Skipworth to Be Inducted Into Austin College Hall of Honor
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Volume #1, Issue #6 Monday, April 21, 2014 Skipworth to be inducted into Austin College Hall of Honor Sherman’s Austin College will induct to recognize the outstanding athletic the late Tommy Skipworth into its Hall accomplishments of Mr. Skipworth. of Honor in July. The longtime Howe Every nominator for his induction Independent School District stated he was one of the best, if not the employee’s contribution to AC best, multi-sport athlete to play at athletics prompted the posthumous Austin College. We look forward to recognition. Mr. Skipworth passed recognizing his induction, along with away in 2005 after a long struggle with the other inductees, at this summer’s cancer. Legends Event. It will also be special to me as another baseball great and Mr. Skipworth lettered in baseball and former player of mine, Jay Skipworth, basketball, and in 1966-67 was named will be accepting this distinguished the Pat E. Hooks Award winner as the honor”. men's basketball team's most outstanding player. That same year, he In the 1960s, Austin College played was named the baseball team's MVP. many Division 1 schools including He remains one of only 18 players to TCU, Baylor, UT-Arlington and North have surpassed 1,000 points in men's Texas. Mr. Skipworth’s teammate basketball at Austin College. Tom Barrett said that didn’t matter. “We never played against an opposing Austin College Director of Athletics team’s guard better than Tommy David Norman said, “It is a great Skipworth. He was 1st Team All- privilege for the athletics department Continued on Page #3 Howe's That? City welcomes new businesses Writing an article on the late Downtown Howe in Howe. Among those Tom Skipworth was looked like a are Salvage Junky rewarding because he meant throwback to a owned by Debbie so much to me when I was different era on Jackson Wallis (as seen growing up in Howe. Having Tuesday evening as in the photo). along with him as a coach was one of the parking spots were full Abby's Restaurant, My best experiences of my entire and spirits were high. Estralla Mexican Food life. The city council began restaurant, Don's their monthly meeting Smokehouse, The Howe While this was a reward for downtown with a Enterprise, Chill Out, his achievements at Austin ribbon-cutting Sparks Trailers and College, it was also a time to ceremony for seven Don McGrath - owner recognize him for his new businesses that of the car wash. contributions to the children have recently opened in Howe that he helped Continued on Page #4 shape. The Howe Enterprise Monday, April 21, 2014 Page #2 Business Education for Teachers Program approved by city council Police News 4/16/2014 - Great response by Officer Morris and Sgt Hill to a report of a missing man suffering from Alzheimer's. They found him within 10 minutes of receiving the report. A family member reported him missing from his residence in Howe after he failed to return home from "a walk". The man was unharmed and not in any kind of distress (knew where he was and where he was going). Bob Rhoden, Director of External Relations, Workforced Solutions Texoma presenting to the Howe City Council last Tuesday 4/19/2014 - Thieves hit Howe - Austin Bridge and Road reported a theft occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning at their work site One Howe ISD teacher will soon years. Denison and Sherman ISDs (SW corner of US 75 and FM 902). Nearly $1,900 worth of steel spikes be spending a week participating have participated in the program and "cages" were removed from a pallet. These items are used to in a week-long program which and now Tom Bean and Howe ISD connect concrete barriers that divide our highways. Anyone with will place them with a local will be the newest schools to take information is asked to call the HPD. Your identity can be kept industry. The purpose of the advantage of the program. confidential. program is to give the teachers an opportunity to see how their Rhoden told the council that the students might use the skills they project will not exceed $1,500 with Athletic Banquet Sunday are learning in the classroom $1,000 of that going back to the when they enter the workforce. teacher to compensate them for The Howe Athletic Booster Club is hosting it's annual Howe Athletic their time and approximately $500 Banquet on Sunday, April 27 at 6:30 pm in the high school cafeteria. The program consists of a half- for implementation, plaque and There is no charge to enter, but there will be a donation basket available day orientation, four days in the luncheon at the end of the program. to help cover the cost of the 250 meals served at the banquet along with workplace, and a half-day wrap- The teacher will be asked to job other booster projects that go towards helping the kids of Howe. up and curriculum development shadow each department to see session. everything that happens. Henderson named Fire Fighter of the Year Partners of this program are the "It will be a real eye-opener for Denison Develpment Alliance them because they don't know what and Workforce Solutions goes on in a real manufacturing Texoma, which Bob Rhoden is facility and also it will show them involved with both. how far of a reach our local manufacturers have globally." "Typically we target teachers Rhoden said. that have no industry experience. When the question Rhoden told the council that they is presented by the student to the would choose the facility that the teacher of how is this going to be teacher participated with and said it applied, we want the teacher to would be most likely a large plant be able to explain it in great in Sherman or Denison. detail." Rhoden told the council. Howe Fire Chief Robert Maniet presents the 2013 Fire Fighter of the The council unanimously favored The project has been in Year Award to Clint Henderson. Henderson is a also a new paramedic the proposal and agreed to pay the operationon in 8 of the past 10 with the department. $1,500 investment in the school program. The Howe Enterprise Monday, April 21, 2014 Page #3 Skipworth cont. Continued from Page #1 Conference his senior year and led “He was a glass half-full kind us to the most wins of any Roo of guy. He always said basketball team of the 1960s. He "everything would be all right". was a great passer as well as scorer He had a way of saying that, and was unparalleled at the pick and that made me believe it was roll. If you weren’t paying close true. That saying from him had attention, you might catch one of his a way of getting us through no-look passes on the side of your many a tough time. He always head. Tom was also an outstanding told me in particular, "It's not baseball player and could have what happened, it's how you played professionally had he so react to it" said his wife Gayle. desired. His strong hands and great footwork contributed to his success Mr. Skipworth was known as a as a shortstop.” man of few words, but when he did speak out, it was extremely Former Sherman High School meaningful. What most people teammate Tom Fryhover said that would never guess is that he Skipworth never played football, but was quite gifted in poetry and the coaches would drool over him gardening as well as athletics. throwing the football 60 yards or His wife Gayle points out that punting the ball 50 yards in athletics as a principal, he would often classes. “He was a natural athlete write a poem about a teacher and could do anything.” Fryhover on their birthday or when they said. “I always played shortstop would leave the school. until I played withTommy Skipworth. He was better than me, Coaching basketball was a gift so I had to move to second base.” that Mr. Skipworth shared with many student athletes. He Tommy Skipworth was born on would often start eighth-grade Valentines Day of 1945 to Harold basketball practices by making and Vera (Gressett) Skipworth and 25 consecutive free-throws and attended Sherman schools where he showing the kids the graduated in 1963. He was noted as importance of making those an outstanding athlete in both shots. He would often use his basketball and baseball for Sherman unbelievable talent to make High. He led the Bearcats and the underhanded half-court shots entire district in scoring during the from one knee just to get the 1962-63 seasons. kids excited about basketball. Kids that played for Mr. In 1967 a number of milestones Skipworth can still hear in their would fill Mr. Skipworth’s young heads his most-often used life. He graduated from A.C., phrase, “the best pass is a married his best friend Gayle bounce pass.” Clarkston and got his first job as an educator with Howe ISD. Five years “Tommy Skipworth was a later the Skipworth’s would have quality individual who served their only child Jay. this district with distinction for Educating children became Mr. 36 years as a teacher, coach Skipworth’s legacy at Howe ISD. and administrator. He earned He served as a teacher, coach, the respect of countless counselor and principal all while students and parents with a furthering his own education with a passion for teaching and master’s from East Texas State learning and a unique ability to University.