Four slated for PJC Academic Hall of Honor induction

Published or Revised January 13, 2017

Paris Junior College will add four deserving alumni to the Academic Hall of Honor Wall during Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 2:30 p.m. The ceremonies are open to the public in the McLemore Student Center Ballroom. “As part of the 2016 activities, we are honored to induct four exceptional alumni to the Academic Wall,” said Derald Bulls, Director of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs. “This designation began in 1995 with the induction of seventeen former students, instructors, friends and supporters of PJC. The Academic Hall of Honor was founded for the purpose of recognizing those persons who have so loyally supported PJC through the years and contributed to its success.” Inductees include Capt. Jack Ashmore, USN, Retired, Class of 1949; Dr. Claude Caffee, Class of 1962; R. Keith Drummond, Class of 1954; and Jonathan Jordan, Class of 1996. J.K. “Jack” Ashmore, entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program upon graduation from PJC and completed the naval flight program, receiving his wings in 1951. As a PJC student, he was the first recipient of a Rotary Club scholarship and played on the football team until sidelined by injury. The avid athlete stepped in as women’s basketball coach to fill an opening for the remainder of the season. During the Korean War, Ashmore flew two tours aboard the aircraft carriers U.S.S. Sicily and U.S.S. Rendova in the Sea of Japan. He served as air operations officer aboard the U.S.S. Princeton as well as a two-year tour of duty on the Admiral’s Staff in the Philippines and stints in Monterey, Calif., and Washington, D.C. When the Vietnam War broke out, he was assigned to Attack Squadron 22 as the executive officer and later took command of the squadron. In his career, Ashmore recorded three combat tours, flying 254 combat missions. At the conclusion of the Vietnam War, he was selected for the Naval War College and George Washington University, receiving his master’s degree in international affairs. His final assignment was with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon, briefing the President’s staff and others daily. Among awards received, Ashmore was presented two Distinguished Flying Crosses, Silver Leaf for Gallantry in Action, Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, 14 Air Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and numerous campaign and service ribbons. Upon retirement, he taught management, economics, and business psychology at Bee Co. College, returning to Paris upon his retirement. He currently serves as treasurer of the PJC Alumni & Friends Association Board and has been instrumental in creating a military pilot’s museum at Cox Field, featuring many PJC alumni. Ashmore still enjoys flying as a hobby and does a great deal of humanitarian flying for worthwhile causes. He and wife Ruth live in Reno, Texas. Claude Caffee retired in 2008 as the Vice President, Student Development at Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch, Texas, part of the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD). He and wife, Barbara, relocated back to his hometown of Honey Grove and is active in many worthwhile civic organizations, including currently serving as Mayor of Honey Grove. As a student at PJC, Caffee was involved in news gathering and reporting for the student newspaper, The Bat. He took French and photography, and was involved in several sports. A product of West Lamar Schools, Caffee received his B.S., M.Ed. and Ed. D., all from East Texas State University, now Texas A&M University-Commerce. He went on to earn a Doctorate of English from the University of North Texas. His professional career included serving as a professor and counselor at Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Ark. In 1982 he started at Brookhaven College as a faculty counselor, and joined the Communications Division as a speech communications professor in 1989. He authored a text book used for Speech Communications. He has been honored by his peers and named the recipient of the Jean Sharon Griffith Student Development Leadership Award from the Dallas County Community Colleges District and was selected by the Texas Speech Communication Association as Educator of the Year. Caffee also is a Licensed Professional Counselor. He and his wife have two sons and six grandchildren. Robert Keith Drummond is a former partner in the law firm of Strasburger and Price, LLP. In an email several years ago to the College, he said, “I love PJC and it was a fine place for me after playing second team my last year at Mt. Vernon High School. But PJC fed me well and Coach (Ernest) Hawkins saw my potential and thus I got to leave there and play football for The University of Tennessee.” Drummond earned his BS from the University of Tennessee and LLB from the University of Texas College of Law. Between Tennessee and Texas, Drummond served in the U.S. Army. Following law school, his specialization as a trial lawyer included an extensive practice in business and intellectual property litigation. He first joined the firm in 1961 when it was named Strasburger, Price, Kelton, Miller and Martin. At that time, Drummond was the firm’s 22nd lawyer. Today the firm has offices in nine cities across the United States with over 220 attorneys on staff. Moving through the ranks to head the General Litigation Division, Drummond was referred to as the “High Sheriff” by fellow partners. His football training and military service taught him teamwork and courage. He mentored many young lawyers and shared his passion. He was the first, and long-standing, member of the firm’s policy committee and believe in a client first process. Drummond’s success in the courtroom earned him recognition as a fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. Because of his passion to impart his knowledge to new lawyers, the firm annually awards the Outstanding New Attorney award in his honor. He and his wife, Suzanne, now live in Nashville, Tenn. He has two daughters, Tracy Drummond and Paige Drummond Brody. Jonathan Jordan currently serves as the Senior Staff Consultant for Engineering Systems, Inc. (ESI) and is based out of the Dallas office. His career path at PJC began in 1994 when he enrolled in the HVAC/R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) program. He earned his AAS in 1996 and in 1998 he completed the requirements for another AAS degree in engineering, all the time maintain exceptional grades as a member of the national honor society for junior colleges, Phi Theta Kappa. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas. A Lamar County native, Jordan has worked for Dell as a forensic electrical engineer and as a consulting engineer for Goodson Engineering. He joined ESI in January 2013 and is a Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) and a certified fire and explosion investigator. While working on his engineering AAS at PJC, he also worked as an HVAC/R lab instructor for the College. He is involved with the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Product Safety Engineering Society and numerous professional organizations. Currently he serves as the vice chair of forensics and failure analysis technical committee for IEEE PSES. Jordan has had several technical publications and two patents to his credit. He and his wife, Kelly, have two sons and live in McKinney. A reception honoring Ashmore, Caffee, Drummond and Jordan will be held following the induction ceremonies. Residents from throughout the community are invited to share in this special activity. For more information, contact Derald Bulls at dbulls@parisjc.edu or 903-782-0276.