Morgan Wheatly

Clarendon College secured its place in history as the Texas Panhandle’s first college Saturday, November 19, with the dedication of a state historical marker.

A crowd of current and former students and college employees were present for the dedication and to celebrate the history of the college.

CC Board of Regents Chairman Jerry Woodard gave the welcome followed by the presentation of the colors by local Boy and Cub Scouts, and members of the Student Government Association led in the pledges to the Texas and American flags.

Local historian and CC alumnus Roger Estlack gave a brief history of Clarendon College, which he said began as a dream of the Christian Colonists of old Saints’ Roost, who set aside land for a college at the town’s founding in 1878. But it would be 20 years before those dreams became reality.

In November 1897, local and area citizens petitioned the local district of the Methodist conference for a college, and on April 2, 1898, the Northwest Conference approved the creation of Clarendon College & University Training School after 21 businessmen pledged $4,835 and four acres of land were donated to the cause. The school opened its doors on September 5 of that year.

“And there began the story that continues today,” Estlack said. “We were off and running… literally. Harwood Beville won a foot race for the honor of being the first student at the school.”

Clarendon College graduated its first class in 1904 and won the Panhandle’s first organized football game, 16-10 against Goodnight College, in 1903

Dr. George S. Slover oversaw an expansive period as president and led Clarendon to become a senior college on September 14, 1926. The college conferred 28 bachelor degrees in 1927.

That fall, CC’s affiliation with the Methodist Church ended and it came under the direction of the Clarendon school district with the local school superintendent serving double duty as college president for the next several years.

Under President Kenneth D. Vaughan, the college separated from the public school and a county-wide college district was formed in 1965. An endowment from sisters Etta and Ida Harned allowed the college to move from its historic location where Clarendon High School is now and build the modern campus on the west edge of the city in 1968.

Clarendon College opened its first satellite center in Pampa in 1978 and later opened centers in Childress and Amarillo. Clarendon college remains a cultural center of donley county and the region and continues to provide students in its service area an opportunity for higher education.

Estlack said the history of Clarendon College is embodied by the men and women who have gone to school at CC, worked at CC, and supported the institution for 118 years.

CC President Dr. Robert Riza unveiled the marker, and Donley County Historical Commission Chair Jean Stavenhagen then read the marker inscription.

CC Chief of Staff Ashlee Estlack recognized Jean Stavenhagen, Roger Estlack, and Darlene Spier for their roles in compiling the history of the college, CC Regent, alumnus, and former instructor Jack Moreman delivered an invocation, and the crowd then reconvened in the Vera Dial Dickey Library for refreshments.

The Christmas season will officially get underway this weekend with local merchant sales – plus $250 up for grabs – and the third annual lighting of the Courthouse.

Local merchants are ready to help you find something for everyone on your Christmas list with their Black Friday and Small Business Saturday specials on November 25 and 26. Details on local sales are printed in the Holiday Gift Guide included in this week’s Clarendon Enterprise and available at ClarendonLive.com.

To support the local sales, the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce is giving away $250 in Clarendon Cash to one lucky shopper who has shopped at home this Christmas. Just bring a receipt from a Chamber member dated either November 25 or 26 for $100 or more to the Clarendon Visitor Center before noon on Tuesday, November 29, to be eligible to win.

Small Business Saturday began in 2010 when it was founded by American Express to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.

According to small business advocates, every $100 spent in locally-owned stores returns $68 to the local community through taxes, payrolls, and other expenditures. That same money spent in another town or online returns nothing to your local community.

Saturday’s highlight will be the third annual Courthouse Lighting Celebration, beginning at 4 p.m. with an appearance by Santa Claus and caroling featuring local children’s groups. The formal lighting will be at 6 p.m.

Also on Saturday night, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary will hold a soup dinner at the Donley County Senior Citizens Center for $6 per person. The dinner begins at 5 p.m. and will continue through and after the Courthouse Lighting.

Shop at home this holiday season and remember the important role your local merchants play in keeping your community strong.

The Clarendon College Ex-Students Association bestowed its Distinguished Alumnus Award on two former students during the 73rd CC Alumni Banquet last Saturday in the Bairfield Activity Center.

Ruth Robinson and Laura Hommel, were each recognized for professional and personal achievements, civic responsibility, and continuing support of Clarendon College.

“We are here tonight to recognize two of the finest women ever to walk the halls of Clarendon College,” association president Ashlee Estlack said.

Laura Stowe Hommel was a member of the Class of 1991 and came to Clarendon by way of House, New Mexico, to be one what was then known as Jerry’s Kids… a judger under Jerry Hawkins. Laura got very involved at Clarendon College, working on the yearbook and becoming very active in the student body.

She met and married Chad Hommel and they made their life in Clarendon, where Laura developed a reputation for working as a teacher for kids with special needs at Clarendon ISD. Today, she continues to exhibit compassion, patience, and love as she teaches disabled children to be more self-confident and more independent. She makes her students feel successful and gives them brighter futures. In addition, she also volunteers her time in service to God and as 4-H leader

Laura Hommel represents the best of Clarendon College when it comes to caring and compassion and leading a life in service to others.

Hommel was unable to attend Saturday’s presentation, but she sent prepared remarks to be read for her.

“I feel very honored to have been chosen for this award,” Hommel wrote. “It brings me even greater honor to have my name announced with Ruth Robinson. Thanks for all the college has done for this community, the students, and me.”

Ruth Robinson, who graduated in 1947, can claim more of a connection to Clarendon College than most people. One of her relatives literally turned the first shovel of dirt to build the institution and another won a foot race to be the first student in 1898.

Her own life’s story would eventually find her working at Clarendon College for 18 years as a counselor, where she guided literally thousands of students down the roads of their education, taking a personal interest in each one and the classes they needed to take to get them where they wanted to go.

After her retirement, she soon found her way back to serving Clarendon College, this time on the Board of Regents, where she is now one of its longest serving members. She is also a past president of the Saints’ Roost Museum and has served on the Chamber of Commerce board and the Donley County Historical Commission.

She remains active in the Methodist Church, the Pathfinders Club, and Les Beaux Arts Club; and she is known for her helpfulness and her love for Clarendon College and its students.

Also during Saturday night’s banquet, CC President Robert Riza delivered remarks about the state of college and its accomplishments over the last three years. He also discussed the role of Clarendon College in the lives of students and thanked those in attendance for their support of CC and encouraged them to continue that support.

Proceeds from the evening, which included a wine pull and silent auction, will go to the association’s scholarship fund.

Six pleas took place when the District Court met in Clarendon last Wednesday, November 9.

District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Tyler Gene Houston, 23 from Greenwood, Ark., pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to four years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance.

On October 13, 2015, Houston originally pleaded to the charges from the February 3, 2015, offense in Carson County.  The State filed the motion to adjudicate on September 14, 2016, alleging ten violations of community supervision.

Houston is also required to pay $336 in court costs to Carson County, $609.50 restitution, and a $2,000 fine.

Nicholas Luna, 28 from Visalia, Calif., pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to five years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana.

On April 26, 2016, Luna originally pleaded to the charges from the November 15, 2015, offense in Carson County.  The State filed the motion to adjudicate on July 15, 2016, alleging five violations of community supervision.

Luna is also required to pay $336 in court costs to Carson County, $180 restitution, and a $3,000 fine.

Sandy J. Armenta, 61 from Lancaster, Calif., pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to five years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of money laundering.

On January 20, 2015, Armenta originally pleaded to the charges from the January 16, 2015 offense in Carson County.  The State filed the motion to adjudicate on May 12, 2015, alleging six violations of community supervision.

Armenta is also required to pay $296 in court costs to Carson County and a $500 fine.

Manuel Mejia Santamaria was convicted and placed on probation for a period of five years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana.  Santamaria pleaded guilty and was convicted to ten years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for five years.

Santamaria, 43 from San Luis, Ariz., was arrested in Carson County for the offense that took place on September 8, 2013 by Officer Danny Dawson. Santamaria was indicted by a Carson County Grand Jury on August 22, 2016.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Santamaria was required to pay a fine of $5,000 to Carson County, $370 in court costs, $180 lab fee, successfully complete 200 hours of community service, and a $500 out of state probation transfer fee.

Jacob Matthew Bellah was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana.  Bellah pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Bellah, 44 from Fortuna, Calif., was arrested in Carson County for the offense that took place on September 25, 2016 by DPS Trooper Charles Cannon. Bellah pleaded to an information filed by the State on November 8, 2016.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Bellah was required to pay a fine of $3,000 to Carson County, $336 in court costs, $180 lab restitution, successfully complete 200 hours of community service, and a $500 out of state probation transfer fee. If Bellah violates probation, he could face up to 10 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

Michael Aguirre, 31 from Wellington, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to six years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of tampering with physical evidence.

On September 11, 2014, Aguirre originally pleaded to the charges from the August 21, 2014, offense in Collingsworth County.  The State filed the motion to adjudicate on September 16, 2016, alleging eight violations of community supervision.

Aguirre is also required to pay $376 in court costs to Collingsworth County and a $1,000 fine.

The national championship of livestock judging is staying in Lubbock. On the strength of three top 10 individual finishes, the Texas Tech University Livestock Judging Team from the Department of Animal and Food Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources claimed its second straight national title and ninth in program history Monday at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ken.

“This is a humble group of Christian young men and women on this team that mean the world to me personally,” said coach Ryan Rathmann, an associate professor and the John W. and Doris Jones Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “This is a very special win.”

Texas Tech edged Kansas State University by just three points, 4,878-4,875, to claim the win. Oklahoma State University was third, followed by the University of Nebraska and Texas A&M University.

Texas Tech claimed first place in the reasons division by seven points over Oklahoma State while taking second in swine and sheep judging and third in cattle.

The team was led by Zane Webster, a senior from San Simon, Arizona, who finished second overall. Gabe Jennings, a senior from Fredonia, finished sixth overall while Jonathan Neiman, a senior from New Home, was eighth.

Jennings and Chama Martin, a senior from Mason, were named All-Americans based on their academic record, leadership and livestock judging success.

The livestock team this season also captured the championship at the State Fair of Texas Collegiate Livestock Contest in Dallas and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo in March.

“The consistency at which our CASNR collegiate judging teams compete on the national level is truly amazing,” said Steve Fraze, interim dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources. “Our students and coaches are commended as we embark on a new era of excellence and start the count for another 100 national championships.”

Other members of the livestock judging team are: Austin Adams, a senior from Hedley; Dakota Crissman, a senior from Bells; Brody Halfmann, a senior from Garden City; Maclaine Shultz, a senior from Meeker, Colorado; and L.J. Young, a senior from Pendleton, Indiana.

In addition to Rathmann, Jon DeClerck, a doctoral student, co-coached the team with Rathmann.

Austin is the son of Lon and Nicki Adams of Hedley. Austin is a 2015 graduate of Clarendon College where he was a member of the Clarendon College Livestock Judging Team.