Published: March 01, 2008 01:11 am            

Langston honored during A&M banquet

Our Town column

Palestine High School 1977 graduate and Houston resident Willie T. Langston II was recently recognized as an Outstanding Businessman during a banquet at Texas A&M University.

Langston graduated summa cum laude from the TAMU School of Business in 1981 and became a CPA at Cooper & Lybrand before heading to Stanford to earn his MBA in 1985.

He spent the next decade in the private wealth management group at Goldman Sachs before joining Morgan Stanley, and later founding the private wealth management firm, Avalon, with two co-workers.

As an Aggie, Langston was named both top student in management his freshman and sophomore years and top student in accounting his junior year. He was president of the Baptist Student Union, and president of the Business Student Council — where he and colleagues created the first-ever College of Business Career Fair.

As a member of the Dean’s Development Council at Mays, Langston has helped guide and fund efforts in business education at Texas A&M. He also serves as one of three outside advisers to the Texas A&M Foundation’s Investment Committee.

He is a trustee of Houston Christian High School, and a Deacon at Second Baptist Church in Houston. He is also a former trustee of the 12th Man Foundation.

Langston is the son of lifetime Palestine residents Vaude and Willie Langston. All of Langston’s family was present to see him win the honor.



Palestine wins a Top 20 award from American Cowboy Magazine

Those who think there is no better place to live than Palestine had their belief confirmed as our great city is one of only two Texas towns to be named one of American Cowboy Magazine’s Top 20 Places to Live the West.

Here’s what they say:

“In the late 1800s, the prominent Missouri Pacific Railroad was based in Palestine, making it one of the largest towns in Texas. Today, Palestine has a small-town feel, where you can stroll past historic homes, ride an antique steam engine, and learn about the area’s history at the Museum for East Texas Culture. The Dogwood Festival in the spring is a big draw, and the rolling hills, lakes, and pastures attract visitors year-round.”

Bandera, Texas was the only other Texas town to make the list. Check out the story in its entirety at www.americancowboy.com/20.



TVCC Cardinal singers to visit Europe

The Trinity Valley Community College Cardinal Singers have been invited by the Lord Mayors of London and York, England; Cardiff; Wales; and Edinburgh, Scotland to represent Texas in the All Britain Music Festival taking place this May.

The group of about 30 singers, which includes local residents Jaime Shrode and Emily Pyle, will leave May 14 for the two-week trip.

The cost for each individual student to attend is just slightly over $2,000, with the students having to raise most of this money themselves. To help defray costs, the group is seeking financial assistance from local businesses and individuals in the community.

To help, please send checks to Trinity Valley Community College, c/o Dr. Byron McGilvray, 100 Cardinal Dr., Athens, TX 75751. For more information call Dr. McGilvray at 903-675-6351.

        

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