Page 6 - Veterans' Issue

Small Town People

Big Time Influence

By Larry Dozier

Who would have thought? One small town not athletics, many of the TVCC football players
only has a successful community college, but have been able to earn college scholarships to
also leads an entire community college system, play at Division 1 & 2 universities, while others
stretching its influence far outside of its city have had successful professional careers.
borders. Amazing! This small town college There have been many great men and women who
has developed a unique and successful have played a significant role in the uncommon
combination of academics and athletics success of HCJC/TVCC. I’m just going
that has been rarely achieved. From the to honor a few of them. According to
start, it has recruited top athletes, while the official City of Athens website,
providing them with academic excellence. E. J. Thompson, County Clerk of
They have won 10 National Titles in Henderson County is credited with
Cheerleading, 8 in Women’s Basketball and being the first citizen of Athens.
2 in Football. In academics for 2016, this college However, Mrs. Dull Averiette gave Athens its
was ranked No. 9 in the State of Texas as one name in honor of the ancient city of Greece
of the best community colleges in Texas. Do
you know the name of this small town
college? It’s Athens’ very own - TVCC !
In 2016, the TVCC Women’s
Basketball Team played in the
National Championship Game,
The Cheerleaders won the National
Championship and the Men’s Football
Team won their bowl game, finishing
at #3 in the country. And, head coach
Brad Smiley was named the SWJCFC
Conference Coach of the Year. Because
of Coach Smiley and his coaching
staff’s dedication to academics and

6 NOVEMBER 2017 FEATURE