Over the years, many Pasadena ISD alumni have soared to successful and interesting heights. In that group are some well-known national and international attorneys, doctors, a vice president of a major corporation and even an Emmy award-winning television journalist.

The instruction they received in Pasadena schools served as their educational foundation, but they all took an additional step that helped their futures take flight – broadening their knowledge through a college education.

“Many of our alumni have done some pretty incredible things and are very successful in their respective careers,” said Kirk Lewis, Pasadena ISD superintendent. “These former students got their start in our schools, but it was their pursuit of higher education that has elevated them to where they are today. It’s just living proof to our young students that you can do anything if you put your mind and your heart to it.”

Solar’s story of success
Upon glancing outside of his office window from the 64th floor of the Williams Tower in the Galleria area of Houston, it's evident that Sam Rayburn High School alumnus J. Michael Solar is sitting on top of the world.

As founder and managing partner of Solar and Associates L.L.P., the international attorney is best known for helping to craft the North American Free Trade Agreement. He was named Texas Business Magazine's "50 Most Powerful Texans" and is a national director for the Children's Defense Fund. He has close ties to current former presidents, international leaders and other dignitaries of state.

Solar, who recently received Pasadena ISD's Distinguished Alumnus award, attended Pomeroy Elementary and San Jacinto Intermediate School before graduating from Sam Rayburn High School in 1971. After serving in the United States Army infantry, he attended the University of Houston, where he received both a law degree and a degree in economics.

Solar serves on executive boards of M.D. Anderson Hospital and the Greater Houston Partnership and he is a former commissioner for the Port of Houston Authority. Solar has received recognition for his civic efforts, including the Community Service Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Milton Popkin Community Service Award from the Anti-Defamation League.

In addition, Solar has served as a lecturer at many academic, professional, business and civic forums worldwide. He also has contributed to various professional publications. Solar is a member of various statewide, national and international legal organizations. His efforts in these organizations earned him a Presidential Citation from the State Bar of Texas. He also serves as a director at the University of Houston Law Center.

"I have always believed that if you can dream it, you can do it," Solar said. "However, it's up to you to map out your path and work your way toward meeting your goals."

The Emmy Goes to…Nancy Leal!
Nancy Leal is living out her dream. And she has the Emmy to prove it.

For much of her life, the 1995 Dobie graduate wanted to go into television. Leal made that dream come true as an anchor and reporter for KCED in Denver, Colo., where she won an Emmy for a report on parents who move to America from Mexico and must change their parenting styles.

The goal of her report was to illustrate that people who live in Mexico have completely different parenting styles than people who live in America. When people move to America, Leal said they have to become aware of a whole new set of rules when it comes to discipline and follow them, or they will ultimately face the possibility of losing their children.

The report, "Casi Pierdo A Mi Hijo, (I almost lost my son)" was one of 600 entries, from five different states, submitted for an Emmy Award, and the only one that was reported in Spanish. Of the 600 entries, 50 won. In her category, Leal was up against four other people, one from Fox, two from NBC and one from ABC. Leal's piece became the first story done in Spanish to win an Emmy in the region and the first Emmy ever for her station.

Leal, who graduated from the University of Houston and attended San Jacinto College, started her career as an intern at Houston's Univision affiliate, Channel 45. It was there that she got a glimpse into her future as a news anchor and after graduation, Leal received the position in Denver. She is the youngest news anchor in the state of Colorado and the only one from Mexico as well.

‘Energy’ is the key for this VP
John Henry Stout's fascination with electricity began in the 1960s as a ham radio operator. As a student of Sam Rayburn High School, he would build the radios in class and then take to the airwaves.

The 1967 Rayburn graduate's curiosity about electricity has surely helped pave a successful career path - not tinkering with the ham radios of the past, but overseeing the operations of several energy-related projects as a senior vice president for Reliant Energy.

"I was really intrigued by the world of electronics in those days," Stout said. "It was so interesting to build these radios and see how it actually worked. I became hooked and wanted to know more about the world of energy and its uses. From that point on, I knew I wanted to pursue some type of electrical or engineering career."

After graduating from Rayburn, he attended the University of Houston and received his bachelor's degree in 1972. He then went to work for Houston Lighting and Power Co. as an entry-level engineer. While working at HL&P, he also studied for his master's degree, which he received from UH in 1978. He climbed the promotions ladder from that point and has overseen power projects in California and on the east coast.

A ‘star’ corporate lawyer
Robert “Bob” Smith has not been one to shy away from high-profile cases. Therefore, it’s no surprise that he was named as one of California’s 12 “star” corporate lawyers, by The California Lawyer magazine in 1998.

Smith specializes in mergers, acquisition and corporate finance for the Dewey Ballentine law firm in Los Angeles, Calif., and is a 1971 graduate of Pasadena High School. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from California State University in 1977 and earned his law degree from the University of California’s Boalt Hall School of Law in 1980.

One of the most famous cases Smith has been involved with is the Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc.

The Walt Disney/Capital Cities deal was one of the largest transactions he worked, totaling $19 billion. He recalls the transaction as one of the most exciting in his career.

“I got the phone call while I was working on a deal in northern California and I was told I needed to be in New York the following morning,” Smith said. “I rushed back to Los Angeles, packed and caught the red-eye to New York. For five days, I worked non stop on closing the deal.”

Yes, there is a doctor in the house…
Home is where the heart is for Dr. Mary Campbell-Fox. She followed her dream of returning to the South Belt community to make a difference and founded Campbell Family Practice with her brother in 1991.

Campbell-Fox is the founder of Campbell Family Practice and Internal Medicine Associates. She is a 1976 Dobie High School graduate and attended Jessup Elementary and South Houston Intermediate School. Campbell-Fox attended the University of Houston and received a bachelor’s degree in biology. She then received her medical degree from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth in 1987.

After working in the medical field in Ohio and in Santa Fe, Tx., Campbell-Fox came home and founded Campbell Family Practice in the South Belt area. The office is now known as Campbell Family Practice and Internal Medicine Associates.

Some of Campbell-Fox’s career highlights include serving as the Chief of Staff at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital in 2003. She is a member of various statewide medical associations and she also received the San Jacinto College Trailblazer Award in 2003. In addition, she was named Memorial Hermann Southeast’s Physician of the Year in 1998.

“Dr. Campbell-Fox is an exemplary and outstanding professional in her field,” said San Jacinto College-South President Dr. Linda Watkins says. “More importantly, she is set apart by her genuine concern for others and her community. Truly, she has dedicated her life to this community.”

Campbell-Fox has served as a mentor and role model to many students in Pasadena ISD. For many years, she has volunteered her time for well-baby clinics at Tegeler Career Center. She also serves as the medical director for the WAVE Clinic, which is a school-based clinic in the Pasadena school district that serves the needs of children and families that cannot afford regular health care.

Along with serving as a mentor in the school district, Campbell-Fox serves on the Board of Directors of the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the Speakers’ Bureau for Memorial Hermann Hospital.