SPC to honor three 2025 Distinguished Alumni

South Plains College will recognize Gary P. Nunn, Cory T. Newsom and Brett Brock with the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award for their noteworthy career achievements. Established in 1987, the award honors outstanding alumni who have also made significant contributions to their community.

Nunn is a Texas Hall of Fame country music artist, Newsom serves as president and CEO of City Bank and Brock is a production and tour manager for Steve Earle and Robert Earl Keen. The public is invited to honor the recipients at a come-and-go presidential reception at 10 a.m. on Nov. 14 in the Wilburn and Helen Wheeler Science Center on the SPC Levelland campus.

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.”

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.”

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.

“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.”

Visit https://www.southplainscollege.edu/alumni-giving/alumni-friends/distinguishedalumni.php to learn more about the Distinguished Alumni Award. For information about supporting SPC students, contact the SPC Development Office at 806-716-2019 or sgoldie@southplainscollege.edu.