JOE HOUGH ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT 

Joe Hough will retire at the end of the spring semester, after 32 years at Panola College.

The Oklahoma native earned his B.A. degree from Louisiana College. He began his teaching career in his hometown, Broken Bow, Okla., where he taught junior high science and speech for four years, as well as serving as principal for three of those years. Hough then taught U.S. history at Richardson ISD for one year. While working on his M.A. in history, he taught two years as a graduate assistant at ETSU in Commerce. 

Hough came to Panola College in the fall of 1971. For 12 years he taught U.S. history, while sometimes pinch hitting in western civilization, Texas history, animal science and philosophy of religion.  One semester, when a P.E. instructor was injured, he even kept the weight room open for weight training. 

During his tenure, Hough was chosen twice to participate in National Endowment for the Humanities summer seminars: Ethnic and Racial History at Columbia University, 1974; and The Transformation of the American Role in East Asia, 1937-1954, at Temple University, 1981. Hough continued graduate studies in history at SFA and the University of Texas at Austin. 

In 1983, Hough received an M.S. in counseling from ETSU, Commerce and began teaching sociology and psychology classes. Throughout the 1990’s he did additional graduate work in sociology at the University of Texas at Tyler. 

Hough twice served as president of the Panola Faculty Association. He also chaired the committee for institutional goals; served twice on the steering committee for the Southern Association self-study, chairing Education Support Services; chaired the salary survey committee whose recommendations were adopted by the college Board as the basis for the present salary schedules for faculty; and was a member of the search committee for Dr. Greg Powell, current Panola College president. 

In extra-curricular activities, Hough, a member of Delta Psi Omega, twice performed trick roping and speaking roles in Oklahoma and Annie Get Your Gun.   He also had supporting roles in South Pacific, The Sound of Music, 1776, and two runs of Hardscrabble. Hough made several appearances in the Drama Department’s Cabaret programs as trick roper, singer, and stand up comic. In UIL, he was director of the spelling contest for many years. 

In addition to running the shot and time clocks for Fillie and Pony basketball games for over 25 years, he suggested a change in the fight song tune to On Wisconsin. When Panola had a contest to name a sports mascot, Hough won the contest with the name Champion.  

In the community, Hough is a Sunday school teacher and choir member at Southside Baptist. He also had been Presiding Judge of the Central Counting Station for Panola County elections for many years.

Mr. Hough has two children, B.J. Hough of Broken Bow, Ok, and Helen Wilbanks of Arlington. Both attended Panola College in the 1980’s. 

 Hough and his wife, Janelle, plan to do some more traveling in their retirement. In his retirement letter to Dr. Lillian Cook, Hough said “Panola has been more like a family than a job to me all these years.” He also stated that he would “miss being in the classroom with students”…and would “miss all of my colleagues: administration, faculty, and staff.”  

“Professor Hough’s commitment to student success both in and out of the classroom has been impressive,” said Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College. “His presence has added to the richness and quality of Panola College. We are grateful for this and wish him the best in his retirement”.