September 15, 2026 - The Center High School Alumni Association is proud to announce the 2026 Hall of Honor recipient is Leigh Rogers Porterfield, Class of ’76. She was Class Secretary and in the decades since graduation, she has voluntarily kept track of classmates, maintaining a database of pertinent information and informing them of important events.
Leigh received a Degree in Human Sciences from Stephen F. Austin State University where she was Awarded the Interior Design Student of the Year. Her career as an Architectural Designer is evidenced by scores of homes, businesses and churches in our region. She helped organize the original Shelby County War on Drugs, the first “Shelby County Day” during the Texas Legislative session and the Enviro-Kids mural project in downtown Center. When her children were young, she served as PTA President, Cub Scout Den Leader and taught Children’s Choir and Mission Friends at First Baptist Church where she is still an active member.
Through the decades she has served her church holding various teaching, administrative and technical roles; built stage props, sewed costumes, acted and sung in numerous choir productions; is still an active member of the Choir and Praise Team; serves as President of the Senior Adult Ministry Golden Harvest Club; serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the Women’s Ministry, maintaining the database and designing and producing all the written materials for their annual Joy Seekers Women’s Conference.
She has lent her singing voice to numerous VFW, civic and church functions.
She was a member of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2015 and served a 3-year term on the Chamber Board of Directors. She designed many of the Chamber event logos still in use today.
For 15 years she has served the City of Center on the City Council and as Mayor Pro Tem for the last 10 of those years. She is also the Secretary of the Center Economic Development Corporation for Streets and a member of the Center Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. She served for many years as the City’s DETCOG Representative.
For nearly 30 years she has served as the Shelby County Republican Party Chairman, overseeing Primary Elections and other business of the Party and currently serves as a Regional Director for the Texas Republican County Chairmen's Association. Leigh even served a season as the Center Roughrider Blimp Captain.
She has thoroughly enjoyed serving in every role. Her commitment to her community is reflective of her life verse “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3: 23-24
Leigh is married to Clint Porterfield (’75) and they have two sons, Peyton (‘04) and Phillip (’06).
The Center High School Alumni Hall of Honor recipient will be recognized during this year's Homecoming festivities that will begin on Friday, October 9th. The Hall of Honor Award will be presented during the Annual Alumni Meeting on Saturday, October 10th at 10am.
