Updated Tuesday, September 08, 2009 12:10 PM

Denison Alumni Association names distinguished alumni

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By DONNA HUNT

Herald Democrat

DENISON -- The Denison Alumni Association will recognize Distinguished Alumni and a Sports Hall of Fame inductee Thursday, Sept. 10, during its annual awards reception at the Senior Citizens Center, 532 W. Chestnut, immediately after the Denison High School homecoming parade that begins at 5:30 p.m.

The four honorees will be recognized during Friday night's football game in Munson Stadium.

David Ray Smith's name will be added to the Sports Hall of Fame plaque that hangs in the hall at the school administration building. David, who died March 8, 2009, will be represented by his daughter Elizabeth Smith and his grandson Hunter, and Elizabeth's good friend Shannon Brown, in the parade, reception and football game.

Added  to the distinguished alumni's list of outstanding graduates will be Gregory T. Davis, class of 1975; Don Lummus, class of 1954; and Dr. Don Russell, class of 1966. Russell will be unable to attend the parade and reception, but will be here for the ceremony during the football game.

Horace Groff, past president of the Denison Alumni Association, will be master of ceremonies for the recognition program. This is a "come as you are event" he said. Food and cold drinks will be served at no cost to the attendees.

David Ray Smith

David Ray Smith played football for the Denison Yellow Jackets in 1961. After losing two of the first three games, Coach Herman Bailey decided to realign his defense, moving Smith from offensive halfback to middle linebacker on defense. In the next seven games Jackets only gave up 35 points.

A gentleman and popular student at DHS, when Smith snapped on his helmet he became a man possessed to win the game. He was later sidelined with a dislocated shoulder suffered in practice. When the season ended sports writers of District 4-A voted Smith the outstanding defensive lineman of the year and picked him on the first string all-district team. The Associated Press picked him on the third string all-state team. The honors kept coming in. At the annual Yellow Jacket Booster's Club meeting Coach Bailey said that Smith "furnished us with the shoulders that carried us to the state quarterfinals.

When Smith graduated from DHS in 1962, he went to Henderson Junior College then to Stillwater to play for the Oklahoma State Cowboys where he received his B.A. degree in 1965. He tried coaching for a few years then joined the workforce and stayed there for the remainder of his life.

Smith died March 8 and was buried in Edmond, Okla. At the service his daughter, Elizabeth, met many of his old teammates from OSU.

 

Gregory T. Davis

Gregory Davis was active in the music program during his days at DHS, serving as band president. He was one of the first students to participate in the newly formed educational television network program at McDaniel Junior High School.

Currently he is general manager of WRR, Classical 101.1 fm in Dallas, a post he has held for 16 years. He has been honored with numerous awards including Broadcaster of the Year in 1997 by the Black College Radio Association. He also has been given seven Marconi Awards of Merit for classical music broadcasting and the Texas Public Relations Association Best in Texas Award for Advertising Excellence. As general manager of WRR, the station has received two White House special recognitions for classical music broadcasting from Presidents William Jefferson Clinton and George W. Bush.

Davis is actively involved in a number of civic and charitable organization in Dallas, where he makes his home. He serves on a number of philanthropic and community boards.

He was born in Denison and graduated from Denison High in 1975. He distinguished himself at DHS as a student earning honors for musicianship, academic performance and leadership, a foreshadowing of his success in his career.

Don Lummus

Don Lummus, a native Denisonian, is a product of Houston Elementary School then Denison High School (1954) before heading to Texas A&M University in College Station, where he received a BS degree in petroleum engineering in 1958, then to Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., where he received an MBA in 1964.

Beginning his career as assistant to the president of Dresser Industries in Dallas, he went on to be general manager or president, CEO of several industries, including President/CEO of Davenport Machine Tools in Rochester, N.Y. He retired in 2004 to Chapel Hill, N.C.

During his 32 years as an entrepreneur, Lummus tried to give back to the system that provided him such grand opportunities. He and his wife, Marilyn are donors of a Presidential Endowed Scholarship at Texas A&M and have supported many other educational and charity events across a broad spectrum of worthwhile causes. He said, "I can't do as much as Boone Pickens, but it has been a fun ride and I believe some good has been done"

During his career he has been active in civic activities including President of the Plano Rotary Club, a candidate for mayor in Plano, President of the Plano School District Education Foundation, chairman of the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Association of Business and chairman of the Texas Association of Business.

Dr. Don Russell

Billy Don Russell Jr., was born in Denison and educated in Denison schools, graduating from Denison High in 1966 as salutatorian of his class. Upon graduation he received a scholarship to Southern Methodist University to study engineering, but chose to attend Texas A&M University without a scholarship to study electrical engineering.

He received his bachelors degree in electrical engineering in 1970 and masters degree in 1971, then continued post graduate studies in theology and history at Abilene Christian University before going on to the University of Oklahoma to earn his Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1975.

In 1976 he returned to Texas A&M to begin his career as a professor of electrical engineering. He has accomplished many noteworthy achievements, including publishing more than 160 times and having three books to his credits. He has received over 400 professional awards and has 15 patents for electrical power systems equipment.

Dr. Russell has been actively involved with numerous national and international engineering organizations. He a member of four honor societies, Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta PI, Sigma Pi Sigma and Phi Kappa Pi.

Due to copious awards and accomplishments, Dr. Russell is highly respected among his peers in the engineering community. He is highly sought after for his expertise in many areas, especially large power systems.

Dr. Russell has made significant contributions to his profession and the critical power infrastructure of the United States and other countries.

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