September 17, 2017 (Photo album) - The Center Alumni Association inducted their two newest Hall of Honor recipients during the annual meeting held Saturday morning, September 16th at the John D. Windham Civic Center. Joy Ann Weaver Havran and Luke Motley III were both presented with plaques representing the honored distinction of being inducteed. They each expressed their appreciation and heartfelt thank you for being selected by their fellow alumni family for this distinction as well as gave appreciation to their family and friends for their support over the years.
Chris Watlington began the celebration by getting everyone in the Roughrider spirit by leading them in the school song and school fight song. A special addition to the fight song was a demonstration from a past Rider cheerleader, Meredith Motley Morris (Class of 1988), who performed the fight song cheer.
Mayor David Chadwick welcomed everyone and gave an update on the City of Center, "It is always fun when it is homecoming time in Center, Texas. We see old faces that still look young in their eyes, we see old faces with wrinkles on their face that we ignore because we still love each other so much. But it's a great time for family to be together and it is a great time for our family of school mates to be together and today there is certainly no exception to that."
"Most of you have driven around town and seen the changes that have happened since your days in school here and I honestly believe that I can stand here very proudly and say that it has been progressive change in things that have needed to be done and things that are being done and it is just the beginning for our community," continued Mayor Chadwick. He highlighted some of the changes including the latest addition to our park system which is Portacool Park and it is being used constantly. Chadwick also spoke about infastructure improvements with the water and sewer system which is always a need and the continuance of the sidewalk program with the latest running down Neuville Street and Martin Luther King Drive.
He mentioned the relocation of Windham Ivan Smith from the downtown area to the Wulf Shopping Center at the north end of town, "This will be the largest store in our Ivan Smith family. It will be a regional store. It will be a hub for all the East Texas stores to not only be a warehouse it seems, it will be a show place for them to display their merchandise." Chadwick them mentioned the reopening of the Payne and Payne store location by Josh and Lacy Payne and it is called Home and Suchlike. Another great additon to the downtown area mentioned was the relocation of Center Floral which is owned by Elizabeth Watlington Pinkston who is also a Center graduate.
Chadwick spoke about the new large structure being built on Hurst Street which will be the new location of First United Pentecostal Church once it is finished.
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