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Brazosport ISD honors 3 on Wall of Fame
Published November 2, 2009
FREEPORT — One of the greatest encouragements to a student is knowing someone has accomplished greatness before them, district officials said.
With the new induction of three alumni into the Brazosport ISD Wall of Fame, school district officials hope students will see the great achievements of the district’s graduates and in turn shoot for their own stars, Superintendent Joe Ripple said.
David Graham, a Houston gastroenterologist; Sula (Lowe) Baye, a Chicago retired lawyer; and Marcus Stephenson, an area leader, were inducted Friday night into Brazosport ISD’s Wall of Fame.
“In order to create future success, students need to understand our heritage of success,” Ripple said.
This is the third year the district has honored people by putting their names on the Wall of Fame, he said. Anyone can nominate a Brazosport ISD graduate, and the nominees are considered by a committee of principals, retired teachers, the superintendent and others, which makes the induction selections.
SULA BAYE
Baye graduated from Lanier High School in 1960. She went on to gain her law degree and become the first black female attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston.
“She’s a good role model for young kids,” said Charlie Hawkins Jr., a 62-year-old Freeport resident.
She shows young people anything is possible, he said.
“Just because you come from a small town, your goals can be as big as anyone else’s,” Hawkins said.
Baye said she knew she would be successful from the time she was a young child.
“As a child, I always wanted to be a lawyer or a doctor,” Baye said with a laugh, “You know, or a waitress.”
The 66-year-old’s opportunities were not always great, but she pushed forward to forge a path others could follow. At the time, Baye said she was simply going after her dreams without realizing the groundbreaking things she was doing.
MARCUS STEPHENSON
Stephenson, 73, of Lake Jackson grew up in Velasco and was nominated because of his constant civic involvement, including serving 25 years on the Brazosport ISD school board, said his daughter, Dawn Backor.
“I was very appreciative,” Stephenson said. “It’s just something I enjoy doing, being involved with people.”
Though Stephenson has retired from working at Dow as an internal auditor and fraud examiner, he doesn’t consider himself retired because of his constant work with civic groups.
Stephenson has been on several boards, including the Texas Dow Employees Credit Union board of directors, Brazosport Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the Freeport Recreation Association, but he says his greatest accomplishment is his family.
His biggest satisfaction in life is looking at his four children’s lives and seeing how successful they’ve been.
“He’s very deserving,” Backor said. “His whole life he has been here giving back to the community.”
Stephenson supports his community and is a firm believer in being a doer, Backor said.
“My father has the expectation that you’re going to go out and be the very best person you’re going to be,” Backor said.
Dr. DAVID GRAHAM
After graduating from Brazosport High School in 1959, Graham received his medical degree with a specialty in gastroenterology. He currently is a professor at Baylor College of Medicine.
He has authored more than 700 scientific papers, several books and more than 100 chapters in medical textbooks. He also was a physician to NASA astronauts during the Apollo program, which put the first man on the moon.
Graham has made major contributions to society that affect people’s futures, said Vergel Perry, Graham’s friend. Perry grew up with Graham knowing his friend was destined for greatness, he said.
“I always knew he would succeed,” Perry said. Perry describes Graham as a man who loves anything that is new and challenging.
Graham said he was surprised when he learned of the recognition. He hopes knowledge of his success will encourage young people to do the same, he said.
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