Former <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Manila resident receives prestigious award=

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Dr. Harry Downing, SFA chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, recently received the Robert N. Little Award for Outstanding Contributi= ons to Physics Higher Education in Texas. Downing and his wife, the former Carolyn Brady, graduated from high sch= ool in Manila in 1964 and 1965, respectively.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS- Dr. Harry Downing, who graduate= d from high school in Manila in 1964 and marrie= d the former Carolyn Brady, also of Manila, was recently honored with a teaching excellence award.<= /p>

Al= most three decades ago, Downing, now chair of the Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Physics and Astronomy located in Nacogdoches, Texas, sat in a banquet hall at a meeting of the Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers. Downing was in his rookie year of teachi= ng at SFA and eager to meet other teaching professionals in his field.<= /o:p>

A = University of Texas physics professor, who was Downing's senior by more than 30 years, sat next to him. The two men had a friendly conversation about the teaching profession as they awaited announcement of the teacher who would receive the first-ever TSAAPT Award= for Outstanding Contributions to Physics Higher Education in Texas.

&q= uot;As I sat listening to the speaker note all the wonderful accolades about the recipient, I got chill bumps," Downing said. "The honoree's name had not been announced beforehand, and we were all eager to learn whom th= ese impressive credentials belonged to. What a thrill it was to be a junior faculty member sitting in the same banquet hall with a physics teacher who was held in such high regard by his peers."

Wh= en the recipient's name was announced, the man sitting next to Downing rose and started toward the podium. That man, Dr. Robert N. Little, later would ha= ve the award named after him.

Little's = impact on physics instruction was far reaching. He played a major role in establishing core physical science courses for middle and high school students. He was an experimental nuclear physicist and taught many worksh= ops for physicists and physics teachers. Little conducted research and experiments in some of the top laboratories in the United States, including serving as chief of nuclear physi= cs for General Dynamics in Fort= Worth.

On= the evening of March 4, 2005, Downing again sat in a banquet hall attending t= he annual meeting of TSAAPT. This year, the meeting was held at SFA.

&q= uot;As I sat and listened to the speaker detail the professional contributions of this year's award recipient, tears came to my eyes," Downing said. "It was becoming apparent that she was describing me."

Wh= en the speaker announced his name, Downing approached the podium and accepted the Robert N. Little Award for Outstanding Contributions to Physics Higher Education in Texas as 230 of his colleagues and friends honored him with a standing ovation.=

&q= uot;After receiving my plaque, I told the story of my first encounter with Dr. Little," Downing said. "I reflected back some 30 years ago to a time when I was new in the teaching profession and remembered a man who, = even though I had only talked with him briefly, had a profound effect on my teaching career and that of so many others. This is undoubtedly the most prestigious teaching award I have ever received."<= /p>

As Downing departed the stage, his wife of 39 years, Carolyn, greeted him. "I guess the association notified my wife beforehand that I was to receive the award. I was completely overcome with happiness, and it was m= ade even more special with my best friend there to share it with me," Downing said.

Do= wning is in his 30th year of teaching at SFA. He has been department chair for = 17 years. He served as president of TSAAPT from 1996-97; president elect, 1995-96; and vice president, 1994-95. He has authored sever= al papers and lab experiments and edited many locally produced lab manuals. = He received SFA's College of Sciences and Mathematics Teaching Excellence Aw= ard, conducted 27 workshops in physical science, served on 31 Master of Scienc= e in natural science defenses, and several Jamison Bill committees, which serv= es to encourage mature people, who hold degrees from accredited institutions= , to become teachers. Downing also was awarded the Outstanding Society of Phys= ics Students Adviser in 1993.

= Mustang Day declared March 31

Southern Bank of Commerce of Leachville rolled out the red carpet for the 2005 AA State Basketball Champions of Buffalo Island Central with a reception on Thursday, March 31.

= Leachville police make drug arrests

Leachvile= police arrested three suspects and s= eized a total of 22 rocks of crack cocaine Wednesday, March 30.

= Manila School Board meets in special session

Manila School Board members met in sp= ecial session on Monday, March 26, for an expulsion hearing.<= /p>

= Former Manila resident receives prestigious award

NACOGDOCHES<= /st1:City>, TEXAS- Dr. Harry Downing, who graduated from high school in Manila in 1964 and married the former Carolyn Brady, also of Manila, was recently honored with a teaching excellence award.

= Local sportsmen return from Mexico hunting trip

Harold Vines, Billy Yarbro and Jimmy White, all of Manila, recently returned from a hunting trip to Culican, Mexico. The three local sportsmen were hosted by Senior Jose Villamayor and his sons. Also on the trip was Senior Augusto Acevedo. The hosts were from Mexico City where Senior Villamayo= r and his sons own and manage several retail shoe stores and three factorie= s. Senior Acevedo is owner and Director General of ALCAMPO munitions plant, where shotgun shells and other sporting type ammunition are produced.

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