Palo Duro HS honors 3 new HoF members, from classes of '65, '66 and '78

Former Palo Duro High School (PDHS) Dons and family of new Hall of Famers came to honor the inductees in a special ceremony Thursday morning. Small golf carts gave attendees a lift in the brisk, cold weather that day. It was Pomp and Circumstance without a graduation in the PDHS auditorium. The high school orchestra played, and the cheerleaders did their acrobatics before the announcements.

The program began with the PDHS Air Force ROTC staging the Presentation of Colors, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Mistress of Ceremonies was Paola Gonzalez of the Class of 2024, and a welcome was given by PDHS Principal Brand Self.

Mayor Cole Stanley gave an inspiring talk about students learning to be impactors rather than influencers. He talked about people who had made a difference in others' lives, rather than just becoming wealthy. Stanley mentioned a coach who had helped his wife and other kids throughout their lives. Though he didn’t attain much wealth, he made a tremendous Impact to many students and died a happy, beloved man who made an impact.

The history of the Hall of Fame was presented by Curtis Sinclair, Class of 1977, who talked about the first Hall of Fame in 1983 and how they had honored individuals in many areas of life - sports, accounting, musicians, science, teaching and almost every walk of life.

Sandra Koesjan Whitlow, Class of 1978

The first new member to be installed was Sandy Whitlow, Class of 1978, who was introduced by Valeria Ramirez-Montoya, Class of 2025. Whitlow graduated fourth in her class of 1978, and was an outstanding scholar, ran cross country and track and also sang in Los Cantates Choir in All Region. She was the co-editor of the yearbook and editor of the Prairie Sage newspaper. She was active in Future Business Leaders of America, Quill and Scroll Honor Society, National Honor Society Student Council and Spirit Club, and also served as a cheerleader.

Whitlow attended West Texas State University where she was Cum Laude and received her Bachelors of Liberal Arts degree and Mid-Management Administration. She was in Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, Slgma Chi Honor Society and Phi Epsilon Kappa Honor Society.

Her career began at the Amarillo Independent School District as an Honors English Teacher and 7th Grade Coach at Travis Jr. High School. She then taught Honors English and was Assistant Volleyball/Track Coach at Amarillo High School. Whitlow also served as Assistant Principal at Western Plateau Elementary, Forest Hill Elementary and was Principal at Alice Landergin Elementary. At last, she came back to Palo Duro High School as Principal and Assistant Superintendent.

She was All-Star Track Coach for the Texas High School Girls Coaching Association, served on the National Staff Development Council Academy, received the Abydos Learning Principal A+ Honor Roll award and Learning Sue German Award for Literacy, and was a Texas Regional Director for Raises Your Hand and a Foundation Mentor for the Charles Butts Foundation.

Whitlow introduced her 91-year-old mother, who was in the audience and said how she had always supported her and had meals ready for her. She mentioned her parents' sacrifices and how her father worked overtime to pay for her to get some new track shoes. Whitlow met her husband at PDHS when they sang in the choir together and said her father wouldn’t let her go with him to a Hereford football game, because he was so strict. She also credited her husband with helping her get her Master’s Degree by buying her a computer. Her daughters were always proud of her and supported her, telling her that they knew she was needed by the other students also. Although she didn’t prepare meals for them, she had their support and love. She urged students to carry on the tradition of what they learned in high school into their lives.

“Life doesn’t get easier and you’ll get to the point where you want to drop out, but keep going and just persevere,” she said. “Always remember where you came from and who helped you on the way, whether it be a friend, pastor, teacher or parent.” She urged them to “Give back to those who gave to you, like the teachers who were once inspired by their teachers.”

James Gardner, Class of 1966

James Gardner graduated in 1966 and was active in band and orchestra. He was also Don of the Month. He received his Bachelors of Music from North Texas State and Masters at West Texas State University. Gardner also did post graduate studies in organ, conducting and vocal coaching.

He served as Director of Opera for the New England Conservatory of Music; Assistant Conductor of Opera at Julliard Opera Center; and was Adjunct Professor of Music at West Texas State University, Texas Women’s University and Tuft’s University. Gardner was the original composer of a major work for soprano and orchestra for Mary Jane Johnson and the Czech National Symphony. He also was the composer of “Odyssey,” performed at the Globe-News Center. He also served the Amarillo Diocese Southwest Liturgical Student Week as Music Director and as an instructor and coach for private voice and piano. When he came back to Amarillo, he was organist at St. Thomas Catholic Church and enjoyed being Music Director and actor at Amarillo Little Theatre. He is also active in the Amarillo Symphony, Amarillo Opera and Polk Street Jazz. His honors include the Moeller Organ Company Award for Choral Composition. He is a member of the National American Guild of Organists, is an ASCAP member, has published works for E.C. Schirmer – Galaxy Music Publishers, Sheet Music Press, and has garnered the ALTA Award from Amarillo Little Theatre.

Gardner advised the students to live their dreams and not to let anyone “edit” their dreams except God. He credited much of his success from the lessons he learned in high school and while playing in the orchestra and being in choir. He said he learned to play “three instruments at once,” during his days of being in the orchestra.

During his life, he said he always took Palo Duro and Texas with him and was proud of his heritage. Some of the dreams he had while in high school included reaching Boston and New York. Gardner said to let gratitude impact your dream, and it will impact your life.

When he moved back to Amarillo in 1986, things were not going so well when he received a call from St. Thomas Catholic Church asking him to serve as their organist. Though he had been raised a Baptist, he took the job and once again, got in contact with God and his life began to change. He said he began to work with the choir to teach them all he had learned in his journeys. Then he also got active in ALT where he was proud of his work.

David Hall, Class of 1965, Honorary Member

David Hall, Class of 1965, was active in football and track. He was Student Council President from 1964-65 and also became Class President in '64-65. He was also in the Spanish Club.

Hall went to the University of New Mexico on a football scholarship and then received his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1969. In 1974, he became a Certified Medical Representative. He has been a Sanofi-Aventis pharmaceutical representative for 40 years. He is active in First Baptist Church, serving on the Stewardship Committee and as a Vacation Bible School teacher. He has served as Palo Duro Alumni Association President and was a major component in forming the Palo Duro Alumni Association.

He married his wife, Pam, and they moved to Dallas and then Fort Smith, Arkansas, before returning to Amarillo to raise their three children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

His wife, Pam, spoke for him at the event, as he was confined to a wheelchair. She said that her husband grew up in Borger and really wanted to get out of there, and when his father got a job in Amarillo, he and his brothers begged his father to get a home in the Palo Duro High School district where his cousins attended.

He has been married to his wife for 57 years, and when he was asked how he accomplished that, he thought a minute and said to “You honor your vows to your wife and honor your vows to God.”

All the inductees gathered beneath the stage afterwards for some hugs and photos, and David Hall was able to stand with them for a while for his photo. He was proud and very upbeat while they all reminisced on being Dons together.

“Once a Don, always a Don,” they concluded.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Palo Duro High School honors newest Hall of Fame members