In Memoriam

Herbert G. Branch, a 1952 graduate, passed away Feb. 22.

Branch was offered a basketball scholarship to play for coach Glen Rose at SFA, where he majored in forestry. He often said without the scholarship he would have never been able to afford to attend college. Branch played for the Lumberjacks for four years and was both a letter winner and a member of the 1948-49 team that won the Lone Star Conference championship.

Following his graduation from SFA, Branch was dispatched to Korea, where he saw active combat as a soldier from 1952-54. For most of his career as a forester, he worked for International Paper Company. His greatest contribution to the forests of the southern United States can be seen in every pine plantation today.

Always stressing the importance of community involvement, Branch led by example. He was an active member of the Woodville Rotary Club, where he was club president; an active member in the Tyler County Dogwood Festival, where he served as director on the operating board; and was elected to multiple terms on the Woodville City Council, serving 12 years.

Don LeRoi Henry, former SFA administrator, passed away March 4.

Henry served as vice president for administrative and fiscal affairs at SFA from 1982 to 1992. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Nacogdoches.

Henry was a musician, artist, writer, traveler, runner, businessman, husband and father. He played the trumpet and piano by ear, sketched beautiful charcoal drawings, and co-wrote a movie script about the famous Yazoo Union gunboat that was sunk north of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Dec. 12, 1862, during the Civil War.

He was stationed in Germany during the Korean War and traveled to Europe, Mexico and Peru. He continued his international travels after retirement from SFA working in Ifrane, Morocco, opening the American-styled Al Akhawayn University from 1995-97. He later helped start another American-styled university in Azerbaijan. He logged more than 10,000 miles running, influencing many in the family to run and compete in triathlons. He volunteered in the Boy Scouts as a troop leader and greatly influenced young men in his life to become Eagle Scouts.

Genie Lynn Kilpatrick, class of 1984, passed away Nov. 23.

Kilpatrick played on the Ladyjack tennis team for four years and was recognized for her national collegiate tennis ranking. She continued her love of tennis after leaving SFA, teaching and coaching motivated students to achieve more in the classroom, on the court and in life.

Shortly after Kilpatrick retired from teaching and coaching, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic pulmonary disease, pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis. She was given the gift of life through organ donation and received a double lung transplant in 2017. She lived five more incredibly blissful years to their fullest, playing tennis, pickleball, traveling and promoting organ donation through Donate Life. With two new lungs, she competed and won an Olympic gold medal at the U.S. Olympic Transplant Games in 2018 in tennis and table tennis. Then she went on to win a gold medal at the World Games in 2019. Kilpatrick inspired anyone she met with her favorite quote: "postpone nothing."

Nelda F. Long, former SFA staff member, passed away Feb. 22.

Long worked at SFA as department secretary in the biology and counseling and special education departments. She retired with 25 years of service in June 1994 to be a full-time grandmother to her first great-granddaughter.

Long was a member of University Baptist Church for more than 50 years. After the pandemic, she began to attend Westside Baptist Church until she became sick. She loved her Lord and enjoyed reading and studying the Bible. She would say her greatest achievement in life was being a wife, mother and grandmother. She was an independent, strong, spunky and feisty lady.

Mona Evelyn Y'Barbo, SFA library staff member, passed away May 26.

Y'Barbo worked in the Steen Library from May 1996 until August 2014, retiring at the age of 75. She was a member of New Hope Congregational Methodist Church in Nacogdoches. She was loved by her six children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Y'Barbo enjoyed reading, working crossword and jigsaw puzzles, embroidering, and sending birthday and holiday cards to family and friends.