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The Pasadena Independent School District's Distinguished Citizen
Award is given annually to a resident or business person within the school system who has
demonstrated lifelong and unswerving commitment to the cause of education and
youth-related activities and organizations in our community.
Nominees must:
- Demonstrate a commitment to the educational, social,
spiritual and personal growth and development of the
young people of our community through
volunteer efforts in Pasadena schools or any youth-related organization.
- Reside or work within the boundaries of the Pasadena
Independent School District.
The individual is named by a selection committee from
a list of nominations received from the community.
A 15" X 19" bronze
plaque is commissioned, dedicated and placed on a concrete pedestal located at the
front entrance to the Pasadena Independent School District Administration Building. A
smaller replica of the plaque is given to the recipient of the Distinguished Citizen
Award.
The plaques of both the Distinguished Citizen Award and
the Distinguished Alumnus Award are exhibited in the Walk of Honor just outside the
entrance to the district administration building. The Distinguished Alumnus Award
is presented at a reception in March.
Past recipients of the Distinguished Citizen Award
include:
- Faye Schimek, 1995
- Kathyrn Whitfill, 1996
- Kathleen Morris, 1997
- John
Phelps, 1998
- Denise Converse, 1999
- Gilbert Aguilar, 2000
- Eddie Dansby, 2001
- Russell and Judy Lamontagne, 2002
- Dr. Paul Covell, 2003
- Rosalie Kuntz, 2004
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 Emory
Gadd
2005 Distinguished Citizen honoree
Longtime community leader and active volunteer Emory Gadd has
been named the Pasadena Independent School District’s 2005 Distinguished
Citizen.
The well-known South Belt resident has strongly supported various community
efforts and school activities since his graduation from South Houston High
School in 1965. He has served on the staff of Sagemont Church for 35 years as
Minister to Students and in his current position as Associate Pastor. He is a
1977 graduate of Houston Baptist University, where he received a bachelor’s
degree in Christianity and Sociology.
Gadd serves on the board of directors of the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of
Commerce. In 1993, he was named the South Belt-Ellington chamber’s Citizen of
the Year. He is also a current board member of the Pasadena ISD Education
Foundation.
An active volunteer in the Pasadena schools, Gadd lends his efforts to campuses
in the South Belt community and the entire district through mentoring programs
and other activities. Through the years, he has served on the campus improvement
team and as campus chaplain at Dobie High School. In addition, Gadd serves on
the Pasadena ISD Health Advisory Council and the emergency response teams for
Stuchbery Elementary and Dobie High School. He is the team statistician for the
Dobie football coaching staff.
In 2004, Gadd was co-chairman for the facilities planning committee team during
the bond issue that was approved by voters that year. He also served on a
similar committee during the successful 2000 bond campaign. Gadd also lends his
support to many initiatives at San Jacinto College.
“Emory works tirelessly on behalf of his community and our schools,” said
Pasadena ISD Superintendent Dr. Rick Schneider. “Much of what he does is behind
the scenes and done without fanfare. He is most deserving of this award.”
Gadd and his wife Susan both graduated from South Houston High School. His
family consists of son John Gadd, son and daughter-in-law Jim and Jeanna Gadd
and granddaughter Kaytlin Grace Gadd.
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