Embedded Files
2025 Distinguished Alumni
2025 Distinguished Alumni
Shellie Kaye O'Neal, Ph.D.
Class of 1990
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Dr. Shellie O’Neal, as chair of the previously dormant Navarro College Theatre Department, answered the challenge of insufficient funding by authoring over 20 plays for her performers to present. One of those plays was performed Off-Broadway in New York. Another of her plays was chosen to be performed at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows World Conference. Shellie has performed her one-woman play about Fanny J. Crosby 200 times in Europe and the United States. Shellie is a published playwright who has also been a director, presenter, performer, voice coach, and designer, with a community volunteer service history spanning decades at her church and with various colleges.
Dr. Jessica Pace made history as the first female president of Panola College. With a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from UNT, she earned her Doctor of Education from Baylor University. Before being named Panola College President, she served as instructor, coordinator, and Vice President of Institutional Advancement growing the endowment, scholarships, and fundraising of the college. Her dedication to inclusive spaces and community engagement was a driving force behind the creation of the All Abilities Park in Carthage. Nationally, she has served as the volunteer Fundraising Director for the nonprofit Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network.
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Dr. Jessica Pace
Class of 1990
Kevin Smith
Class of 1982
    Kevin Smith earned his accounting degree from the University of Texas at Austin and then became a CPA during his tenure with an international accounting firm. After working as the Accounting Manager with a worldwide luxury hospitality company in Dallas, Kevin was recruited by First State Bank & Trust Company in Carthage where he began as Auditor, then Controller, then Chief Financial Officer, and is now President and CFO. He has been an active leader in his church and in the community including the Panola College Board of Trustees, Carthage ISD Education Foundation, Rotary Club, Panola College Foundation, and the Panola County Chamber of Commerce.
2024 Distinguished Alumni Reception
2024 Distinguished Alumni Reception
Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees
Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees
2003
2003
Judge K. Baker, Class of 1943
Judge K. Baker, Class of 1943
Troy H. LaGrone, Class of 1953
Troy H. LaGrone, Class of 1953
Colonel Jack Reeves, Class of 1948
Colonel Jack Reeves, Class of 1948
2004
2004
Rev. Dr. Guston Browning, Class of 1944
Rev. Dr. Guston Browning, Class of 1944
Neal A. Hawthorn, Class of 1950
Neal A. Hawthorn, Class of 1950
Dr. Karen McKee Newell, Class of 1969
Dr. Karen McKee Newell, Class of 1969
2005
2005
Capt. James F. Deppe, Class of 1970
Capt. James F. Deppe, Class of 1970
J. Wayne Kyle, D.V.M., Class of 1950
J. Wayne Kyle, D.V.M., Class of 1950
Lynn C. Vincent, Class of 1956
Lynn C. Vincent, Class of 1956
2006
2006
Betty Coleman Baitland, Ed D., Class of 1962
Betty Coleman Baitland, Ed D., Class of 1962
John Wesley Barnett, Class of 1943
John Wesley Barnett, Class of 1943
Rev. Dr. Mouson Biggs, Jr., Class of 1959
2007
2007
Van Dorn Hooker, Jr., Class of 1938
Van Dorn Hooker, Jr., Class of 1938
James Travis "Jim Reeves", Class of 1942
James Travis "Jim Reeves", Class of 1942
John M. Stovall, D.D.S., Class of 1956
John M. Stovall, D.D.S., Class of 1956
2008
2008
John and Walta Cooke, Class of 1958 and 1959
John and Walta Cooke, Class of 1958 and 1959
Rob D. Trimble III, Class of 1967
Rob D. Trimble III, Class of 1967
David W. Wieting, Ph.D., Class of 1957
David W. Wieting, Ph.D., Class of 1957
2009
2009
Jerry T. Hanszen, Class of 1960
Jerry T. Hanszen, Class of 1960
Don V. Ingram, Class of 1954
Don V. Ingram, Class of 1954
J. Clayton LaGrone, Class of 1957
J. Clayton LaGrone, Class of 1957
2010
2010
Warren T. Biggs, Class of 1963
Warren T. Biggs, Class of 1963
E. Leon Carter, Class of 1977
E. Leon Carter, Class of 1977
Charles O. Thomas, Class of 1957
Charles O. Thomas, Class of 1957
2011
2011
Cassity J. Jones, Class of 1936
Cassity J. Jones, Class of 1936
Nancy Williams Langford, Class of 1971
Nancy Williams Langford, Class of 1971
N.E. "Son" Walker, Class of 1928
N.E. "Son" Walker, Class of 1928
2012
2012
Kay Lynn Vincent Brumbaugh, Class of 1985
Kay Lynn Vincent Brumbaugh, Class of 1985
JoAnn Hooper Parker, Class of 1964
JoAnn Hooper Parker, Class of 1964
John Randall "Randy" Taylor, Class of 1971
John Randall "Randy" Taylor, Class of 1971
2013
2013
Sam Baxter, Class of 1963
Sam Baxter, Class of 1963
Yancy Bounds, Class of 1961
Yancy Bounds, Class of 1961
Dana Ransom, Class of 1952
Dana Ransom, Class of 1952
2014
2014
Craig G. Buck, Class of 1962
Craig G. Buck, Class of 1962
Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, Class of 1976
Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, Class of 1976
Johnathan Perlman, Class of 1975
Johnathan Perlman, Class of 1975
2015
2015
Mildred Holeman, Class of 1943
Mildred Holeman, Class of 1943
Tommie Ritter Smith, Class of 1965
Tommie Ritter Smith, Class of 1965
Kurt Wall, CLass of 1983
Kurt Wall, CLass of 1983
2016
2016
Judge Terry Bailey, Class of 1966
Judge Terry Bailey, Class of 1966
Jim Dunlap, Class of 1965
Jim Dunlap, Class of 1965
Paula Goode, Class of 1972
Paula Goode, Class of 1972
2017
2017
Kent Hanszen, Class of 1984
Kent Hanszen, Class of 1984
Glenda Nelson, Class of 1957
Glenda Nelson, Class of 1957
Dr. Rick Wall, Class of 1973
Dr. Rick Wall, Class of 1973
2018
2018
Bob Browning, Class of 1952
Bob Browning, Class of 1952
Dr. Eddie Morrrison, Class of 1966
Dr. Eddie Morrrison, Class of 1966
Jim Payne, Class of 1962
Jim Payne, Class of 1962
2019
2019
James H. Browning, Class of 1965
James H. Browning, Class of 1965
Jan Forester, Class of 1968
Jan Forester, Class of 1968
Steve Roberson, Class of 1965
Steve Roberson, Class of 1965
2020
2020
No Distinguished Alumni due to Covid-19
No Distinguished Alumni due to Covid-19
2021
2021
John Jones, Class of 1971
John Jones, Class of 1971
John C. Ray, Class of 1966
John C. Ray, Class of 1966
Pastor Patrinell Staten Wright, Class of 1961
Pastor Patrinell Staten Wright, Class of 1961
2022
2022
Doris Gibbs - Posthumous, Class of 1957
Doris Gibbs - Posthumous, Class of 1957
Gene Giles, Class of 1972
Blake Holland, Class of 2015
Chris Paddie, Class of 1992
2023
Kit Kyle Martin, Class of 1988
Robert E. Reed, Class of 1972
Phyllis Bounds Warren, Class of 1973
2024
James Robert Browning, Class of 1994
Dr. Tim Harkrider, Class of 1990
Stephen K. Williams, Class of 1978
2025
Shellie Kaye O'Neal, Ph.D., Class of 1990
Dr. Jessica Pace, Class of 2004
Kevin Smith, Class of 1982
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