2025 Distinguished Alumni Honorees
2025 Distinguished Alumni Honorees, Gary P. Nunn, Cory T. Newsom and Brett Brock.
The 2025 Honorees were recommended by the Distinguished Alumni Recommendation Committee and selected by SPC President Dr. Robin Satterwhite.
Gary P. Nunn is a Texas Hall of Fame country music artist. After graduating from
high school in his hometown of Brownfield, Nunn attended Texas Tech University to
pursue an education in health sciences. His search for a particular chemistry course
led him to SPC, where he benefited from the smaller class sizes. He said having no
classes on Friday was another advantage that gave him the time to travel with his
band, the Sparkles.
Throughout his career, Nunn has performed in bands including the Shucks and the Lost Gonzo Band and has worked alongside famous musicians, such as Jerry Jeff Walker and Michael Martin Murphey. One of his most well-known songs, “London Homesick Blues,” was the theme for the PBS concert TV show Austin City Limits for nearly three decades.
In addition to being honored in the Texas Hall of Fame, Nunn was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame in Lubbock and recognized as the Ambassador of Texas Music by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Nunn continues to perform across the state and oversees his record label and song publishing companies.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to be recognized,” Nunn said regarding the SPC Distinguished Alumni Award. “Having been [at SPC] and to be recognized in this manner is one of the greatest honors I’ve ever had.”
Cory T. Newsom is a Levelland native who has worked in the banking industry since
he was 15 years old. He said attending SPC was an amazing opportunity that allowed
him to focus on his career.
While pursuing his business degrees at SPC and Texas Tech University, Newsom continued to work his way up in the banking industry. In 2008, he became president and CEO of City Bank. During his leadership, stock traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker of South Plains Financial Inc. in 2019.
City Bank has a history of supporting SPC, hosting and sponsoring the college’s annual fundraising events. In addition to his banking duties, Newsom serves on the SPC Foundation Board of Directors.
“I’m just so thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of South Plains College and how it played into the career I have today,” Newsom said. “It is an honor to be a part of something that has had such an impact.”
Brett Brock began his journey at SPC as a non-traditional student wanting to hone
his music skills in the studio. The Lubbock native said he would stay late in the
SPC sound technology facility, working with his peers and perfecting his craft.
Brock obtained an Associate of Applied Science in Sound Technology from SPC in 2011 and returned to the college in 2015 to complete a certification focusing on live sound. Even after his time at SPC, he
developed connections with faculty and his peers and began serving on the college’s Sound Technology Advisory Board.
Since completing his education at SPC, Brock has worked as a production and tour manager for Micky and the Motorcars, Sam Riggs and Jon Wolfe. His career has taken him across the country, working at music festivals including Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion and The MusicFest at Steamboat. Brock is a production and tour manager for Steve Earle and Robert Earl Keen
“I was really impressed with the level of expertise of the teachers. They all really cared,” Brock said regarding SPC. “My goal with [the Distinguished Alumni] honor that has been bestowed on me is to let people know about this great facility with great teachers.”
The Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award has been established at South Plains College to recognize and honor the noteworthy achievements of its former students. Recipients of this prestigious award are selected from a pool of nominations submitted to the Distinguished Alumni Awards Committee by the faculty and friends of South Plains College. Nominees for the award must be former students in which the College was a legitimate part of their educational career.
They must have worked at least 10 years in their chosen profession or have made significant contributions in their career if less than 10 years. Additionally, they must be recognized for outstanding contributions and achievements by colleagues or employers.
All nominations are screened by the Awards Committee which submits its award recommendations to the President of the College. The recommendations are affirmed by the South Plains College Board of Regents through an official resolution bestowing the award.
Click here to nominate someone
Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor
2025 Honorees
- Gary P. Nunn, (1966-1967), Texas Hall of Fame country music artist; Brownfield, TX
- Cory T. Newsom, (1985-1986), President and CEO, City Bank; Levelland, TX
- Brett Brock, (2009-2011, A.A.S), Production and Tour Manager; Lubbock, TX
2024 Honorees
- Vernon Norwood, (2011-2013, A.A.), Track and Field Sprinter and Two-Time Gold Medal Olympian, Baton Rouge, LA
- Leslie Valentine, (1984-1986 A.A.), Senior Regional Product Creation Director for Nike, Beaverton, OR
2023 Honorees
- Charles "Bo" Outlaw, (1989-1991, A.S.), retired NBA power forward/center; Community Ambassador, Orlando Magic; Orlando, FL
- John Stoll, (1995-1997. A.S.), Broadcast and Multimedia Supervisor, NASA; Houston, TX
- Heath Wright, (1992-1993, A.A.) Country Music Recording Artist; Vain, OK
2022 Honorees
- Kevin Dane, (1989-1991, A.S.), Vice President of Infrastructure Product Quality at Dell Technologies; Cedar Park, TX
- Stephanie Lynn Smith, (2009-2011, A.S.), SPC Alumni Coordinator; Levelland, TX
2021 Honorees
- Sgt. Joshua Bartlett, (2010-2012, A.A.S.), Sergeant and Assistant SWAT Commander, Lubbock’s Sheriff’s Office; Shallowater, TX
- John Duff, (2007-2009, A.S.), Executive Vice President, National Sorghum Producers, and United Sorghum Checkoff Program; Lubbock, TX
- Derrell Edwards, (2010-2012, A.A.), NASCAR Professional – Jackman, Joe Gibbs Racing; Denver, NC
2020 Honorees
- Terry Hill, (1978-1980, A.A.S.), CEO, Maroon Group; Founder, Apex Distribution Consulting; Redmond, WA
- Dereesa Reid, (1979-1981, A.S.) Administrator, Shriners Hospital for Children; Vancouver, WA
2019 Honorees
- Kathy Hutchinson, (1977-1979, A.A.S.) Director of Special Education, South Plains Educational Coop; Levelland, TX
- Brett Taylor, (1978-1980, A.S.) Owner and Founder of Taylor Companies; Dallas, TX
2018 Honoree
- Rear Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, M.D., (1986-1988, A.S.) Physician to the President of the United States; Silver Spring, Maryland
2017 Honorees
- Kenneth Alan Foster, (1986-1988, A.S.) Technical Assurance Program Manager, Global Projects, LyondellBasell Chemical Corporation; Brenham, Texas
- Jennifer Galey, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, (2004, Vocational Nursing Certificate) Family Nurse Practitioner, Lamb Healthcare Family Medicine; Lubbock, TX
2016 Honorees
- Deborah A. Alsup, (1983-1985, A.A.S.) Senior Director of Sales, Team Leader, Paris Presents, Inc.; Bentonville, Arkansas
- Elijah D. Williams, (1996-1999, A.S.) North America Sales Manager, Tweel Technologies; Simpsonville, South Carolina
2013 Honorees
- Brian Butcher,(2003-2004), Spacecraft Software Engineer, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
- Robin Satterwhite, MBA, ED.D., FACHE, (1988-1990, A.S.), Dean and Professor, Texas Tech University Health
Sciencess Center, Lubbock, Texas
- Jamie K. Roney,BSN, BSHCM, RN, CCRN, (1990-1991; 1992-1994, Certificate of Proficiency, Vocational Nursing; A.S.), Nurse Specialist, Sepsis Coordinator, Covenant Health System, Lubbock, Texas
- Dennis Patton, (1960-1962 A.S.), Posthumous Award, SPC Professor, Co-owner of Chem Tech Services, served on the SPC Board of Regents, Levelland, Texas
2008 Honorees
- Ronald K. Baccus, (1988-1990, A.S.), Structures Subsystems Manager, Orion Crew Module Project, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
- Leann Kuenstler Ellis, Ed.D., (1977-1979, A.A.), Vice President for Academic Affairs, Butler Community College, El Dorado, Kansas
- Dan M. Harris, Jr. (1987-1989, A.A.), Assistant Chief Patrol Agent, United States Border Patrol, Marfa (Texas) Section, Marfa, Texas
- Steven M. Presley, Ph.D. (1978-1980, A.S.), Associate Professor and Research Coordinator, Institute for Environmental and Human Health, Adm. E.R. Zumwalt, Jr. National Program for Countermeasures to Biological and Chemical Threats, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
- The Honorable David A. Swinford, (1959-1961, A.S.), Member, Texas House of Representatives, District 87, and principal owner of Ag-Plus Consulting, Dumas, Texas
1998 Honorees
- C. Donald Combs, Ph.D., (1970-71, A.A.), Vice President for Planning and Program Development, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Va.
- H. David Cook, M.D., (1967-69, A.A.), partner and physician in the Dallas Obstetrical Gynecological Association, Dallas, Texas
- Gary W. Owen (1974-76), A.S., Vice President of Engineering Services, Cliffs Drilling Company, Houston, Texas
- Robby Timberlake, R.Ph. (1966-68, A.A.), registered pharmacist and partner in Baggett Pharmacy, Levelland, Texas.
1995 Honorees
- Bill M. Balch, M.D., (1973-75, A.S.), Doctor of Internal Medicine, private practice, Levelland, Texas.
- *Ruanna Myers Gossett, D.V.M. (1976-78, A.S.), Postdoctoral Research Associate, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas
- S. Kent Harrison, Ph.D., (1975-77, A.S.) Associate Professor of Agronomy, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
- Sally Rowell Snow, B.S.N., R.N., (1969-71, A.S.), Trauma Services Coordinator, Cook-Fort Worth Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas
- Thomas R. Watkins, D.D.S., (1972-73, A.S.), Clinical Associate Professor, University of Texas Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry, San Antonio, Texas.
1990 Honorees
- Michael Balch, M.D. (1968-70), Doctor of Internal Medicine, private practice, Levelland, Texas.
- *Don Boedeker, (1969-71, A.S.), Quality Assurance Engineer, U.S. Navy Weapons Base, Ridgecrest, Calif.
- *Larry McVay, (1958-67, A.S.), Vice President and General Manager of Amoco Pipeline Co., Chicago, Ill.
- David R. Stanley, (1958-60, A.A., deceased), former Professor of Government, South Plains College, Levelland, Texas.
- *Royce W. Waltrip II, Ph.D., (1972-74, A.S.), Research Psychiatrist, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
- *William R. Wheeler, (1965-67, A.S.), Engineering Consultant and Partner, Analysis and Design Applications, Co., Ltd., Bayshore, N.Y.
1987 Honorees
- *Dennis Deel, (1965-67, A.A., deceased), Manager, Analytical Mechanics Division, Martin-Marietta Corp., New Orleans
- *Leslie Lawrence, (1959-61), Professor of Art, Grossmont College, El Cajon, Calif., noted ceramic artist
- Thomas Spencer, Jr., Ph.D., (1958-59), President of Garland County Community College, Hot Springs, Ark.
- Terry Tubb, M.D., (1960-62, A.A.), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Midland, Texas
- Kenneth Turner, Ph.D., (1965-67,A.A., deceased), Curator of No Man's Land Museum, Goodwell, Okla., noted forensic anthropologist.
*Position or occupation listed here is as of time of award.
