Foundation inducts two years' worth of honorees

CLOVIS - Be they entertainers, public servants or business owners, Purple Pride Hall of Honor recipients gathered Saturday for a ceremony that was larger in some ways, smaller in others, but just as special as any before it.

After a year that saw the 2020 banquet wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's induction banquet from the Clovis Municipal Schools Education Foundation did double duty with inductions of the classes of 2020 and 2021. A total of nine were honored - with 1937 grad Leon Williams honored posthumously - at the Clovis Civic Center.

Inducted as part of the 2020 class were Ernie Kos (class of 1975), Becky Rowley (1982), Gary Hamilton (1971) and Chris Bryant (1969). The 2021 induction class included Gayla Brumfield (1971), Debbie Forster (1984), Anthony McClaren (1996) and Lee K. Howard (2001).

Lendra Hailey, alumni chair for the foundation, said COVID-19 precautions led to tables getting more spaced out and six to a table instead of eight, meaning a ceremony that normally holds 300-plus was closer to 150. But there was a concerted effort to surround inductees with the people who love and support them.

Those who did make the limited guest list saw a pre-recorded tour of the current CHS campus from Assistant Principal Alicia Spearman, followed by introductory speeches. Following were a series of tribute videos for each inductee, each punctuated by a speech by the recipient and a friend or family member designated as the award presenter.

The purpose of the Hall of honors is to recognize former graduates of Clovis High School whose achievements, strengths of character and citizenship serve as models to current students. There is also an opportunity for non-Wildcats to join the Hall through the Top Cat award that recognizes service to the district and the community.

Clovis High Principal Jay Brady, the emcee for the event, remarked on how impressed he had always been by previous inductees, whether they worked at Pixar or built cornerstone businesses in Clovis. The two years of inductees honored Saturday, he said, every bit belonged in that group.

"Frankly, I want to say you're amazing," Brady said, "and you deserve the recognition."

The foundation, which started the Hall of Honor in 2010, was what Foundation Vice President Lonnie Leslie called one of former Superintendent Rhonda Seidenwurm's great ideas.

"We said we'll serve, but we're not going to ask for money," Leslie recalled. "You'll find out in just a moment, I got over that."

At each table setting was a placard with an artist rendering of the foundation's newest inspiration to seek donations, an alumni center that would be housed in the front lobby of the CHS lecture hall. The center would include archival items related to Purple Pride inductees, and could possibly serve as a social setting for future alumni events. Inside each placard was an envelope for a cash or check donation to the foundation.

The foundation normally gives two $5,000 scholarships to Clovis seniors, Leslie said, but because of the pandemic it didn't have many places to spend money and instead awarded three. Recipients were Danielle Griego, Katie Reeb and Mikaela Snider.

Superintendent Renee Russ, who has had to deal with the pandemic during each of her first two years at the position, said the last 14 months have given her a "keen awareness" of the things she and others previously took for granted. The most notable was the ability to come together to solve problems - "there have been a lot of problems" - and to celebrate.

Russ said at a recent banquet for 4.0 students from area high schools, she couldn't escape the thought that the students she was seeing at that banquet may one day be Purple Pride inductees themselves for reasons still to be determined.

"I don't know all (of the details) of your stories," Russ said to the inductees, "but I can tell you we are so proud that you are a Clovis Wildcat."

Inductees for 2020

Leon Williams (1937), Business & Industry (Posthumously)

Williams was born in Hedrick, Oklahoma, and his family moved to Clovis when he was 15. He played center for three years on the Wildcat football team, and married his high school sweetheart Katheryn Haley.

Williams was the owner of the KICA radio station and its broadcaster for Wildcat sporting events, and also sold farm equipment and real estate. He served as president for the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, Charter Member and President of the Clovis YMCA, Chairman of the Curry County United Way, Superintendent of the Adult Sunday School Classes at Central Baptist Church, President of the Clovis Lions Club; and Member of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Clovis.

His service to the school district included 13 years on the board of education and executive membership on the Clovis High School Booster Club’s executive board. He also served as president of the New Mexico School board Association and as an executive board member for the Eastern New Mexico University-Clovis branch.

The Clovis High football stadium was named in his honor before the 1970 football season in recognition of his contributions as a citizen to the schools and the community.

In 1962 the Clovis High School Year Book was dedicated to Leon Williams, the only such dedication to a person, other than a school official, in the school’s history. He died the following year from a heart attack.

Ernie Kos (1975), Government and Service

Kos moved to Clovis over 50 years ago as a military dependent, when her father was assigned to Cannon Air Force Base and has made Clovis her home since then. Following her graduation from CHS, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern New Mexico University, with a major in marketing and management.

She spent eight years as executive director of Curry County United Way, before starting in 1994 as executive director for the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce.

During her tenure as the chamber director, Kos helped lead the community's s efforts to support Cannon Air Force Base when it was slated for closure in 2005.

She has been named New Mexico Chamber Executive of the Year, and received numerous state and national awards.

In her 20th year with the chamber, she and husband Ron were recognized as the citizens of the year, and she was awarded the key to the city. She also helped Clovis become one of five communities in 2019 to earn the Great American Defense Community designation.

Ernie and Ron have been married for nearly 43 years, and have three children and four grandchildren.

Becky Rowley (1982), Government & Service

Rowley was born in Santa Fe, but moved to Clovis with her family when she was a few months old. She served as junior class president, and was an avid tennis player.

She received a bachelor’s degree in English and Latin, with a minor in Political Science from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1986, and a master’s degree in English from the University of Virginia in 1988. Rowley received her Ph.D. in English from the University of New Mexico in 1996.

Rowley returned to Clovis, where she taught English as a full-time faculty member at Clovis Community College for seven years. She was recruited to serve as executive vice president, and held that position for twelve years. She became the college’s president in 2011 and served until 2019, when she accepted the president’s position at Santa Fe Community College.

Rowley was a member of the 2009 Core Class of Leadership New Mexico, and in 2018 was named a “Woman of Influence” by Albuquerque Business First. In 2013, Clovis Community College was named one of the Best Places to Work by the Albuquerque Journal.

Rowley is also an avid runner, having finished 25 marathons, including eight Boston Marathons.

Gary Hamilton (1971), Top Cat

Hamilton was born in Alamogordo, but moved to Clovis when his father was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base. While at Clovis High, he earned from teacher Dick Dobbs that the most important product was people and went on to win the DECA state championship in marketing as a senior.

In 1996, Hamilton purchased a Ford dealership in Clovis, and has since expanded to more than a half-dozen dealerships either opened or purchased.

In 2016, Hamilton began a program of donating a vehicle, which was then raffled off by CHS students with proceeds benefit various CMS entities. The program has resulted in four vehicle donations and more than $150,000 raised through raffle ticket sales.

In 2019, the dealership worked with the district to create an award program that gave the teacher and support staff member of the month use of a vehicle with free gasoline for the following month, starting with the prior year’s teacher and support staff of the year award winners.

Hamilton Auto Group was named Business of the Year by the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce for its contributions to CMS. Hamilton’s direct contributions to the district have exceeded $500,000, not counting raffle proceeds.

Chris Bryant (1969), Top Cat

Bryant was born and raised in Clovis, and attended Eugene Field, James Bickley, and Highland elementary schools.

During his high school years, he worked for his father in the kitchen at the Foxy Drive-In. However, he pursued a career in auto mechanics after high school graduation. He found his way back into the family business, is friendships with several local restaurant owners convinced him to give the restaurant business a try.

He returned to the Foxy in 1972 as the night manager and eventually became the manager. In 1978, he took over the business from his father, A.C. Bryant. He continues to work with his oldest son, who runs the day-to-day operation of the business.

Bryant serves on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Restaurant Association, and has served as its president. He was awarded the Restaurateur of the Year in 1982.

He is currently serving his fourth term on the Clovis city commission, and is currently the mayor pro tem. He and his wife Lola have been married 49 years, and have five children and 14 grandchildren.

Inductees for 2021

Gayla Brumfield (1971), Business and Industry

Brumfield was born in Olton, Texas, and her family came to Clovis when she was 10.

She began her real estate career in 1974, and joined the Clovis Board of Realtors in 1978. She has served on that board for more than 40 years, twice serving as its president. She was its Realtor of the year in 1985, and also earned its top salesperson designation for 10 years in a row. She has been on the New Mexico Real Estate Commission under four different governors, and has been chair several times.

In 2008, Bumfield was chosen as the first female mayor of Clovis, and served for four years.

She has served as President of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce and was named the chamber’s citizen of the year in 2001 and 2012. She has also served as President of the United Way, served 10 years on the Clovis Community College Board of Trustees, and served for 15 years on the Plains Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees. Brumfield is a charter member and president of the Clovis Municipal Schools Education Foundation.

Anthony McClaren (1996), Sports and Entertainment

McClaren first came to Clovis in 1992 and attended Marshall Junior High and CHS. He practices employment law, and has done numerous acts to raise awareness for Parkinson’s Disease, including his “Seven Summits for Dad” book and the Climb Above Parkinson’s non-profit which benefits the University of Southern California School of Medicine.

What life achievements are you proudest of, and what is still on your bucket list? “Climbed Mount Everest with just a Sherpa; climbed the other seven summits self guided. Self made into law school, now down in Los Angeles. I don’t have a bucket list, but I would like to see as much of the world as possible in my life. I have been to about 30 countries at this point.”

Share your best advice for current and future CHS graduates: Be patient. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Accept things that don’t go your way as lessons learned, not failures. Get up when you fall and keep going. You learn a lot more by getting punched in the nose than you do by punching someone.

Lee K. Howard (2001), Sports and Entertainment

Howard was born in Amarillo, Texas, but spent his entire childhood in Clovis. He was always involved in sports and speaking to audiences. He played basketball in high school and was student body president his senior year. When he was given the opportunity to announce the games for the CHS baseball team at Bell Park, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in sports broadcasting.

Lee received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications at West Texas A&M University. He networked with local sports journalists in Amarillo, and landed his first job at KAMR NBC 4 in Amarillo. He later moved to Lubbock, where he met his future wife, Kristen Kennedy. She was hired at WKYT in Lexington, and Lee soon followed.

Howard has reported sports at WKYT since 2011. He has had the opportunity to cover a multitude of sporting events, including the NCAA Tournament, NBA and NFL draft, Kentucky Derby, Bowl games, and John Calipari's induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Lee K. Howard has won the Associated Press Sports Story of the Year for Kentucky twice, and was named the AP Best Sportscaster of the Year in Kentucky in 2019. He received an Edward R. Murrow Award for storytelling and an Emmy in 2020.

He and Kristen have two children, Meg and Kingston.

Debbie Forster (1984), Government & Service

Debbie Forster was born in Phoenix, but she and her family moved to Clovis when she was 9. She has fond memories of Clovis and was especially influenced by several of her teachers.

Forster received a BA from Hardin Simmons and an MA in English from the University of Leeds in England. She spent 20 years in UK education as an English teacher and as a headteacher. Forster is an award-winning leader and a recognized figure in the areas of diversity, tech, innovation, and education. Forster was co-CEO for the student-focused initiative, Apps for Good, as well as heading up education for e-skills UK. She is a portfolio consultant and is co-founder and CEO for the Tech Talent Charter (TTC), an industry collective which aims to deliver greater inclusion and diversity in the UK tech workforce. As part of her wider portfolio, Debbie works as an executive coach, and a consultant specializing in supporting start-ups, scale ups, and social enterprises. Alongside her work at TTC, Forster is also a diversity board member for the Institute of Coding, an advisory board member for Barcelona Digital Talent, a mentor for We in Social Tech, a board trustee for the British Council, a member of the Digital Economy Council, and director at consultancy, Novel Design.

Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) named her Woman of the Year for 2016. Forster was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE ), the third highest ranking Order of the British Empire, by Prince William of England, in January 2017, for “Services to Digital Technology and Tech Development”. Her work for the TTC was recognized by Women in IT awards 2018 for Diversity Initiative of the Year. She was awarded Women in IT Awards Diversity Leader of the Year 2019 and was named by Computer Weekly as the Most Influential Woman in United Kingdom IT for 2019.