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OURGUNTER H ISTORY | V ALUES | F UTURE
C O NTENT S 5 6 8-9 10 11 12-13 14 15
STEAM Days at GES FFA and Art Awards Gunter Band 2019 State Championship Photos School Zone: School Board Recognition School Zone: GISD Calendar - Jan 2020 History: Hilltop Haven Home for the Aged Gunter Library and Museum Gunter Library Calendar
Meet Raymond Owen. Raymond played for the Gunter Tigers from 19311941 and still has his letter sweater! We were excited to find him cheering on the 2019 Gunter Tigers at AT&T Stadium in the State Finals.
Published By 4CMEDIAGROUP, LLC Editorial & Design Renee Marler Renee@4cMediaGroup.com Production Jimmy Marler James@4cMediaGroup.com Contributing Writers Renee Marler | Dr. Jill Siler | Chris Dodd Juanita Hazelton
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Contributing Art & Photography 4CMEDIAGROUP Renee Marler | Jimmy Marler | Tishtrya Cama Editorial Submissions Please send editorial considerations to Renee@4CMEDIAGROUP.com
January 2020 VOL 2, Issue 1
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TIGER TIMES Gunter Band
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FEATURED State Champions
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HISTORY
Haven Home for the Aged
If you are interested in writing for OurGunter, we would encourage you to reach out to us! We are open to contributions from students, teachers, parents and community members! ON THE COVER
2019 State Champion Gunter Tigers with the Balfour 2019 Gunter State Championship Ring! OurGunter 114 N. Ohio, Suite 100, Celina, TX 75009 214.592.7512 | www.OurCelina.com A 4CMEDIAGROUP, LLC Publication Visit our website at www.4CMEDIAGROUP.com
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Proud to support Gunter ISD and Gunter Athletics!
Undefeated Di Final District Game
Bi-District Champio
Area Championshi
Regional Semi-Final Cham
State Semi-Final Champio
State Finals vs Pau
2019 State Champ
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istrict Champs vs Callisburg 58-0
onship vs Tolar 50-7
ip vs Clifton 27-14
mpionship vs Rogers 47-14
onship vs Canadian 27-20
ul Pewitt vs 43-22
pion Gunter Tigers
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GUNTER Independent School District
SCHOOL ZONE SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH
Launching the Next Generation The task of educating more than 5.4 million Texas students can seem overwhelming. The idea of 5.4 million young minds relying on us to provide what they will need to succeed in their ever-unfolding future can feel insurmountable. But when we were children, the adults in our world provided for us, and now it is our turn to provide for today’s students. While educating children may not be rocket science, it is a complex, demanding responsibility: ensuring that schools are available, qualified teachers are in place, buildings are safe, and resources are provided. It’s a responsibility that locally elected board members generously accept. They commit to read reports, learn the laws, understand the community’s needs, set thoughtful goals, and wisely handle the district’s financial resources. But it isn’t just a simple commitment. Serving as a locally elected board member means going through an election and making difficult decisions for the district, its employees, and its children. It means being available to hear from concerned parents in the grocery store, at the game, or over the backyard fence. It means committing to the time it takes to do the job right. What you might not know, in Texas there is no pay for school board members, and there are mandated training requirements, creating further demands on their time. In short, why would anyone volunteer for this role? Fortunately, in Gunter, we have had committed, caring adults who have signed on for the responsibility and hard work of making our schools the best they can be. They immerse themselves in learning what they need to know to make good decisions that will provide for students, from the very youngest to the graduating senior. Trustees are public servants who generously work to benefit the most vulnerable members of each community. Please take a moment to thank our local trustees. Take a moment to honor the work they are doing to help your students blast off into the future. Take a moment to really appreciate the work school board members are doing on your behalf.
Scott Meyerdirk was elected to the board in 2015 and is currently serving as Board President. He has been instrumental in the success of the Gunter Tiger Fan Club (GTFC) raising thousands of dollars for our athletic programs benefitting both Gunter students and schools. Scott is a Sr. Director at NTT Data Services and has deep experience in corporate finance. He received his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Oklahoma State University. Scott and his wife Shari have two children who have graduated from Gunter ISD. Scott Meyerdirk - 12 years
Jeff Banks has served on the Board since 2013 and is currently serving as Board Vice-President. Jeff has previously served the community of Gunter on the Planning and Zoning board and then as a City Council representative. Jeff has worked with Data Center Inc. for the past 20 years as part of the eBanking Solutions group as a Senior Implementations/Support Specialist. He received his Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from Texas A&M at Commerce. Jeff is married to his wife Regina and they have two children who have graduated from Gunter ISD schools.
Lynn Reed was elected to the board in 2019 and currently serves as Board Secretary. Lynn currently serves as the Branch Manager for Premier Nationwide Lending. Prior to that, Lynn was a Branch Manager for Benchmark Mortgage and Cendera Funding. Lynn graduated from Tarleton State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education. Lynn is married to his wife LeAnn (Cookie), and they have four children who have attended Gunter ISD schools. Lynn Reed - 1 year
Dr. Gary Harris was elected to the board in 2005 and has served as an officer for several years. Prior to moving to Grayson County, Dr. Harris served on the Collin County College Board of Trustees for 10 years. Dr. Harris was the founding president of the Gunter ISD Foundation Trust (GIFT) and served as a volunteer coach for many years with the Gunter Youth Association. Dr. Gary Harris has practiced Endodontics in Sherman since 2001. He graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry and the LSU School of Dentistry. Gary and Kathy have four grown children who each graduated from Gunter ISD.
John Jonas - 12 years
to his wife Beverly and they have four children who graduated from Gunter ISD.
Steve Smith was elected to the board in 2008, and has served as Board President for several years as well as other leadership roles. Steve is one of the founding members of the Gunter Community Group and has also served on the GISD Education Foundation Board. Steve worked for Southwest Airlines for over 35 years as a Commercial Pilot. He currently serves as a private commercial pilot for Jackson Air Charter. He graduated from Central Michigan University. Steve is married to his wife Janet and they have three daughters and one son, who each graduated from Gunter ISD.
Gabe Johnson - 1 year
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Dr. Gary Harris - 15 years
John Jonas was elected to the board in 2008 and has served in leadership roles of secretary and vice president over multiple years. John has been a volunteer with the Gunter Tiger Fan Club for the past several years and has served on the board of the GISD Education Foundation (GIFT). He is currently the Building Engineer for Insight for Living and Volunteer Chaplain for the Gunter Police Department and Fire Department. John is also president and founder of Broken Heart Ministries devoted to seeing hearts and lives restored through horse riding therapy to minister to children, at-risk youth and the emotionally wounded. John is a graduate of Northwest University and Louisiana Baptist University. John is married
Join us in celebrating School Board Recognition Month throughout the month of January.
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Jeff Banks - 7 years
Steve Smith - 12 years
Gabe Johnson was elected to the board in 2019. He graduated from Gunter High School in 1995. Gabe is a Civil Engineer by trade with over 20 years of experience and is a registered Professional Engineer (PE), Professional Hydrologist (PH), Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) and a Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP). Gabe currently works for the City of Grand Prairie as the Director of Public Works. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Hydrology and Water Resources from Tarleton State University, where he was inducted into the Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Amy, have three children who attend Gunter ISD schools. He also serves as a Board Member for the Marilee Special Utility District and as a Board Member for the Tarleton Alumni Association. In his spare time, he is a youth coach and helps with school activities.
GUNTER HIGH SCHOOL
Schedules subject to change, please check website and/or social media for updates www.gunterisd.org/calendars
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By: Juanita Hazelton When Gunter Bible College moved from Gunter to Littlefield, Texas in 1928, it left behind a two-story building. The College Hill Church of Christ continued to meet in the original building, but due to a doctrinal difference, the Valley Church of Christ was established down the Photo from one of the last College reunions c1974/75 hill on College Street. Minnie Umphress, Katie Hazelton, Roy Hazelton, un- A non-profit organization opened the known, Zilla Hanning Home for the Aged in December 1947 in the old college building. Founding Trustees, with their wives, were C.M. and Lois Miller, Foy and Jennie Wallace, Odell and Lorene Lowe, and Howard and Zelma Kinney. It was originally begun as a home for retired ministers of the Church of Christ. In 1968 the trusteeship was transferred from the College Hill Church of Christ to the Garland Road Church of Christ and the name was changed to Hilltop Haven. Over the 65 years of its existence, it provided a home for many aging Gunter residents as well as people from other places, as well as employment for many Gunter citizens. The founding superintendent Ralph Godfrey began his tenure on June 1, 1947. He lived in the old college building, repairing it, holding meetings, preaching sermons, and writing articles for the official publication of the Home for the Aged, Herald of Hope. Other Superintendents and Administrators were John W. Pigg, Grady Langford, William E. Ball, M.E. Blake, Laurence Hedges, Linda Morrison, Kyle Douthit, Brad Burt, Tim Fleming, Greg Losher, David Boggs, and Brett Hansen. Looking at the census records for 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940, many of these names appear as residents of College Street. The master plan for the Home for the Aged was to use the former Gunter Bible College for administration, worship, and dining, with dormitories or cottages for 300 residents. The first resident was Sister Sara Daniel, age 88. The History of Grayson County Texas published in 1979 by Grayson County Frontier Village listed 200 residents and 100 employees. In 1980, the Howard Apartments were added as a gift from W.B. and Ruth Howard. it was one of the first area nursing communities in Texas to be certified for Alzheimer’s care. Initially the home for the Aged depended on contributions of funds and needed items from individuals and churches. The February 5, 1948 issue of Herald of Hope includes the following article: “Farm Needs For Home For The Aged. Springtime isn’t too far off, and our pasture that is now covered with snow will soon be looking quite 12
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different as the green gras begins growing there. We will need some cattle to graze on the luscious green grass. By next fall, we hope to have several more old people here with us and, thus, we will need more meat and milk, both of which are very essential to serving good, well-balanced, nourishing meals to our aged guests. If someone could give us some beef cattle, we could fatten them during the summer and have them ready to put in the locker by fall. If you can spare a cow or pig, you will be doing a lot toward giving old people the nourishment and strength they need.” Perhaps Hilltop Haven’s most famous resident was Tillet S. Teddlie. He was “a minister, gospel singer, teacher, and composer of 135 gospels songs. He lived at Hilltop Haven from 1982 to 1987. He died at the age of 102 on August 17, 1987 and is buried in Forest Park Cemetery in Greenville. President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan sent him a telegram for his 100th birthday, and the Texas House of Representatives honored him with a Resolution. He graduated from what is now the University of North Texas and was a member of the Skillman Avenue Church of Christ. Many of the songs you find in hymnals were written by him. You can read an article about him online at https://www.therestorationmovement.com/_states/texas/ teddlie,ts.htm. Hilltop Haven Home for the Aged was Gunter’s second largest employer. When it was closed in 2013, it impacted the community heavily. According to Teresa Scott, Senior Vice President for Christian Care Centers, cuts in Medicare and Medicaid precipitated the decision to close the center on March 16, 2013, after 65 years of operation. The site has now been razed and a Sports Complex has replaced it. Information for this article was taken from The South Grayson Sentinel, Issue One, February 7, 2013, and online sources.
Gunter Bible College building left after College moved to Littlefield
Tillet S. Teddlie, song writer
Gunter Bible College, 1909
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The Gunter Library and Museum has been a part of the Gunter community for sixteen years. We are a 501 c3 non profit Library with volunteers who give their time and talents to serve our area’s business, academic, imagination, and reading needs. Visit us 110 S. Hwy 289 (next to the donut shop) and take advantage of our services • Books in print/audio/e-books/DVDs • Storytime, STEAM, and kids Summer Reading programs • Book Club • Free wifi and computer access with printer and fax services • Visit our museum and featuring artifacts, picture, and stories about the history of Gunter
You may know that Gunter Library and Museum has been serving the community since 2003, but DO YOU KNOW… • Story Time is every Tuesday at 10:30am • We partner with Gunter Elementary School to provide a monthly Story Time event for all Kindergarten classes • STEM is every 4th Saturday at 10:30am • We a have an active Book Club that meets every 4th Thursday at 7pm • You can access ebooks and audio books through our Overdrive system • Since 2016 we have had 6 author visits! That is 2x more than most libraries • We have a Cricut machine available for public use • You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram • One of our librarians is a published author • Two of our librarians hold Master of Library Science degrees (one with over 40 years library experience!) • We are all volunteers who are dedicated to sharing literacy and building our community • You can volunteer! Contact Susie Stratton at susiestratton55@gmail.com • The library is free and open to all. Visit us Monday – Saturday 10-2 with extended hours on Thursday 10-6
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January 2020 Gunter Library Calendar of Events
Jan 7th
10:30 am
Story Time
Jan 14th 10:30 am
Story Time
Kindergarten Story Time
Jan 16th 6:00 pm
Library Board of Directors Meeting open to the public
Jan 21st
Story Time
12:30 am
10:30 am
Jan 23rd 7:00 pm Book Club The Four Agreements by D. Ruiz Jan 25th 10:30 am
STEM
Jan 28th 10:30 am
Story Time
Stay current on all library events and activities by visiting us at gunterlibrary.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Thank You To Our Sponsors Gunter Library & Museum 110 S. Hwy 289 (next to the donut shop)
Jackie Kruzie Library Director Phone: 903-771-3066 Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Tuesday, Thursday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday: CLOSED
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Local Postal Customer
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PRST STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Celina TX Permit #10