduating from AHS, John David attended Baylor University and earned a bachelor’s degree in management in 1993 and an MBA in 1995. After graduate school, John David worked as a management consultant at Houston’s Ernst & Young for two years. He then joined the airline industry, taking a job at Continental Airlines. At Continental, John David held many positions of increasing responsibility before being promoted to vice president of finance in 2005, and in 2010 he was instrumental in the merger of Continental Airlines and United Airlines. At this time, he was promoted to senior vice president of the new United Airlines and moved with his family to Chicago. In 2012, John David was named executive vice president and chief financial officer of United Airlines Corporation, the largest airline in the world at the time, and he has held that position since then. As a leader in his industry, John David was named to CNBC’s first ever Global CFO Council, which is made up of approximately 20 CFOs from some of the largest companies in the US. In that role, he has appeared on CNBC’s morning show Squawk Box and writes a blog for CNBC on current trends in business. Also, he has frequently appeared on Bloomberg Television. John David’s leadership is evident in his humanitarian endeavors as well. He is a national board member of the March of Dimes located in White Plains, New York, and he helps to sponsor the annual March for Babies fundraiser. During his time in Houston, John David was involved in his church, St. Paul’s Methodist, where he served on the pastor/parish relations committee and the administrative board, and he and his family are currently members of Christ Church Winnetka in Illinois. Never having lost his love for sports, John David has completed 10 marathons since college, including running the Boston Marathon twice. John David is the oldest son of Judge John and Judy Rainey. He has been married to Kelly (Major) Rainey since 1998, and they have two sons, Luke (12) and Wyatt (9). John David's commitment and determination are evident by his success as a family man as well as his achievements as a leader in industry and a pillar of his community.

Jackie Scott Tarter graduated from AHS in 1962, salutatorian of her class and recipient of the Dow Scholarship. She was a member of Quill and Scroll and National Honor Society and won many twirling awards and was feature twirler with the band her junior and senior years. After graduating from AHS, Jackie attended the University of Houston, earning a bachelor’s degree with a double major in art and biology. She later earned a doctorate in educational philosophy and art from the University of Texas at Austin and was the recipient of the Alexander C. Ellis Fellowship for Graduate study, 1973-1977. After teaching for a year as an assistant professor in the art department at UT, Jackie found her life headed overseas and immersed in volunteerism. The word volunteer cannot adequately define Jackie. She has lived most of her adult life outside of the United States and has been hands-on, helping to make a difference in the world. She volunteered for the Peace Corps in Iran where she lived and worked for three years. Later as a spouse to a US Foreign Service Officer, Jackie volunteered in several countries, including Indonesia, Egypt, Kenya, India and Panama, and her method for volunteerism was as varied as the places she lived. She worked at Mother Teresa’s Orphanage in India, on the governing board of the Kenya National Museum Society, as a founding member of the governing board at the Art Studio School in Kenya, with Swanchetan (an organization aiding abused women and children) in India, and in Missionaries of Charity Orphanage (for severely disabled children) in Panama. Additionally, Jackie worked as the English Language Training Coordinator at the US Embassy in Indonesia, and she taught art at both the Cairo American College in Egypt and the International School (AES) in India. At the AES, she also served as the Chair of the Visual Arts Department. Because of her extensive work in the field of education, Jackie was invited to participate in a conference on education sponsored by His Holiness The Dalai Lama in 1992, and the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars named Jackie a 1996 Distinguished Teacher. While she has served the art world as a teacher and a patron, Jackie’s work as an artist is also impressive. She has exhibited her work in the Cultural Centers of many European countries where she lived. Her work has been displayed at the French Cultural Center in both Jakarta and Nairobi and at the Italian Cultural Center in Cairo to name a few. Jackie has lived a colorful life filled with art, adventure and heart. Her efforts as a humanitarian and a philanthropist have touched the lives of so many people in so many lands.

Dr. W. Perry Arnold graduated from Angleton High School in 1959 and attended Baylor University. After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1962, he was accepted into the University of Texas Medical Branch and graduated with his medical degree (MD) in 1966. Perry received a residency in radiology at the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Hospital in Baltimore and completed his training in 1971, and he was certified by the American Board of Radiology within a year. Following his certification, Perry was appointed as a part-time clinical associate teacher at John Hopkins University School of Medicine for many years. June 1976 was a milestone in Perry’s career as he became the youngest chairman of a radiology department in Baltimore when he was appointed to the leadership position at the Good Samaritan Hospital (GSH), and he continued in that position for more than 20 years. During his tenure at GSH, Perry developed the department into a state-of-the-art referral center for image guided diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Because of his talent for catheter and needle based interventions and because of his teaching relationship at Johns Hopkins, he was granted membership in the Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology in 1987. During this time, Perry refined techniques for treating narrow vessels and clotted vessels and grafts using balloon angioplasty procedures. Because of the increasing numbers of dialysis patients and the demand for dedicated service for these patients, in 1997 he established the first freestanding (not hospital affiliated) outpatient hemodialysis access preservation center in the United States. The success of the center attracted much attention, and Perry was asked to speak at both national and international venues. Also, as result of the awareness he was bringing to the field, Perry was asked to participate in a nationwide training program sponsored by Medicare. His work was groundbreaking in the dialysis world, and as a spin-off of his involvement with dialysis patients, Perry noticed a need for a special catheter to help patients get optimal treatment. In 2004 he designed and patented, along with Medical Component, Inc., such a catheter that remains one of the top three selling and performing catheters available for dialysis patients today. Perry retired in 2010 and now lives in Key West, Florida where he has found new paths as a fisherman and as a sculptor.

Representative Dennis Bonnen graduated from Angleton High School in 1990 and moved on to graduate cum laude from St. Edwards University in Austin with a degree in political science. After graduating from St. Edwards, Dennis worked in Washington D.C. before returning to Angleton to run for the state legislature in District 25. In 1996 he won the state legislature race, and at 24 he became the youngest member of the House of Representatives and received a fellowship for outstanding freshmen and sophomore legislators. By 2001, he was vice-chairman of the Environmental Regulation Committee and was appointed chairman in 2003, 2005 and 2007, serving as a key figure in Texas environmental issues for three sessions. Presently, he serves as chairman of the Sunset Advisory Commission, which is an appointed group of legislators who spend the interim studying the efficiency of state agencies and who oversee legislation related to them in session. As chairman, Dennis oversees the reviews of 24 agencies, including the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the Texas Ethics Commission. Also, he has served as Chairman of the Select Committee on Voter Identification and Voter Fraud, and he is currently Chairman of the House Special Purpose Districts Committee, Vice Chair of the House Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence & Transparency, and a member of the House Natural Resources Committee. Recently, Dennis took the title of speaker pro tempore of the Texas House of Representatives for the current session and thus had a key role in directing legislation and unifying House members. In addition to his legislative work, Dennis has also done well in the business world. He started a career doing business development in the banking industry, and since September 2008 he has been the Chairman and CEO of Heritage Bank in Pearland. In 2001 St. Edwards honored him with an Alumni Achievement Award, and in 2009 the Houston Business Journal honored him with one of the inaugural “40 Under 40” awards that recognizes young business leaders who show dynamic leadership in their community. Dennis continues to serve his community on a personal level by being an active participant in numerous community activities. He and his family have made Angleton their home, and he fights daily to preserve the integrity of his home town and the legacy of Brazoria County

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Ruth graduated from Angleton High School in 1988 where he served as Class President all four years and was selected Mr. AHS. Upon graduation, Stephen entered Texas A&M University where he applied his leadership skills by serving in the Corps of Cadets, in the Governor of Texas' Honor Guard and as Texas A&M's Student Body President his senior year. After graduating with his bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1992, he was commissioned as an Infantry Lieutenant and deployed to Germany and later to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and to BosniaHerzegovina. Then, he took command of Cobra Company, 1-15 Infantry for his two-years at Fort Benning, Georgia. Stephen was selected for the Army's Master’s Degree Program and attended George Mason University where he earned his Master's Degree in Organizational Psychology in 2003 and then served as an Assistant Professor of Leadership at West Point. After this assignment, Stephen deployed to Afghanistan as the Task Force Operations Officer for 2-2 Infantry where he planned and supervised the operations of 1,000 soldiers and Inter-agency officials. Following his deployment to Afghanistan, he was selected as the U.S. Exchange Officer to the Headquarters, Land Warfare Center in the United Kingdom where he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Joint Multi-National Training, responsible for all British exercises within the United States, Canada and Western Europe. In October 2010, Stephen was selected as a Transition Team Commander for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and deployed to Iraq. A year later, Lt. Col. Ruth assumed his current command, back in the states, as the 26th Commandant and Dean of the United States Military Academy Preparatory School at West Point where he is charged with training and inspiring the military leaders of tomorrow. Because of Stephen’s love of Angleton ISD and the lessons, values and leadership skills he learned while in school, 16 years ago he established and began funding the AHS Class of 1988 Outstanding Student Leadership Scholarship. In addition, he continues to keep in touch with the scholarship recipients. Stephen has continued to make an impact at his collegiate alma mater as well. In 2010, Texas A&M's student leaders chose him as the A&M Campus Muster Speaker, an honor only given to highly respected and successful people. Stephen has lived a life of leadership and service, giving back to his community, his schools and his country.

Peter Masterson graduated from Angleton High School in 1952. He attended Rice University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 1957. Peter found his way into the entertainment field, earning praise for his acting, directing, producing and writing. Acting from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s, including acting roles in the 1975 film The Stepford Wives and the leading role in the stage production The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald in 1967, Peter soon found success directing and producing. He is best known for scripting the 1978 musical satire The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and co-directing the Broadway musical where he was nominated for two Tony Awards as writer and director. He also wrote the 1982 film adaptation starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds. Additionally, Peter earned acclaim for his direction of the 1985 feature film version of The Trip to Bountiful that was critically recognized and earned the leading actress Geraldine Page an Academy Award for Best Actress. Throughout his career, Peter has often been honored for his work. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Children’s Special for his TV movie “Mermaid”, and he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Director for his work on The Trip to Bountiful for which he also won the 1988 Mainichi Film Concours award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 1978, he received the Drama Desk Award for Best Director for his work on The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and in 1997 he also received the Lone Star Film & Television Award for Best TV Director for his acclaimed TV movie “Lily Dale”.

Dr. Lynne Perryman graduated from Angleton High School in 1969. After graduating from The University of Texas in 1972, Lynne returned to Angleton as a classroom teacher and a few years later earned her master’s degree and a doctorate from the University of Houston. Soon Lynne began to shine in the field of education and at the Angleton Independent School District. She became the Director of Gifted and Talented Education and then moved to the Director of Special Programs before becoming the assistant superintendent for the district. In 2002, Lynne took the lead role at AISD becoming the first woman to hold the title of superintendent in Angleton. Under her leadership, AISD achieved notable academic success, and she established a foundation for future successes that remains strong today. With her unique perspective as a student, teacher, and administrator, Lynne knew Angleton and AISD and was instrumental in creating new technological, curriculum and accountability programs to strengthen the schools. In addition, she was presented with the Stephen F. Austin Leadership Award by the Brazoria County Historical Society for demonstrating leadership qualities expressed by the father of the Lone Star State. In January of 2007, Angleton suffered a major loss with the untimely passing of Dr. Lynne Perryman, but her legacy lives on at Angleton ISD.

Clarence Sasser graduated from Marshall High School in 1965. While at the University of Houston, Clarence decided to give up his student deferment and was drafted in the fall of 1967, during the middle of the Vietnam War. In the Army, Clarence was trained as a medic, and at age 20 he was stationed in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. On January 10, 1968, his company was making an air assault when suddenly it came under heavy small arms, rifle, machine gun, and rocket fire. Within minutes, more than 30 casualties were sustained, but without hesitation, Clarence ran through a hail of fire to assist the wounded. After helping one soldier to safety, Clarence was painfully wounded in the left shoulder but refused medical attention to continue helping other soldiers. After giving needed treatment to several other men, he continued searching for wounded. He then suffered wounds to both legs, immobilizing his legs; however, Clarence continued to drag himself through the mud toward another injured soldier. He treated the soldier and encouraged others to crawl to safety. Once they were in safer conditions, Clarence treated wounded soldiers for another five hours until they were evacuated. Because of his extraordinary heroism, Specialist Fifth Class Clarence Sasser received the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military decoration. Clarence returned to Brazoria County, going to work for Dow Chemical, and in 1977 he began working for the Veteran Affairs office where he retired after 20 years. Clarence Sasser is considered one of “the bravest of the brave”.

Elizabeth Silverthorne graduated from Angleton High School in 1941. After graduating as valedictorian at AHS, Elizabeth earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from Texas Women’s University and her master’s degree with honors from North Texas State University. Throughout her adult life, Elizabeth worked a few different careers, which included a job at Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) where she worked as a stewardess and traveled the world for six years. However, her talents really began to shine when she became a professor and freelance writer. She started her career as a professor with a four-year stint at North Texas State University and later became a professor and the Director of Division of Communications and Modern Languages at Temple College for 12 years. Not only did Elizabeth have success in the collegiate world, but she found success as a writer. She has written more than 25 books and short stories and several articles. Many of her writings include a tremendous amount of historical research, and she has written several pieces about famous Texans and about the early life of Texas. Her list of published works is impressive, including award-winning books such as Ashbel Smith of Texas, Plantation Life in Texas and Christmas in Texas. Elizabeth is still writing and has recently published her latest work, an article entitled A Fairy Tale Romance: The Love Story of Hans Christian Andersen and Jenny Lind.

Dr. Carla Zembal-Saul graduated from Angleton High School in 1985. While Carla achieved many honors in various areas, her main interest was science. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in science education from the University of Michigan, she returned to Houston and taught while completing a master’s degree in science education at the University of Houston. Then she went back to the University of Michigan to earn her doctorate in science education in 1996. Carla soon found her path led to Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) where she remains a professor of education in science education. While at Penn State, she has won many awards and holds the Kahn Endowed Professorship in STEM education, which is intended to strengthen the college’s programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In addition, she has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and has funded several high-dollar projects. Carla has experience serving on the editorial boards of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching (2001-2004) and the International Journal of Science Education (1998-present). Also, Carla is an elected member of the Executive Board for the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, and she chairs the organization’s Publications Advisory Board. Her science studies that were kindled at AHS remain a passion, and she has taken that passion to teach thousands of students to become amazing teachers