The Skyline Newspaper

Photo by Bonnie Wunderlich, Terlingua, TX

Fate of Christmas Mtns in State's Hands

By MaryAshley P. Gredell
Skyline Assistant Editor

Sixteen years ago, the state of Texas was given a gift of 9,300 acres of nearly pristine West Texas land. Located a stone's throw from Big Bend National Park, the Christmas Mountains tract, as it is known, has been left undeveloped by the General Land Office as dictated by the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Pennsylvania-based organization who donated the land (with tough restrictions in place) in the hopes of benefiting the public sector.

Today, the fate of the Christmas Mountains hangs somewhere in the balance between the state legislature and the National Parks Service. The General Land Office decided to rid itself of the property, which proved more expensive to maintain than money had been allocated for, and put the tract of land up for auction. A glitch in their mapping nullified their first attempts at a sale, and in the interim the National Park Service formally expressed interest in acquiring the property. Currently, over 95% of Texas land is owned by private interests.

That inquiry by the NPS seemed to suggest a happy ending in sight for the Christmas Mountains, which likely would have been turned into an extension of Big Bend National Park or a wildlife refuge, just as the R.K. Mellon Foundation donators had intended. Such a fate was too easy for Texas politics.

Enter Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a gun-toting Second Amendment supporter who refuses to sell the property to the National Park Service because that particular governmental agency does not allow hunting access on its properties, and therefore, in the opinion of Patterson, violates the rights of Americans via the Constitution.

"The National Park Service does not allow public hunting; they do not allow the possession of fire arms on park property for hunting or personal defense, which I believe to be unconstitutional," said Patterson at a September public hearing as quoted on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," on Oct. 22.

Interestingly enough, a visit to the National Park Service's website (www.nps.gov) and a quick search for the word"hunting" brings up over 5,000 hits, nearly all of which relate information about NPS sites that allow limited hunting, but hunting by the public, nonetheless, on parts of their properties.

Personal interests aside, the original intentions of the R.K. Mellon Foundation seem fairly clear from their website: "the foundation makes grants for such purposes as, in the judgment of the trustees, will be in the public interest."

Rick Tate, the president of the Davis Mountains Trans-Pecos Heritage Association, which supports private land ownership in the region, advocates maintaining the land by placing it back into the hands of private ownership.

"Any restriction that is put on private property can be taken off," said Tate.

"It's one of the bundle of rights that are included in private property. There is a way to get the state out from under it and return it to the private sector, which of course would be our preference, speaking for the philosophy of our organization."

"Hunting is one of the few things that is allowed on this property by the original conservation easement," continued Tate. "There are national parks that do allow or even promote hunting within their boundaries, so I'm not sure if that's a local opinion of the superintendent, or something he's found within the parks service's regulations."

As it stands, the state seems unlikely to delay the sale of the Christmas Mountains even further, especially with Commissioner Patterson's however-uninformed advocacy being solely in favor of the hunter and gun carrier and not, seemingly, the general public's access via the National Park System.

The intention of the original land owners seems to have been ignored in favor of interest-based legislation and hope for a quick sale by the state.

Cheer Squad New, Eager

By Adam Cuellar
Skyline Reporter

It is quite rare to find a freshman captain on a university athletic team. For the Sul Ross Cheer Squad though, it seems to make perfect sense. That's because the team is loaded with freshman and sophomores, a few of whom are not only in their first semester of cheering at Sul Ross, but have never donned a cheer uniform before this fall.

This doesn't seem to slow down the squad, however, as they have come to enjoy the new learning experiences and genuine camaraderie that has been the result.

"We all have really good connections within the group, and that makes the squad as a whole very close," said Aly McLaughlin.

Squad members include freshman Aly McLaughlin, Midland, Deannady Herrera, Pecos, Jennifer Martinez, Pecos, Danny Zamora, Del Rio, Jessica Gutierrez, Edinburg, John Dempsey, Richland Springs, and Rose Sanchez, Lubbock, sophomores Ereka Howard, Midland, and Tina Bedell, El Paso, juniors Kristina Alaniz, Brownsville, and Moises Morales, Fort Hancock, and Senior Taylor Feldmann, Bandera. Aly McLauhlin and Taylor Feldmann were voted captains by the team earlier this semester.

It was surprising to find out how much time each individual devotes to the team. For up to fifteen hours each week, squad members cheer, condition, attend meetings and other special activities, and go to study hall in an effort to constantly stay on top of their school work and other priorities.

Equally surprising is the fact that every one of the team members interviewed has a part-time or full-time job. These jobs include work at fast food restaurants such as Sonic and Dairy Queen, the National Guard, the Chamber of Commerce, Residential Living, Human Resources, the Sul Ross Math and Writing Lab, and a local barn, to name a few.

You would be extremely hard pressed to find another sport in which there is such a high rate of employment among its participants, yet somehow the Sul Ross Cheer Squad makes it all work.

In addition, members are represented on campus through groups such as the Student Government Association, Veterinary Tech Program, Ambassador Program, Student Support Services, and Sully Productions.

With so many priorities on and off campus, and given the fact that the squad is currently a non-competitive group, the inevitable question of "Why?" was asked.

"We just enjoy representing the school at games. Since there is a new competitive cheer club on campus, our focus is solely on athletic cheering and the fans," said Feldmann. "Its great to show team spirit, especially at football and basketball games, our personal favorite."

Alumni Association To Honor Three At Dinner

Former faculty member and Alumni Association director Robie Golden, Alpine, and Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter, Midland, will receive Sul Ross State University Distinguished Alumni Awards during Homecoming 2007.

John Martin "Marty" Davis, Dallas/Fort Davis, will receive the Slingin' Sammy Baugh Award for Outstanding Service to Sul Ross. The three will be honored, along with Athletic Hall of Honor inductees at the annual recognition banquet on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Robie Golden
Golden's association with Sul Ross spans 37 years, beginning as an undergraduate. A native of Sanderson, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974, a Master's of Education in 1976, and principal's certification in 1978.

She has worked as a secretary in the Sul Ross Ex-Student's Office, as a faculty member in mathematics, and for six years as Alumni Affairs director and executive director of the Sul Ross Alumni Association. Golden also taught at Fort Davis ISD and now is a partner in a specialized construction company.

Golden first enrolled at Sul Ross in 1970 while her husband was in the Navy. Both returned as students three years later.

"My husband, Bill, had been a student at Sul Ross before enlisting in the U.S. Navy," she said.

"He had a strong desire to come back to Sul Ross and, in his words, 'clean up his embarrassing transcript.' So in the summer of 1973, we came back to Sul Ross. Our common goal was to provide an example for our daughter, Traci, while at the same time increasing our earning potential."

The Goldens both completed their degrees, and Bill, who died in 2004, received the Distinguished Alumni Award posthumously in 2005.

While at Sul Ross, Golden received the Outstanding Teacher Award. She later served as grand marshal of the Sul Ross Homecoming parade. She has been active in a host of community and campus activities and organizations, including: Alpine Chamber of Commerce, Sul Ross President's Support Group, Museum of the Big Bend Advisory Board, and Sul Ross Veterinarian Advisory Board.

"There are too many wonderful friendships to name formed through this [Sul Ross] association," she noted.

"I continue to see former students and am reminded of the impact that I had as a teacher to the wonderful young people attending this university. It is a constant joy in my life to know that I was able to make mathematics special to so many students during my tenure as a teacher at Sul Ross." Gary Painter
A 35-year veteran of law enforcement, Painter gives considerable credit to his Sul Ross experience.

"I would not be where I am today in my professional career if it had not been for the training and experiences I received at Sul Ross State University," he said.

Born in Amherst, raised in Edmonson and a graduate of Plainview High School, Painter attended Draughon's Business School in Lubbock before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1972.

Painter began as a highway patrolman with the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1972, then worked with the sheriff's departments of Culberson and Presidio counties.

While working in Presidio County, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1977.

He joined the Midland Police Department, then joined the Midland County Sheriff's Office in 1982.

He worked in the detention division, then criminal investigations before he was promoted to patrol lieutenant.
Painter won election as county sheriff in 1984, took office Jan. 1, 1985, and has served in that capacity ever since.

Painter organized the first multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force in West Texas, the Midland County Sheriff's Office Crisis Intervention Unit; and was the moving force in creating the Permian Basin Peace Officer's Association. He is also one of the founders of STAR (Sheriffs of Texas Agreed Response).

He was recognized for outstanding service in 2003 by the 78th Texas Legislature. His work and leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations, including being named Officer of the Year by the 200 Club in 1988 and 1991.
He has served on the Legislative Committee of the Sheriff's Association of Texas.

John Martin "Marty" Davis
Davis is both an attorney and an accountant, and is senior partner of Davis, Clark and Co., a Dallas accounting firm. He also serves as board chair of the Carl B. And Florence E. King Foundation, is a member of the Southern Methodist University Central Libraries Board, and the Sul Ross State University Foundation Board.

He has numerous historical publications and presentations to his credit. Davis presented the Mary T. Marshall Lecture, "The Cadillac Jack Collector Protocol," in February 2007 at Sul Ross.

An extensive and diverse collector, Davis and his wife, Yana, are also generous contributors to the Museum of the Big Bend and other programs at Sul Ross. They donated a 1,000-plus map collection to the Museum. The prestigious collection ranks as one of the largest accessible to the public in the State of Texas, comparable to the collection housed at the University of Texas at Arlington. Maps in the collection date to the early 1500s and focus on West Texas, Texas, the Southwestern United States, and Northern Mexico. Among the pieces is a copy of the Austin-Tanner map, drawn by Stephen F. Austin and submitted to Philadelphia printer Henry S. Tanner.

"Sul Ross represents everything an institution of higher learning should be," Davis said.

"It signifies the best in Texas."

A Dallas native, he graduated from W.H. Adamson High School and graduated with high honors from Southern Methodist University in 1967, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist Law School and is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Davis has received a number of community awards, including the Haskins and Sells Foundation Award; Historic Beaufort, S.C., Foundation Restoration Award; Obelisk Award for Support of the Arts (twice); and the Dallas Heritage Society Award. Edmonson and a graduate of Plainview High School, Painter attended Draughon's Business School in Lubbock before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1972.

Painter began as a highway patrolman with the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1972, then worked with the sheriff's departments of Culberson and Presidio counties.

While working in Presidio County, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1977.

He joined the Midland Police Department, then joined the Midland County Sheriff's Office in 1982.

He worked in the detention division, then criminal investigations before he was promoted to patrol lieutenant.
Painter won election as county sheriff in 1984, took office Jan. 1, 1985, and has served in that capacity ever since.

Painter organized the first multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force in West Texas, the Midland County Sheriff's Office Crisis Intervention Unit; and was the moving force in creating the Permian Basin Peace Officer's Association. He is also one of the founders of STAR (Sheriffs of Texas Agreed Response).

He was recognized for outstanding service in 2003 by the 78th Texas Legislature. His work and leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations, including being named Officer of the Year by the 200 Club in 1988 and 1991.
He has served on the Legislative Committee of the Sheriff's Association of Texas.

John Martin "Marty" Davis
Davis is both an attorney and an accountant, and is senior partner of Davis, Clark and Co., a Dallas accounting firm. He also serves as board chair of the Carl B. And Florence E. King Foundation, is a member of the Southern Methodist University Central Libraries Board, and the Sul Ross State University Foundation Board.

He has numerous historical publications and presentations to his credit. Davis presented the Mary T. Marshall Lecture, "The Cadillac Jack Collector Protocol," in February 2007 at Sul Ross.

An extensive and diverse collector, Davis and his wife, Yana, are also generous contributors to the Museum of the Big Bend and other programs at Sul Ross. They donated a 1,000-plus map collection to the Museum. The prestigious collection ranks as one of the largest accessible to the public in the State of Texas, comparable to the collection housed at the University of Texas at Arlington. "Sul Ross represents everything an institution of higher learning should be," Davis said.

"It signifies the best in Texas."

A Dallas native, he graduated from W.H. Adamson High School and graduated with high honors from Southern Methodist University in 1967, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist Law School and is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Davis has received a number of community awards, including the Haskins and Sells Foundation Award; Historic Beaufort, S.C., Foundation Restoration Award; Obelisk Award for Support of the Arts (twice); and the Dallas Heritage Society Award.

Hall To Add Members

Former football coach Joe George, Belton, tennis and basketball standout Dana (Souter) Pannell, San Saba, volleyball player and coach Ruth (Roman) McWilliams, Marfa, and John Curry, Monahans, will be inducted into the Sul Ross State University Hall of Honor during Homecoming 2007.

Induction ceremonies will be held Saturday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. in the Becky Ramos Espino Conference Center, University Center. This year's class increases Hall of Honor membership to 104.

Joe George
George, presently an assistant football coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, compiled a 28-12 record during four years at the Lobo helm. His 1982 team went undefeated in the regular season and qualified for the NAIA playoffs.

A native of Mineola, he earned a bachelor's degree in 1966 and master's degree in 1967 from Baylor University, then launched a coaching career that now extends 42 years. High school stops include Reicher Catholic, Carthage, New Caney, Texas City and Del Rio. He served as defensive coordinator in 1978 for football and head track coach at Sul Ross after coaching at New Caney. He then assumed the head football post a year later, serving four years.
His 1981 team finished ninth in the final NAIA poll and the 1982 squad was ranked fourth, after losing a triple-overtime playoff thriller to William Jewell College, Mo., at Jackson Field.

George, named NAIA and Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 1982, left to become head football coach and athletic director at Texas City. From 1991-1995, he was the head coach at McMurry University, then coached at Del Rio before assuming his present position at UMHB in 1999. He has coached 10 NAIA All-Americans and five NCAA Division III All-Americans. He was inducted into the Mineola Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

"Twenty-five years have passed since I coached my last football game at Jackson Field," George said.

"The memory of my five years at Sul Ross is very special to me, my wife Corliss and our daughters Julie and Joanna. The friendships developed by living and working in Alpine have been rewarding and long lasting.

"Not a day passes that I don't reflect on the players and coaches who worked together to build two championship teams. As I look back, it is easy to see why they were successful: our roster was filled with outstanding young men.

"I am grateful to the Sul Ross community and the citizens of Alpine for their support of our efforts. I will always be indebted to Chet Sample, who gave me the opportunity to be a college football coach and to be a part of the Lobo tradition," he noted.

Dana (Souter) Pannell
Pannell, a counselor in the San Saba Independent School District, a 1988 (B.S.) and 1992 (M.Ed.) Sul Ross graduate, was an all-conference basketball player in 1987-88 and an academic all-conference and all-district in both tennis and basketball from 1986-88.

An Alpine High School graduate, Pannell coached, taught and served as a counselor in Sonora, Sanford Fritch and Plainview before moving to San Saba in 2005.

As a Sul Ross student, Pannell was the 1987 Woman of the Year and 1987-88 women's basketball Most Valuable Player. When she graduated, she ranked fourth on the all-time basketball points list with 876 and at the time, had played the most games (87).

"One word comes to mind about my Sul Ross experience...family," Pannell said.

"The relationships I formed with some wonderful people at Sul Ross have been with me to this day.

"During my time at Sul Ross, I felt like I was at home. I carry that with me, as well as a sense of competitiveness and perseverance that really exemplifies a Lady Lobo."

Ruth (Roman) McWilliams
McWilliams, who coaches at Marfa ISD and is the women's athletic coordinator, was a three-time all-conference volleyball player for the Lady Lobos (1977,1979, 1981) and later coached the volleyball and softball teams. She earned both a B.S (1982) and M.Ed. (1990) degree from Sul Ross.

McWilliams also lettered twice in women's basketball (1979-80), played on three TIAA championship volleyball teams and in post-season competition. At Sul Ross, she was also inducted into the Sachems Sorority and was runner-up for Woman of the Year.

A 1976 graduate of Marfa High School, McWilliams has returned home after 11 years as head volleyball coach at Fort Davis, three years as volleyball and softball coach at Sul Ross, and four years as head softball coach at Alpine High School. Her Fort Davis teams won seven district titles, three regional crowns, and made three state semi-final appearances. Her softball teams at Alpine and Marfa have won a total of five district championships, while Marfa High School won the 2006 district, bi-district and area titles.

"I grew up and learned how to handle myself at Sul Ross," she said.

"My instructors and coaches were patient with me.

"My philosophy of life is an emulation of the coaches and instructors who taught me at Sul Ross and I hope I have represented them and my family well. I can only hope that I have had as positive an impact on the majority of my students as my mentors had on me."

John Curry
Curry, who retired from education in 2004 after a 36-year career, will be inducted as an Outstanding Booster. He has served as the public address announcer for Sul Ross men's and women's home basketball games since 2002. He earned a M.Ed. Degree from Sul Ross in 1979.

His present association with Sul Ross began during the 2002-03 men's basketball season, due to his friendship with then-Lobo coach Doug Davalos. Curry began announcing at men's and women's home basketball games and has been a familiar voice for five seasons.

A native of Seminole, Curry taught, coached or was an administrator for 13 years at Van Horn, a year at Levelland, 13 at Ozona, and nine at Monahans, before retiring in 2004. Van Horn won the 1971 Class A state boys' basketball title and were Class AA state semi-finalists in 1978.

In 1999, Curry coached for the Texas High School Coaches Association North All-Star team.

"The 2003-2004 American Southwest Conference men's championship team is the most memorable," Curry said.

"Their run into the 'Sweet 16' was enjoyable to watch. Individual players like Larry Morales and April Ramirez give NCAA Division III athletics special meaning to me.

"Being the public address announcer has allowed me, as a retired coach, to be actively involved in basketball and to be connected in more than just a casual way to Sul Ross athletics," noted Curry.

"I hope that I have in some way helped the basketball programs be more successful.

The experience has been very enjoyable and rewarding for me." final NAIA poll and the 1982 squad was ranked fourth, after losing a triple-overtime playoff thriller to William Jewell College, Mo., at Jackson Field.

George, named NAIA and Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 1982, left to become head football coach and athletic director at Texas City. From 1991-1995, he was the head coach at McMurry University, then coached at Del Rio before assuming his present position at UMHB in 1999. He has coached 10 NAIA All-Americans and five NCAA Division III All-Americans. He was inducted into the Mineola Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

"Twenty-five years have passed since I coached my last football game at Jackson Field," George said.

"The memory of my five years at Sul Ross is very special to me, my wife Corliss and our daughters Julie and Joanna. The friendships developed by living and working in Alpine have been rewarding and long lasting.

"Not a day passes that I don't reflect on the players and coaches who worked together to build two championship teams. As I look back, it is easy to see why they were successful: our roster was filled with outstanding young men.

"I am grateful to the Sul Ross community and the citizens of Alpine for their support of our efforts. I will always be indebted to Chet Sample, who gave me the opportunity to be a college football coach and to be a part of the Lobo tradition," he noted.

Dana (Souter) Pannell
Pannell, a counselor in the San Saba Independent School District, a 1988 (B.S.) and 1992 (M.Ed.) Sul Ross graduate, was an all-conference basketball player in 1987-88 and an academic all-conference and all-district in both tennis and basketball from 1986-88.

An Alpine High School graduate, Pannell coached, taught and served as a counselor in Sonora, Sanford, Fritch and Plainview before moving to San Saba in 2005.

As a Sul Ross student, Pannell was the 1987 Woman of the Year and 1987-88 women's basketball Most Valuable Player. When she graduated, she ranked fourth on the all-time basketball points list with 876 and, at the time, had played the most games (87).

"One word comes to mind about my Sul Ross experience...family," Pannell said.

"The relationships I formed with some wonderful people at Sul Ross have been with me to this day.

"During my time at Sul Ross, I felt like I was at home. I carry that with me, as well as a sense of competitiveness and perseverance that really exemplifies a Lady Lobo."

Ruth (Roman) McWilliams
McWilliams, who coaches at Marfa ISD and is the women's athletic coordinator, was a three-time all-conference volleyball player for the Lady Lobos (1977,1979, 1981) and later coached the volleyball and softball teams. She earned both a B.S (1982) and M.Ed. (1990) degree from Sul Ross.

McWilliams also lettered twice in women's basketball (1979-80), played on three TIAA championship volleyball teams and in post-season competition. At Sul Ross, she was also inducted into the Sachems Sorority and was runner-up for Woman of the Year.

A 1976 graduate of Marfa High School, McWilliams has returned home after 11 years as head volleyball coach at Fort Davis, three years as volleyball and softball coach at Sul Ross, and four years as head softball coach at Alpine High School. Her Fort Davis teams won seven district titles, three regional crowns, and made three state semi-final appearances. Her softball teams at Alpine and Marfa have won a total of five district championships, while Marfa High School won the 2006 district, bi-district and area titles.

"I grew up and learned how to handle myself at Sul Ross," she said.

"My instructors and coaches were patient with me.

"My philosophy of life is an emulation of the coaches and instructors who taught me at Sul Ross and I hope I have represented them and my family well. I can only hope that I have had as positive an impact on the majority of my students as my mentors had on me."

John Curry
Curry, who retired from education in 2004 after a 36-year career, will be inducted as an Outstanding Booster. He has served as the public address announcer for Sul Ross men's and women's home basketball games since 2002. He earned a M.Ed. Degree from Sul Ross in 1979.

His present association with Sul Ross began during the 2002-03 men's basketball season, due to his friendship with then-Lobo coach Doug Davalos. Curry began announcing at men's and women's home basketball games and has been a familiar voice for five seasons.

A native of Seminole, Curry taught, coached or was an administrator for 13 years at Van Horn, a year at Levelland, 13 at Ozona, and nine at Monahans, before retiring in 2004. Van Horn won the 1971 Class A state boys' basketball title and were Class AA state semi-finalists in 1978.

In 1999, Curry coached for the Texas High School Coaches Association North All-Star team.

"The 2003-2004 American Southwest Conference men's championship team is the most memorable," Curry said.

"Their run into the 'Sweet 16' was enjoyable to watch. Individual players like Larry Morales and April Ramirez give NCAA Division III athletics special meaning to me.

"Being the public address announcer has allowed me, as a retired coach, to be actively involved in basketball and to be connected in more than just a casual way to Sul Ross athletics," noted Curry.

"I hope that I have in some way helped the basketball programs be more successful. The experience has been very enjoyable and rewarding for me."