October 20, 2014 - The Center High School Alumni Association proudly announces the 2014 Hall of Honor Award recipients to be Retha Renee Swindell and J.W. (Jim) Braden. The recipients will be honored at the Center HS Annual Alumni Association Meeting on Saturday, October 25th starting at 9am at the John D. Windham Civic Center. Each will be recognized for their achievements and will be presented a Hall of Honor Award. All Center HS Alumni are invited to attend and represent their graduating class.
Retha Renee Swindell
Retha Renee Swindell attended Center HS and graduated 4th in her class in 1975. During her high school career, she earned 1st team All District, All Regional, and All State in basketball and track both her junior and senior years. She was a member of the National Honor Society 2 years and Who's Who 4 years. In 1974, Swindell set a National and State record in Triple Jump - 39 feet, 2 3/4 inches which held for 3 years. She was awarded the R.E. Malone Award for Outstanding Athlete her senior year. She was awarded a prestigious Texas Achievement Scholarship to attend the University of Texas, a 4-year full ride, based on her academic achievements.
Swindell attended the UT of Austin from 1975 - 1979. During her sophomore year at UT, tragedy struck when her mother was killed in an auto accident. During this difficult time, Swindell continued her education as well as filling an emotional and maternal role for her siblings. After the accident, two teachers from Center ISD, Helen and Judy Bowers, gave Swindell a home base.
Swindell's achievements at UT include:
- USA / International Basketball Experience: 1978 USA Basketball Select Team. They traveled to Korea, Hong Kong, China, and Japan.
- College Basketball Honors: NWIT All-American (1977-78), No. 7 AIAW national all-time rebounding (1,759), one of only five players in AIAW history to score over 1,700 points and collect over 1,700 rebounds, and 2001 University of Texas Women's Athletics Hall of Honor Inductee.
- In the Texas Record Book: only player in Texas history to score 1,500+ points (1,795) and collect 1,500-plus rebounds (1,759), 1st, career rebounding (1,759), 2nd, career games played (151), 6th, career field goals made (770), 7th, career scoring (1,795), 1st, single season rebounds (697), 1st, single person rebound average (15.5 rpg), holds Texas single game record for rebounds (25), four-time season rebounding leader (1975-1979), and holds season records for most rebounds by a sophomore (697) and junior (466).
She graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. Swindell was a UT 2001 Hall of Honor Inductee and in 2008 was presented a "T" Ring by Jody Conradt, head basketball coach at UT beginning Swindell's sophomore year. Female Athletees honored with a "T" Ring must have finished their athletic elibiblity at UT, have completed their degree, and been inducted into the Hall of Honor.
After graduating from UT, Swindell played professional basketball with the Chicago Hustle and Dallas Diamonds. She has taught and coached high school basketball in Tyler, Pineland, and Baytown, Texas. She coached at Baytown for 16 years. She has coached 4 district champions, two regional tournament finalists, and twice been named district coach of the year. Among her star prep pupils is Teresa Weatherspoon who was an all-pro with the WNBA New York Liberty and is currently head coach at Louisana Tech in Ruston.
A recent achievement is, in 2010, Swindell was selected to be featured in the University Co-op UFCU Legends Park which features legendary University of Texas men and women who have won national awards and/or have had their numbers retired. Of the 26 men and 26 women featured, Retha Swindell was selected to be among those honored with her plaque displaying - First African-American woman to play basketball at UT, member of the 1978 US Select Basketball Team, 1977-78 Women's NIT All American.
J.W. (Jim) Braden
(Submitted by Ann Harmon)
J.W. (Jim) Braden is a 1944 Graduate of Center High School. After college he worked in the Oil and Gas industry which took him to places around the world before retiring and returning to Center, Texas. His most recent achievement is being selected as a 2014 Center Alumni Association Hall of Honor recipient.
Braden's achievements:
- 2014 - Center Alumni Association Hall of Honor Award to J.W. (Jim) Braden
- 1949 to 1983 - Employed by the Gulf Oil for 34 1/2 years. During that period, he held positions in nine different locations in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
- For the past twenty-nine years, he has been a partner in Geotex Properties, a land investment and management firm with offices in Houston, TX and Louden, TN.
- 1948 - Graduated from Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX, with B.S. degree in Business Management and Economics
- 1946 - Graduated from Lon Morris Junior College, Jacksonville, TX
- 1944 - Graduated from Center High School
He served three years on the Board of Directors of the Ft. Worth YMCA and many years of service to the Shriners. He received various civic awards, including two Merit Awards from the Greater Houston United Way, an award of appreciation from the Division of Professional Development at Houston Baptist University and was named “Outstanding Boss” by the Aliet Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Professionally, he was active in the Petroleum Accountants Society of Texas and Oklahoma, including one year as the President of the Midland, Texas chapter. He held offices in the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Administrative Management Society in Ft. Worth and Houston TX, Pittsburgh, PA, Atlanta, GA and London, England.
Upon retirement from the Gulf, J.W. and his wife, the former Edna Gay of Atlanta, GA, returned to Center, where they have been active participants in the community life. He has served at the Secretary for the local chapter of Royal Arch Masons. In 1986, he received the “Outstanding Alumni Award” from Lon Morris College. In 1990, under the state program for Clean Highways, he adopted a two mile section of the Highway on 7 East near his home and was the winner of an award by the state which named him Texas #1 “Litter Gitter,” and placed plagues on each end of his two miles, designating him as such, together with being “Guest of Honor” at a banquet in Austin given by the Governor.
Throughout his career and even as a teenager, he was active in church, singing in choirs and serving the many different capacities. He has served on the Administrative Board and various commissions and committees of 8 Methodist Churches.
Today, he serves as usher and greeter at the First United Methodist Church in Center and sometimes sings at special events in the choir. He has performed with Barbershop and gospel quartets over his lifetime and has retained a lasting interest in drama, performing lead roles in the Pittsburgh, PA community theatre.
