Dateline: March 6, 2008

Estlack named Saints' Roost Award winner

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Helen Estlack was honored by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce with the 2007 Saints’ Roost Award for her lifetime of service to the community and as an educator during the chamber’s annual banquet Saturday night.

Woman of the Year honors went to Lori Howard, and Ted Shaller was named Man of the Year.

Estlack taught in Donley County schools for 37 years and spent more than 30 years teaching English at Clarendon Junior High. She became something of a local legend for her lists of helper verbs, diagramming sentences, and a concerted effort to curtail the use of the word “ain’t.” She directed her eighth grade classes in one-act plays for nearly twenty years.

Estlack’s students also were assigned projects on Donley County pioneers and Native American history and writing their own books. And her students traditionally did other fun projects such as gold leaf paintings and writing poetry in calligraphy. 

In 1997 she was named the Teacher of the Year by the Region 16 Education Service Center and the Southwestern Bell Foundation. And in 2000, the year of her retirement, she was named the Outstanding Middle School Teacher from the Texas Middle School Association for Region 16.

Outside the classroom, Estlack devoted time to the American Cancer Society and gave more than 30 years to the Boy Scouts of America, receiving the District Award of Merit in 1987 and earning the Silver Beaver Award in 1991 — the highest award given to an adult Scouter at the council level.

She also found time to keep the books for her late husband’s business, pursue numerous hobbies, and, since 1995, proof read The Clarendon Enterprise every week.

Following her retirement in 2000, Estlack continued to influence the Clarendon Public Schools by helping write a grant that brought more than $600,000 to the community, and she helped compile a comprehensive history of the Texas Panhandle’s oldest newspaper in 2003. More recently, she became the pen pal of a boy in one of her sister’s developmental classes in an effort to bring that young man out of his shell and develop his own hidden talents.

The 2007 Woman of the Year, Lori Howard, was recognized for many qualities – her devotion and service to her family and church, her philanthropy, and for dedication to her friends. But it was the role she took on when her husband, Dr. John Howard, was called to active duty in Iraq in 2007 that brought her the Woman of the Year honor. Howard has kept the Clarendon Family Medical Center functioning in the doctor’s absence and has shown continual love and support for America’s military by sending care packages almost weekly for Cmdr. Howard to share with those all around him and with the children of Iraq. Upon receiving her honor, her children, Jessie and Austin, read a letter from Dr. Howard, complimenting his wife and noting that she has been his woman of the year for more than 20 years.

Ted Shaller was named the 2007 May of the Year for his willingness to help others. As a member of the First United Methodist Church, he received the Missions Servant Award in 2007. He serves on the Donley County AgriLife Extension Advisory Board and on the Donley County Appraisal Board. Shaller is also the disaster relief coordinator for the North West Texas Conference of the Methodist Church and regularly attends disaster relief seminars in Texas and Louisiana to train and to network. And he quietly performs other mission work at home and away without giving himself any recognition.

Other awards presented at Saturday’s banquet included the Pioneer Man and Woman of the Year and the Young Men and Women of the Year.

Margaret Ann Pettit was named the Pioneer Woman of the Year for 2007. She was born in 1927 in Taylor and married C.I. Peck Pettit in 1945. The two retired to Donley County in 1981 and raised a granddaughter. Margaret attended every Bronco Booster Club meeting and every school activity. She also staked her claim in the community, serving as Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star three times and Noble Grand of the Rebekah Lodge five times and even serving as Chaplain of the Rebekah’s Grand Assembly of Texas in 2004. Pettit was for 20 years the secretary of the Howardwick Friendship Club and of the First Baptist Church in Howardwick. She served 10 years on the Donley Appraisal Review Board, three terms as a Howardwick Alderman, and three terms as mayor of that city. Today she remains active in her great grandchildren’s lives and is always there to lend a helping hand to friends and family.

The Pioneer Man of the Year was Clyde Price, who has been a native of Donley County for 75 years. He grew up working for his father as a printer’s devil at the Clarendon Press, and later worked for the Mulkey and Pastime theatres. He served in the US Army and later sold insurance for Emmett O. Simmons. He then worked for Pantex, and later he served as a jailer/dispatcher for Sheriff Jimmy Thompson. He was a longtime volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America, and in 1956 he was honored with the Silver Beaver. He was also a volunteer fireman, led the Chamber of Commerce for a time, served two different times as a member of the Clarendon College Board of Regents, and has been a longtime member of the Clarendon Masonic Lodge.

The Young Woman of the Year from Hedley High School is Danielle Smith. She is active in National Honor Society, UIL academic activities, and in the Business Professionals of America in which she has been a state alternate in Desktop Publishing and a state qualifier for the Banking and Finance competition. She has been very active in the Donley County 4-H for nine years, serving as president in 2006-2007. She helps with 4-H fundraisers and July Fourth activities in addition to attending various camps. She received the BWXT Pantex and Ascension Academy Award of Excellence in Math in 2005, and is known as a person of high character and trustworthiness.

Deston Chambless was named the Young Man of the Year from Hedley High School. He has been very active in the FFA, earning the Start Greenhand and Star Chapter Farmer awards. He competed on the horse judging team and was able to compete at the state level. In high school he has participated in golf and football and has been on the work program for the past two years, and he is best known as a hardworking individual.

The Young Woman of the Year from Clarendon High School is Abby Patten, who has garnered a long list of high school accomplishments and activities. She has been active in 4-H, FFA, basketball, cross country, softball, the National Honor Society, the Gifted & Talented program, UIL Extemporaneous Speaking (2006 state qualifier) and Debate (two time regional qualifier), and Dual Credit Concurrent and Advanced Placement Classes. She plans to pursue a career in criminal justice and says her most important activities outside of school have included working, church activities, sewing and cooking, and playing the piano. She is the senior class vice president, the NHS secretary, the current Clarendon Lions Club Sweetheart, the 2007 CHS Softball Player of the Year, and 2004 regional qualifier in cross country.

Paul Goetze is the Young Man of the Year from Clarendon High School. He has represented his school and community with great pride in several activities. He is president of the FFA and also the Greenbelt district FFA secretary and has represented Clarendon at the FFA state convention. In 4-H he has competed in photography, public speaking, woodworking, and beef. He has placed in state 4-H competitions and is currently the local president and the district treasurer. He has been involved in band, led the science bowl team, and also served as team captain for the UIL science and current issues and events teams. He is president of the NHS and vice president of the Junior Historians. He has received numerous academic awards over the years and has competed in the National History Day competition for seven years, advancing to nationals twice and placing seventh in the nation last year. He is active in his church and is known as a true gentleman.

Also recognized during the banquet were incoming chamber directors Jerome Martinez, Henry Hermesmeyer, and James Thomas.

An estimated 207 people attended the Fiesta themed banquet, down slightly from 210 last year.

Special music was provided by Matt Stidham, Dan Hall, and Donnie Hall.

This year’s banquet was sponsored by Lowe’s, Clarendon College, Windstream, Greenbelt Electric Cooperative, Robertson Funeral Directors, Crow Hollow Feed Yard, Stanley Chevrolet - Clarendon, Road Runner Home Care, and Don Stone Signs.