Philanthropy in Cameron
Updated review of philanthropic
activity in Cameron and Milam County--
DRAYTON McLANE JR., MIKE PERRIN, HARRY PERRIN, AND
WAYNE FISHER provided a private boost to the publicly
funded construction of the new Yoe High School dedicated in
September, 2004. Gov. Rick Perry declared it is one of the
finest high schools in the nation. The one-story structure
dwarfs the familiar 1921 C. H. Yoe High School as it spreads
out across the large two-block campus once occupied by the
high school, one gymnasium, the grammar (elementary) school,
Ben Milam School, several playgrounds and sports fields.
J. L. AND BONNELLE CALLAWAY bequeathed part
of their substantial estate to assist C.H. Yoe High School
graduates to continue into higher education. Dr. Hope Warren
Koch, assistant professor at Baylor University and 1989 graduate
of Yoe High School, is a foundation director. Her husband,
Kevin Koch, is foundation president. Callaway scholarships
are administered through Yoe High School. The late Mr. Callaway
was a longtime executive of McLane, Co.
LESTER AND BEATRICE WILLIAMS FOUNDATION,
with over $9 million in net assets, is the largest donor of
private funds in Cameron to date with over $3 million awarded
to various projects and programs. Williams Foundation is a
private foundation whose gifts go chiefly to Cameron grantees.
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church at Marak and the
Methodist Home in Waco also receive yearly gifts. Lester was
longtime head and principal owner of First National Bank in
Cameron with branches in four communities in three counties.
He and Bea graduated YHS in 1926 and 1927. Mike Zajicek is
trustee and executive director. Amy Poe also is trustee.
MARK HUMBLE further demonstrated his commitment
to public education in Cameron when he contributed a property
valued at about $500,000.00 to the Cameron Independent School
District for additional improvements particularly a sports
facility.
WALTER BROWN DOSSETT SCHOLARSHIP FUND has
received over $85,000.00 to date from the Dossett family as
the fund continues to grow to assist college/university juniors
and seniors who graduated Yoe High School. The late Walter
B. Dossett Jr., chairman of Royal Seating Ltd. and L.L.Sams
Corp., established the advised fund which is now under the
aegis of his son Reeder (Wick) Dossett who has assumed leadership
of both companies. Wick is a member of the board of directors
of C. H. and Caroline Yoe Foundation.
CHARLOTTE PIPE AND FOUNDRY COMPANY PLASTICS DIVISION
in Cameron, headed by Jerald Brunson, manager, is using
Milam County Community Foundation as a 501 (c)(3) conduit for its
charitable contributions in Cameron and Milam County. The
company makes yearly gifts to the fund; Plastics Division
employees voluntarily make monthly contributions. The company
is headquartered in Charlotte, NC.
MAX McCLAREN has set up YHS scholarship
fund with a gift of $13,000 honoring members of his family.
It is named for his parents, Josey and Sherwood Watson McClaren,
and also honors Max’s late wife, Margie Pratt McClaren,
and his sisters, deceased, Sue, Emma Jean, and Lucille McClaren.
Further his gift compliments the original honorees of YF Hall
of Honor—William G. (Billy) Gillis, Drayton McLane,
Jr., Wayne Fisher, Fred T. Johns, and Danny R. Kelley.
FRIENDS OF CAMERON AND MILAM COUNTY including
many graduates of C.H. Yoe High School, have contributed over
$425,000.00 to create and sustain C.H. and Caroline Yoe Foundation,
A community foundation formed to support community development
in Cameron and Milam County. Yoe Foundation is the only public
charity of its kind in Milam County. The bi-annual Hall of
Honor, originated and maintained by Yoe Foundation, has helped
build new public perceptions about what kind of community
Cameron can be.
THE McLANE FAMILY, consisting of Drayton McLane, Jr.
of Temple, and his sisters Kate McLane Dimmitt of Temple and
Jo Ann McLane McClaren of Grand Prairie, funded $1 million
in construction costs of Cameron's new city hall named McLane
Municipal Center dedicated in March 2002. The building stands
at the corner of Houston and First streets on the site of
an 1891 two-story building built by Jno. M. and J.D. Hefley.
Only the Hefley original iron front was reinstalled; otherwise,
the fine new building is the result of 21st Century construction
techniques and materials. Original plans called for a two-story
building, but Drayton chose to raise it to three stories to
accommodate growth. It's across the street from Classic
Bank and on the downtown Cameron block anchored on the other
end by Citizens National Bank. The building embodies Cameron's
heritage and its hope for the future with its usefulness marked
by both strength and beauty. Drayton graduated Yoe High School
in 1954. Kate graduated in 1952 and Jo Ann in 1950.
VELDA WALKER GUNNING, Cameron High School 1921, late
of El Paso, bequeathed what has grown to about $6 million
out of a larger estate to All Saints Episcopal and First Baptist
churches, both in Cameron. All Saints shares its gift with
qualified charities from time to time, and also makes scholarship
grants. First Baptist is constructing a large, new education
building to be attached to the main church building.
CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK's landscaped parking lot covers
a full half block behind the bank, providing not only a scenic
utilitarian space but also a public service as it accommodates
not only bank customers but parking for other purposes.
JULIAN P. AND CLARA M. BASKIN FAMILY LIFE CENTER at
First and Travis is the newest addition to the physical plant
of First United Methodist Church of Cameron. The $557,000.00
dollar furnished facility was funded by the bequest of Julian
C. Baskin, YHS 1938, who made Cameron's Methodist church primary
beneficiary of his estate. Julian died in late 1998. The church
retained $200,000 of the estate for an endowed maintenance
fund for the Center that offers offices, facilities that can
be rented by other churches and non-profit groups, library,
and nursery. The audio-visual room with large screen, comfortable
chairs and state-of-the-art projection capability is a special
addition to the community of Cameron.
MILAM COUNTY COURTHOUSE has been restored at a cost
of over $4 million mostly State of Texas funds according to
Sharon Fleming at the Texas Historical Commission in Austin.
President George W. Bush initiated the county courthouse restoration
program when he was governor of Texas. As governor Mr. Bush
felt that historical county courthouse restorations should
follow restoration of the state capitol building in Austin.
At the same time private contributions were essential to make
the project happen, and it has been contributed as follows:
Five hundred and thirty contributors paid
in a total of about $400,000 to the courthouse project including
commemorative stones for courthouse lawn walkways with the
surplus going into the main building restoration costs.
Commercial and individual donors begin with ALCOA contributing
a total of $65,000 over several years, according to Aloma
Walker, public affairs specialist: Aluminum Company of America
has a long record of gifts to Milam County.
Betty French, who coordinated courthouse fundraising locally,
says $50,000.00 each was contributed by Drayton McLane,
Jr. of Temple, Wayne Fisher of Houston, Mark
Humble of Cameron, Waters and Kraus of Dallas and
Cameron (law firm); and Tregan Partners of Dallas a
second Dallas law firm; $20,000 comes from Carroll Glaser
of Cameron; $15,000.00 each donated by First National Bank
in Cameron and Citizens National Bank of Milam County;
$10,000. each is contributed by Buckholts State Bank,
Cameron Branch; Jim Camp of Cameron, Mike Perrin
of Houston, Harry Perrin of Houston, Stanley, Mandell
and Iola (law firm) of Dallas; and $4,000.00 comes from
Mr. and Mrs. Troy Mode.
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