Two Van Alstyne Teachers Honored (Page 1) Two Van Alstyne teachers, one active and one retired, were honored by the fellowship of Mantua Masonic Lodge No. 209 this week with the Teacher's Lamar Medal. Sherman Taylor, retired Van Alstyne Superintendent, and Nancy Weatherley, retired school teacher turned active, were this year's Lamar Medal recipients. The Masonic Lodge membership was called to order by Grand Master of the lodge, Lee Hershey, and then District Deputy Grand Master, Richie Bell, welcomed guest and described the principles behind the Teacher's Lamar Medal before bestowing it upon the two candidates, Taylor and Weatherley. Bell told the membership and guests that over the past decade, in the lodges, scholarship interviews with graduating high school seniors were always asked to name his or her favorite teacher. "We were amazed at how many said your (Weatherley's) name and how many said they... Van Alstyne: Two Teachers Honored (Page 2) from Page A1 had been borderline students and Nancy Weatherley put them over the edge," Bell said. "In talking to some of these students and listening to their remarks, they all said she was a tough one, but fair." Weatherley seems to be truly taken by surprise after receiving her award. "It's overwhelming," she said. "I don't know what to say. I know I expect a lot and I'm strict... This is a great honor." About Taylor, Bell said he always used a lot of common sense and was fair. "There are very few things a person remember about his elementary years, but I remember when he (Taylor) came," Bell said. He continued by saying that Taylor had been a great superintendent for the school system of Val Alstyne. "I have loved living in Van Alstyne and I don't plan to leave her until the Lord takes me," Taylor said. "I appreciate the honor that has been bestowed upon me this evening." With awards out of the way someone shouted, "Let's cut the cake," and the meeting was adjourned for refreshments. The Lamar Medal is named for Maribeau Bounaparte Lamar; who was a Mason and is known as the "Father of Texas Education" because of his advocacy for establishing a school system in Texas. Lamar was instrumental in the Battle at San Jacinto as a member of the Texas Army in 1836. He succeeded Sam Houston as President of the Republic of Texas and one step in his plans for a greater Texas included a proposal to establish a system of education endowed by public lands. It resulted in the act of January 26, 1839 which set aside land for public school and two universities. "A cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy," said Lamar during one of his messages to Congress and this later became the motto of the University of Texas. (Undated, Sherman Denison Herald Democrat) (Picture of Nancy Weatherley and Sherman Taylor: Nancy Weatherley congratulates Sherman Taylor after they both received the Teacher's Lamar Medal from Masonic Lodge # 209 this week in Van Alstyne.)