visit us online at www.tigertimesonline.com Band member chronicles the end of an era
Student chooses pirate life, gets friends onboard
story on page 6
story on page 11
Basketball season preview story on page 12
TIGER TIMES
texas high school . volume 50 . issue 2 . 10/29/10 . 4001 summerhill rd . texarkana, tx
FAMILY matters Freshman makes ranch his home
F
Freshman Cody Hunter holds a photo taken of him the day he arrived at Watersprings Ranch from Arizona. photo by John Dukes
Science teacher looks to adoption to expand family Meagan Martin waited, hope building with every passing second. Maybe, just maybe, this time would be different. As she looked down at the pregnancy test, the glimmer of hope faded into a deep disappointment. “Over the past couple of years, there were four or five times when I thought I was pregnant and used a pregnancy test,” Martin, a science teacher, said. “With each negative result, it was like a dream was shattered.” Meagan and her husband have been married for about six years and
have been trying to have children for four years. In 2006, they moved to Texarkana and she started her career as a teacher. “At that point, we decided that we would like to start a family,” she said. However, their dream of having children was postponed. “A year went by and nothing had happened; two years and still nothing,” she said. “It had been about two years and I asked my doctor if there was a reason that we were not successful.” See Martin on page 7
Science teacher Meagan Martin and her husband, Russ, are hoping to adopt soon. submitted photo
Ellen Orr viewpoint editor
our years ago, 10-year-old Cody Hunter considered himself a misfit. He was living with his mother, sister, and disobedient little brother in Phoenix, Ariz. He was prone to running away from home, and was once picked up by the police. His drug-using father had left their family years before, and his mother was struggling to keep their family in tact. Cody’s living situation was the epitome of “parched ground,” and although he didn’t know anything different, his mother was thirsty for her children to have a better life. Through her social worker, she connected with Watersprings Ranch, a Christian-based long-term residential home for children. Located in Texarkana, Ark., the Ranch appealed to Cody’s mother because the organization is faith-based and requires no tuition or fees on her part. Cody and his younger brother, Zac, were soon enrolled. Their young minds had no idea the opportunities awaited them. The new family created at Watersprings Ranch has provided Cody and his brother with an overflowing of happy times. Flooding needy children’s lives with love is the desire of David and Carla Whatley, who founded the organization in 1989, abiding by the scripture Psalm 107:35-36: “He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. And there He maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation.” The ranch is currently home to 34 children of all ages who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Complete with five group homes, an on-grounds school, and an unending supply of love, Watersprings Ranch rehabilitates children with structure and discipline. See Hunter on page 7
Mr. Walmart brought smiles to faces Emily Hoover news editor Substitute teachers. Students have those they dread, those they tolerate, those they make fun of, and, rarely, those they love and respect. Until recently, if asked about their favorite sub, many students would immediately respond, “Mr. Walmart.” “Those who had Mr. Walmart know how great of not only a man, but also a role model he was,” senior Braydon Jones said. “Whether it was walking down the hallways or at any Texas High athletic event, Mr. Walmart could bring a smile to anyone’s face. He was not just a substitute, but was a friend, character, and most importantly, a true Tiger Fan.”
William Terry Henderson, 67, died Friday, Oct. 1, in a local hospital. Henderson was the grandfather of three, the father of two, and the husband of 45 years of Deanna Henderson, who works as an English teacher here. Henderson, fondly known as “Mr. Walmart” by the students he taught as a substitute, worked at the school after retiring from his position as Community Development Coordinator of Walmart. During his time at Walmart, Henderson worked to donate thousands of dollars to schools in our district. “He was the liaison between the schools and Walmart,” English teacher Jeanie Nutter said. “Walmart gave him a lot of money that he gave not only to Texas
High, but to all the schools in our area.” Henderson was known not only for his kindness and generosity, but also for his dependability and enthusiasm for helping students any way he could. “Terry Henderson was a man that you could always depend upon,” leadership teacher Susan Waldrep said. “When I needed extra chaperones for a student council trip, Terry and Deanna were right there. When, at the last minute, I needed an extra driver to go to San Antonio, Terry immediately volunteered.” Henderson first became involved because his daughter, Jamie, was a student at the school, when the family first moved to Texarkana.
Terry Henderson, also known as Mr. Walmart, is pictured here with his daughter, Jamie, and wife Deanna Henderson, an English teacher. Henderson died Oct. 1 after a lengthy illness. submitted photo
“I got to know Terry first as a parent, because Jamie was on drill team,” Nutter said. “He was most supportive. He went to all the football games, in town and out of
town; he was an avid fan.” When Henderson retired and became a substitute teacher, he See Walmart on page 3