(Cameron)  Five Cameron natives were inducted into the Yoe Hall of Honor Saturday, November 4th during ceremonies in the Cameron First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.  The Hall of Honor was initially an idea that was born from Yoe High School Athletic Director Randy Sapp, who serves on the Yoe Foundation Board of Directors, as a way to honor former Yoe High athletes, but after input from the rest of the board, became a project to honor former Cameron I.S.D. students who have left an impact.

The Plaques honoring the first inductees, all distinguished graduates in Cameron Independent School District high schools, will be displayed in the lobby of the new Yoe High School gymnasium in Cameron.

Ralph Chambers accepts award on behalf of Major William [Bill] Graham Gillis, Jr.

HALL OF HONOR 2000  MAJ. WILLIAM [BILL] GRAHAM GILLIS, JR.

YHS Class of 1935

1917-1944

Bill always went straight to the top wherever he landed.  Football teams of Yoe High School, Schreiner Institute, and U.S. Military Academy at West Point elected him captain.  He was also a superb track athlete and an honor student.  During World War II, at the age of 26, he commanded the 1st Battalion, 320th Infantry in Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army in France.  He led his men to break through the Nazi lines to capture Hill 317 at Mortain thereby freeing a surrounded U.S. battalion.  This breakthrough stopped the enemy's counter attack.  In 1945 defeated Nazi General Staff Officers admitted they lost the war when their counter attack at Mortain failed in 1944.  Bill had led one of the great victories of World War II.  On October 1, 1944, struck by an enemy mortar shell, he gave his life to preserve our freedom.  Posthumously he and his unit received the honored Distinguished Unit Citation.  A grateful nation also awarded him a Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.  France adn Great Britain each gave him coveted medals.  He was the fifth generation of his family to call Milam County home.  He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Cameron.  West Point remembered Bill again 45 years after his death in France.  In 1989 the Academy memorialized his heroism, character, and athleticism by naming a vast indoor athletic facility Gillis Field House.

  HALL OF HONOR 2000

FRED T. JOHNS

YHS Class of 1950

Fred has enjoyed a lifetime of give and take encouragement between himself and others.  His persistence inspires all; thus, he contributes to many lives.  In return, others reward his diligence by encouraging him to never give up.  This shared help supports his triumph over disability described as reduced physical coordination due to a birth injury.  His mother Ida Johns would not allow him to give up as a child.  Finally, but foremost, he is sustained by his Christian faith in God the Father.  During his 33-year teaching career at C.H. Yoe High School, he taught Chemistry 1 year; Biology 2 years; General Science or Physical Science 4 years; Physics 30 years; Algebra i & II 10 years or more; Plane Geometry 3 years; Trigonometry 10 years; Solid Geometry 6 years; PreCalculus 5 years; Advanced Math 4 years; Introductory Algebra 2 years; and Informal Geometry 2 years.  He earned the Bachelor of Science degree in 1954 from Texas A&M University, and the Master of Science degree from Oklahoma State University in 1959.  As an adult he was active in civic, educational, and community service groups, and at the same time stayed on top of his academic disciplines through professional societies and further university study.  His teaching career was marked by National Science Foundation awards of stipends awarded for summer study at such institutions of higher education as Stanford University in California, and in Texas--Southern Methodist University, Baylor University, Texas A&I University, Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Drayton, member of a noted Milam County family, led the new 106-year-old McLane family business to national and international standing in the United States wholesale foods industry.  The McLane family entered the foods business in Cameron in 1894.  It relocated it's company operations to Temple.  Based on success in years that followed, McLane Group still headed by Drayton became owner of the Houston Astros Baseball Club.  Houston rewarded Drayton's efforts to save professional sports in the city by building Enron Field, a $265 million facility in downtown Houston.  The Astros signed a 30-year lease in 2000.  The McLanes do not forget their roots in Cameron.  Drayton often shares his teim and his baseball team with YHS students and Cameron.  Sports and Milam County history were among Drayton's YHS extracurricular interests.  He earned a BBA from Baylor University and a MA from Michigan State University.  Drayton has been honored with numerous major awards from state and national industry groups as well as from institutions of higher education.  He is a philanthropist who also generously gives his time to civic, educational, health and religious work.

HALL OF HONOR 2000

WAYNE FISHER

YHS Class of 1955

Wayne Fisher has been recognized by his peers as one of the most outstanding lawyers in America.  Leadership, character, depth and breadth of communication skills, generosity, responsibility, and hard work characterize his career.  He has been awarded numerous state and national honors in the field of trial law.  He has served as president of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.  Lawyers nationwide seek him as a speaker on his interpretation of the practice of law.  Such achievements do not surprise those who have known him all his life.  Wayne was valedictorian of the YHS class of 1955.  He served as class president and participated in tennis, band, junior historians and debate.  He was selected as Best All-Round Boy.  After receiving a full academic scholarship, he graduated from Baylor University in 1959 number one in his class with a BBA degree.  He graduated from Baylor University School of Law number one in his class of 1961.  He has been selected Baylor Law School Lawyer of the Year and Distinguished Alumnus of Baylor University.  The Wayne Fisher Ranch on Alligator Creek, a tributary of the LIttle River, is a distinctive asset to Milam County.  Each spring visitors travel winding roads in park-like wooded areas to enjoy hundreds of dogwood trees in bloom on the Fisher ranch.

HALL OF HONOR 2000

DR. DANNY ROY KELLEY

O.J. Thomas High School Class of 1965

Born with remarkable musical gifts, Danny gave his first piano recital in Cameron at the age of six after only a year of formal study with Mrs. Francis Cox.  Later, majoring in music at Prairie View A&M University, he was the first student presented in solo recitals each of his undergraduate years.  He won the coveted University Development Award his senior year enabling him to study privately with Albert Hirsh, artist-in-residence at the University of Houston.  The Ford Foundation of New York City then funded his studies at Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore where he earned both the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees.  Danny has performed at Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., and Houston Museum of Fine Arts.  He also has appeared as soloist in celebrated concert halls in cities of the Caribbean and Europe.  Prairie View A&M University has honored him with chairmanship of it's Department of Music and Drama, while he has continued to expand his skills as a concert pianist.  He will appear as soloist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra in famed Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in 2002 performing the Brahms First Piano Concerto.

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