Tyler

Tyler Junior College launched homecoming festivities with a pep rally and tribute to distinguished alumni Friday. Events continue Saturday.

The Alumni Association presented its top awards during an awards dinner and dance in Rogers Student Center.

Houston television personality Dave Ward, a 1960 graduate, is the Distinguished Alumnus award recipient.

At TJC, Ward played trumpet in the Apache Band. He began his broadcast radio career with KGKB in Tyler. In Houston, he helped establish Houston Crime Stoppers and has been active in numerous civic and professional organizations.

The Rev. Helen Appelberg, Class of 1949, received Special Recognition honors. She was a member of the first Apache Belles line.

She is executive director for the William Temple Episcopal Center in Galveston and has been a visiting scholar for the Sealy Center on Aging at UTMB for the past four years.

State Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, was named Valuable Young Alumnus. He is a 1989 graduate.

Hughes was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2002, to represent Camp, Harrison, Upshur and Wood counties. He is vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and serves on the Elections, House Administration, and Rules and Resolutions Committees.

On Saturday, the alumni association will sponsor a tailgate party beginning at 1:30 p.m. outside Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

At 3 p.m., the Apaches football team take on the Blinn Buccaneers.

The halftime show will feature a 60th anniversary salute to the Apache Belles. Many former Belles members are set to perform.

On Saturday night, the Apache Belles Diamond Anniversary Gala is set at Eagle's Bluff Country Club.

The TJC Apache Belles run around in front of Jenkins Hall on the campus during the rally.
((Staff Photo By Jaime R. Carrero))