This week, the TJC Board of Trustees expressed appreciation to retiring board member John Hills for his 21 years of service, bestowing upon him the title of Trustee Emeritus.
“This is the College’s inaugural Trustee Emeritus title,” TJC President and CEO Dr. Juan E. Mejia said. “The entire College community extends sincere appreciation to Mr. Hills for his legacy of leadership.”
Hills shares a long history with TJC, as a student, an alumnus and a member of the board. He earned an associate degree from TJC in 1970 before earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 1972.
He and his wife, Janet, have been longtime supporters of TJC and the Tyler community. He was appointed to the TJC board on Aug. 28, 2003, and was officially elected on May 15, 2004. Hills is also a past president of the board.
As part of his remarks, Hills said, “It has been a great 21 years, and I am grateful to TJC for opening the doors that led to my lifetime career.”
Amy McCullough (far right), presiding judge for the City of Tyler Municipal Court and a TJC alumna, administers the oaths of office to TJC trustees (from left) Mike Coker, Dr. Paul Latta and Lonny Uzzell. The trustees are pictured with their spouses, Jane Hartley Coker, Kay Latta and Kelley Uzzell.
Dr. Paul Latta, of Latta Family Dentistry, was sworn in as the newest trustee. A TJC alumnus, Latta has been involved with the College for many years, as a member of the TJC Foundation Board and the TJC Foundation Golf Tournament Steering Committee.
Mike Coker and Lonny Uzzell were also sworn in to continue their leadership roles on the board. Both have also served as board president in the past.
Amy McCullough, presiding judge for the City of Tyler Municipal Court and a TJC alumna, administered the oaths of office to Coker, Latta and Uzzell.
Upon reconvening after the oaths, the TJC board elected officers for the coming two-year term, with David Hudson elected president; Uzzell, first vice president; and Clint Roxburgh, second vice president.
Rounding out the TJC board are: Rohn Boone, Mike Coker, Ann W. Brookshire, Dr. Paul Latta, Dr. Joe Prud’homme and Peggy Wagstaff Smith.
TJC President and CEO Dr. Juan E. Mejia (left) presents a commemorative gavel to Peggy Wagstaff Smith, outgoing president of the TJC Board of Trustees.
Mejia thanked Smith for her service as board president and highlighted a few of her numerous accomplishments during her tenure. She was presented with a commemorative gavel on behalf of the institution.
“It has been an honor to work with someone who is very connected to the comprehensive mission of the College, and we are all most fortunate to have a Board of Trustees that is focused on the success of our students and communities,” he said.
Smith said, “I believe that it is easier to sit in this chair when you have great people around you. It has been a great honor and a privilege for me to serve in this position. I attended Tyler Junior College, I worked for a period of time at the College, and I have been on the Board for a number of years. I extend appreciation to the faculty and staff and to my colleagues on the board, and it all comes together when we get to see our students graduate and go on to great things. What a privilege!”