Corsicana Daily Sun, Corsicana, Texas

Latest News

Related Photos

Discussion

January 23, 2009

Ty’s surprise

Whorton receives Fannie Mae Vernon Award at banquet

By Deanna Brown

Life in a small town was celebrated Thursday evening at the 61st annual Kerens Chamber of Commerce banquet.

Held at the Kerens Ex-Students Association, the crowd feasted on pork loin with a spinach cream sauce and a lovely spinach salad, perhaps in honor of the keynote speaker being from the “Spinach Capital” of the world, Crystal City. Max Stalling is a singer/songwriter who extols the value of small towns through lyrics.

Jim Nash of The Ranch 106.9 was emcee for the event, and introduced Stalling as “an A&M; graduate who used to work as a scientist developing snack foods.”

Stalling now has 10 years as a working musician/songwriter, has put out five CDs, and has a great band and loyal fan following.

“I grew up in Zavala County,” Stalling said. “The big news in the local paper was when the first baby of the new year was born ... on Jan. 14.

“The only perspective I can give you is my own ... I feel very fortunate having grown up in a small town.”

After graduating from Texas A&M; University, Stalling followed the corporate world to Dallas, and also spent time in small-town Bullard. His band has played everything from a Persian wedding to a pigeon shoot, and including a poultry auction.

“Now I write songs for a living, and most seem to be based from standing in the middle of Crystal City,” he said.

On Thursday, Stalling performed two songs he wrote, both about life in small towns.

“We have a strong oral tradition in our family,” he said. “Put another way, we like to visit ... Growing up, you have to use your imagination somewhat to find things to do. We just got Internet in Crystal City ... two weeks ago. We all have to take turns using it.

“I am pleased to see that small town America is still working, still getting together and doing stuff like this. God bless you, Kerens, Texas.”

Stalling was followed by Kerens High School principal David Tyson, who talked about what fine students there are at KHS. Three students in particular stood out, though there were many more, but Susan Greenwell, Shawnee McClure, and Kirby Jackson all have lengthy high school accomplishments. The Student of the Year award was given to Shawnee McClure.

Kerens’ Citizen of the Year was awarded to Janie Quinn, who has served on nearly every organization in Kerens, and been at the Kerens bank for over 30 years. The award was greeted with enthusiastic applause and whistling.

In what was probably the biggest surprise of the evening, the Fannie Mae Vernon Award was given to Tennyson Whorton, who showed true astonishment. Whorton believed he was waylaid from his trip to Hawaii to visit his daughter so he could “roast” his friend Charles “Dink” Reese.

Whorton grew up in Kerens, chopping cotton in the fields, playing football in high school and college, and is still an avid Kerens Bobcats fan. He has traveled in the United States, Europe and the near east, earned degrees from SMU, Duke and Boston College, and had several careers. Whorton served as a minister in Evant and Joshua, was a reporter for the Houston Post, and did various advertising executive jobs.

He returned to Kerens in his retirement years, making frequent trips to Hawaii to visit daughters Vicki and Katherine and grandchildren David and Katie. Though Katherine and her family recently relocated to Houston, Whorton still makes the Hawaii trip.

He has been a contributor to Explore ... /exp magazine since its inception, writing columns and relating tales about Kerens from the past, as well as promoting local businesses and events, such as the Cotton Harvest Festival.

“I’ve enjoyed writing again,” Whorton said. “It’s a great outlet for me. And I love my hometown of Kerens. This is truly an honor.”

—————

Deanna Brown may be contacted via e-mail at deanna@corsicanadailysun.com

Text Only
Latest News
  • 2-8 Council2.jpg Council hears from shelter supporters

    An item not even on the agenda drew the most attention and most time at Tuesday’ Corsicana City Council meeting, as supporters of a new animal shelter spoke out during a public forum time.

    February 7, 2012 2 Photos

  • 2-8 lady welder flamingo.jpg ‘That lady welder’

    Diane Billingsley first fell in love with metal working as a 7-year-old when her parents took her to see a blacksmith’s shop.

    February 7, 2012 2 Photos

  • Job Fair opens doors

    Job seekers of all ages and experience levels will want to attend the Navarro County Job Fair slated for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Navarro College.

    February 7, 2012

  • P&Z tackles wells

    Drilling within 600 feet of a subdivision will be the topic of both an open and closed meeting of the Navarro County Lake Planning and Zoning Commission, scheduled to meet in regular session at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Navarro County Courthouse.

    February 7, 2012

  • Local Beat for 2/8/12

    A listing of meetings and events of interest throughout Navarro County.

    February 7, 2012

  • 2-8 council1.jpg Shelter supporters speak out

    Supporters of a public vote on a bond to pay for a new animal shelter in Corsicana turned out in numbers Tuesday to speak at the Corsicana City Council meeting.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Corsicana Government Center Dance hall appeal before council

    The Corsicana City Council will hear an appeal  of a denied dance hall permit application when it meets in regular session at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
    Council members are scheduled to meet in a work session at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Government Center conference room, before the regular agenda meeting starting at 6 p.m.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • austinforweb.jpg Texas primary date in doubt after deal talks stall

    Texas is all but certain to have an even later say in choosing the Republican presidential nominee after what at first looked like a breakthrough deal in a bitter dispute over redistricting maps ended with wide rejection of the proposal.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-7 CISD Kids.jpg CISD quartet out to win cuisine competition

    They’ve been at it for months.
    Just enough of this, just enough of that, cooked “just so.”
    For four teens from Corsicana High School, Tuesday holds a special thrill for them as they compete in the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association’s  ProStart Culinary Competition at Arlington Convention Center.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-7 Gander Deer.jpg Gander Mountain now home to small deer population

    When Gander Mountain opened in August of 2004, it did so with an outdoor ATV track, giving potential buyers an avenue, of sorts, to test models out. The last several years, that patch of grass has been barren.
    Not anymore.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo