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Distinguished Service Award

Paris Junior College awards the coveted Distinguished Service Award to a worthy student at the spring graduation ceremony each year. This award has an interesting history which few of our students realize today . Our late President Emeritus, Louis B. Williams, was the first recipient of this award in 1935, but Sam Weiss, a prominent Paris business man and civic leader, instigated the award and donated it to the college.

Weiss came to Paris in 1927 and generated the enthusiasm necessary for the establishment of a Boys’ Club. He also served the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for many years and was widely active in the American Legion. He initiated the organization of a Paris, Texas, unit of the Salvation Army and promoted the first program in Texas for a county-wide modern highway system for his home county. His interest in highways resulted in the development of an interstate through Paris which connects the Texas Gulf Coast with major cities from Chicago to New York.

In 1967, Weiss himself was awarded the “DSA” by Mrs. Paul Landers, the 1966 recipient, and Louis B. Williams, the first recipient. Henry Braswell, also a former recipient, made the presentation.

Honoring Weiss that day were these former recipients of the award: Miss Pat Webb, Mrs. Wallace Finfrock, Mrs. Gary Griffith John, Henry Braswell, Dr. Harold Hunt, Mrs. Paul Landers, Mrs. Dudley Hughes, Jr., Nancy Lenoir, the Rev. Mike Walker, Mrs. Troy Owens, Mrs. O. B. Howard, Judge and Mrs. Albert S. Broadfoot representing their late son Albert S. Broadfoot, Jr., Louis B. Williams, Weldon Strain, Mrs. R. C. McWherter, Dickson House, Fred Allen, Mrs. Larry Walker, and Mrs. Morrison George.

All distinguished alumnae, but one bears note. Mrs. Wallace Finfrock (1953 recipient) is Mary Margaret McLemore, the daughter of the late Dr. J. R. McLemore, president of Paris Junior College. Dr. McLemore is credited with guiding PJC successfully through the Great Depression and the Second World War at great personal sacrifice to himself. Such was his love for this college. He was known for encouraging financially suffering students to stay in school and even for finding the means for them to do so. Thanks to Dr. Mac, as he was called, and Sam Weiss, there is still a Paris Junior College and there are still talented, hard-working students receiving the DSA every spring and going forth to successful careers.

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