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Jones, Sheppard and Tanton Honored at CISD

Ludonna Smithers
/
Commerce ISD

COMMERCE - Three former Commerce ISD administrators were recognized for their service to the district by being inducted into the Commerce ISD Hall of Honor.

Buddy Jones, Sue Sheppard and Norris Tanton, represented by his daughter, Ruth Cherry, attended the induction luncheon along with family and friends. Other events included attending the high school pep rally and serving as honorary captains at the homecoming football game.

Buddy Jones was first a student at Commerce High School serving as the captain of the district-winning 1960 football team.  After teaching in Richardson, he and his wife Sarah, moved home where he taught math. He was principal at four different campuses before retiring as principal of A. C. Williams Elementary School.

Sue Sheppard was teacher for many of her 26 years as an educator, but it was her efforts as an administrator to improve Norris School facilities that make her notable and worthy of her Hall of Honor distinction. During her time at Norris, she pushed for and succeeded in getting the school renovated including refurbishing the library, adding a new cafeteria and air conditioning and exterior improvements.

Norris Tanton was superintendent of CISD from 1962 to 1980, tenure rare for today’s school superintendents. He left CHS early to join the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Pearl Habor when the Japanese attacked. He was awarded his high school diploma posthumously during the Hall of Honor induction ceremony. During his tenure as superintendent, he led the smooth integration of Commerce schools which were absent the turmoil evidenced by other communities.

Previous inductees include Harry Champion, Emmett Day Sr., Dr. Jack Pirkey, June Dunn, Alvis Alderman, Ann Champion, Bill Fuhrmeister, Mary Hendrix, Loretta Kibler and Janet Peek.

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