Six Named to PJC Academic Hall of Honor

From Paris Junior College

The Paris Junior College Academic Hall of Honor will induct six 
honorees for the Class of 2010 at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 13, 
in the McLemore Student Center Ballroom. These graduates and former 
students will be honored during a weekend of PJC Homecoming festivities.


After a welcome by PJC President, Dr. Pamela Anglin, Vice President of 
Academics Dwight Chaney will deliver a history of the Hall of Honor.  
Then the honorees will be introduced:


Kelly Baxley, Class of 1980, graduated from PJC with honors. At the 
age of 19, he was the youngest pneumatic application engineer hired by 
Johnson Controls in the company’s history. Thirty years after 
graduation, he is entering his 20th year with Seimens USA as the 
Senior Account Executive for the world’s fourth largest employer.

With a unique set of skills, he is responsible for developing business 
opportunities with the Texas higher education marketplace. His drive 
earned him “Sales Professional of the Year” three times and he was 
twice nominated for the “President’s Circle Award” for extraordinary 
and solid performance as recognized by colleagues and senior 
management. Mr. Baxley is being recognized in the field of heating and 
air conditioning.


John Dickson “Dick” House, Class of 1939, was a long-time Paris 
businessman and former member of the PJC Board of Regents 1959-65, who 
also received the distinguished student award at graduation. He was 
editor of the Galleon, class officer, Captain of the 1939 Dragon 
basketball team and lettered in three sports.  He was involved in the 
1961-62 expansion and building program for the Student Union Building, 
men’s’ and women’s dorms and PJC Library and bookstore. A retired Navy 
Captain, Mr. House was the founder, owner and manager of Dick House’s 
Good Housekeeping Shoppe in the Williamsburg Shopping Center for over 
25 years. He is being recognized in the field of business.


Mark Hudson, Class of 1969, is currently the Deputy Superintendent for 
Curriculum and Student Services for Paris ISD. Mr. Hudson has been 
involved in the PISD system since 1985 and began teaching and coaching 
in 1971. As a student he was Mr. PJC in 1969. He was twice named Coach 
of the Year in his respective districts. He was honored as the Texas 
Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) Outstanding High 
School Principal for District 8 in 1991 and honored by the TASSP for 
Middle School/Junior High Principal for District 8 in 1998. Mr. Hudson 
is being honored in the field of Education.

Marva Joe, Class of 1957, is a strong advocate for education in Paris, 
Lamar County and the surrounding area. For over 11 years she served as 
a member of the Paris Independent School District Board. She is 
retired from Kimberly-Clark and for a time was a substitute teacher 
with PISD, as well as a member of the Facilities Committee for the 
planning and construction of the new Paris High School. In addition, 
Mrs. Joe was a member of the City Charter re-write committee and is 
currently co-chair of the Diversity Task Force. She is being saluted 
for the field of social science.


Michael D. Miesch, Jr., Ph.D, Class of 1953, is a retired entomologist 
from National Chemsearch where he was head of the pesticide and 
agronomy section responsible for formulation and development of 
insecticides and other agents. He was born prematurely with severe 
hearing loss, which contributed to a severe speech impediment.  Thanks 
to his older brother, Pete, Dr. Miesch was able to attend school with 
his brother getting his assignments and helping him through the 
beginning of the education process. After two years at PJC, the Miesch 
brothers transferred to Texas A&M College where the honoree received 
his B.S. degree. He went on to earn his M.S. from Purdue University 
where he studied entomology and earned his Ph.D from Oklahoma State 
University where he won a fellowship sponsored by the national Pest 
Control Association. Dr. Miesch is being saluted for the field of 
science.


DuWayne Wirta (Fall 1966-Spring 1968) retired in 2009 after a 36-year 
career with the Central Intelligence Agency as a Senior Intelligent 
Services Officer. He is President of Wirta Consulting, LLC and is 
working with Honeywell International. During the last 10 years of his 
career, he managed and led a unique organization and was responsible 
for all program and infrastructure management and funding. He is being 
honored for his work in the field of criminal justice.


_____________