WHS 2014 Distinguished Award Recipients
David Rothrock
Since graduating from North Texas State University in 1964 with majors in banking and finance, Rothrock has used his knowledge and skills as a member of 12 different civic boards, commissions and organizations. He was elected to the Weatherford ISD Board of Trustees in 1977 and served through 1986. During his terms on the school board he was Board secretary, Board vice president, and Board president. He was also president of the Weatherford Optimist Club, Parker County United Way, Weatherford Chamber of Commerce, and the Weatherford Library Board. He has also volunteered his service for the Parker County Sheriff's Posse, the Heart of Texas Girl Scout Council, and the Weatherford Noon Lion’s Club.
At an early age he demonstrated his perseverance and loyalty by working as a file clerk at W. D. Newberry Insurance during high school. By 1970, he had become a partner. He remained with the company when it sold to Higginbotham & Associates in 2001; and he still works there as agency manager and producer.
From 1965 thru 1971 David served his country by spending six years in the Air Force Reserve. He currently serves on the Civic Development, Inc. Board, the Weatherford Library Foundation, Parker County Historical Commission, and the Weather Parker County Economic Development Corporation board. He is also an Elder in his church, Grace First Presbyterian, where he has been a member his entire life.
In 1996, the community recognized David for his service to the community by honoring him with the Outstanding Citizen of Weatherford Award given by our Chamber of Commerce.
In 1968, he married Suzanne Tinsley. They have two daughters; Julie, who lives in Maine, and Rebecca, who live in Peaster, and five grandchildren.
Mac Smith
Mac graduated from Weatherford High School in 1964.
After high school, he attended Texas A&M on a football scholarship but after suffering an injury, he moved to Texas Tech where Janice was also enrolled. After graduating, Mac attended the Texas Tech University School of Law and was admitted to the Bar in 1973. He started with Gabe T. Vick, the founder of the present day firm of Vick, Carney & Smith. After working as the City Attorney and an Assistant County Attorney, Smith was encouraged by Vick to run for District Attorney. He won the election and was elected three terms. While District Attorney, Mac successfully promoted the change of District Attorney’s offices to full-time prosecutor status, eliminating prosecutors from side private practices and the possible conflicts of interest. He also worked with the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office to establish links for Parker County, enabling Parker County to have official Medical Examiners for county needs and eliminating the use of Justices of the Peace for such duties.
In 1986, Mac returned to private practice with Gabe Vick and his current partners, Tom Vick and Dan Carney. In his 40 plus years of practice, Smith has handled many complicated, high-profile criminal and civil cases. Most recently Vick, Carney & Smith was named one of the Best Law Firms in the nation in the 2014 edition of the U.S. News - Best Lawyers. Vick, Carney & Smith has gained a statewide reputation as strong advocates of our clients' rights and as leaders in their chosen practice areas.
Mac is the recipient of numerous awards including being named a Texas Top Rated Lawyer in 2014. He currently serves on the Weatherford College Board of Trustees. He also served on the Weatherford ISD Board of Trustees from 1997-2005, and was Board President from 2003-2005.
Janice Smith
Janice graduated from Weatherford High School in 1965.
In high school, she was an Honor student, active in many organizations, and majorette in the Kangaroo Band. She received her undergraduate and Master’s degrees from Texas Tech. In 1977, she began her career with Weatherford ISD where she taught GT English, Latin, and French. During her career, she enriched the language skills of her students by taking hundreds of students to France each summer. After 28 years, Janice retired from Weatherford ISD in 2005.
Throughout her life, Janice has been involved with the Heart of Texas Girl Scouts for over 40 years. She’s been a Girl Scout Leader, Service Unit Chairman and Leader, Board member and President of the Heart of Texas Council, and Board Member of the Texas Oklahoma Plains Council.
Janice has always been active in the Weatherford Community. She is a former recipient of the Weatherford Chamber’s Athena Award, and she’s served as the Secretary of the Parker County Historical Commission, is a former member of the Weatherford Garden Club, the City of Weatherford’s Historical Preservation Committee, and the Weatherford Public Library Foundation.
When Janice retired from Weatherford ISD, she immediately began serving the community as the Director of Community Relations for Manna. She coordinated canned food drives and serves as the Angel Tree Chairman each year to make sure that thousands of children in our community are taken care of each Christmas.
Mac and Janice are both active members of Grace First Presbyterian Church where they have served as elders and deacons. They have been married for 45 years and have 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren.
Sharmayne Bierschenk
Sharmayne Biershenk has always been the epitome of the spirit of Weatherford High School. She graduated from Weatherford High School in 1978 and then attended Paris Junior College where she received her Associate’s Degree in Gemology and Jewelry Repair. Sharmayne later attended UTA, where she was the first person to graduate from the School of Business with a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree.
She has always been a person of strong character, of community commitment, and a person of heart who quietly serves others. These are the very qualities that distinguish her as an alumnus. She is a fine example of not only academic success, but also, of what one person can achieve through hard work in serving others.
Growing up, she was an active member of Girl Scouts – attaining the First Class Award – the highest Girl Scout honor at that time. She was also chosen to participate in 2 Girl Scout events – an international camp in Belgium when she was 14 and a national canoe trip in Austin when she was 16. Throughout her years at Weatherford High, she was always exhibited of school spirit and pride. She was in the Chamber Choir, the Spanish Club, the Science-Math Club, Christ on Campus, and the National Honor Society. She distinguished herself by being awarded the Who's Who in 1978 as an outstanding student.
Her service to the Weatherford community began years before as a Girl Scout, having learned the leadership skills and community awareness that has served her well throughout her academic years at Weatherford high and beyond.
Sharmayne volunteers at the Theater off the Square productions and is active in various church ministries at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church. She’s an honorary Forever Belle and that means that on Friday nights in the fall, she can be found in the stands of our football games assisting our Blue Belles and their directors. And in 2001, she worked diligently with other ex-students to produce the 2001 Weatherford High Alumni Directory. And in 2004, her class began a tradition that remains today…the Alumni Choir sings the National Anthem at our Homecoming football game. Her class may have started this tradition, but it’s Sharmayne that keeps it going -- and growing -- each year.
Raymond George
Raymond George is truly an icon in the Weatherford community. From 1980-1986, he was a member of the Weatherford ISD Board of Trustees, serving two terms as Board Vice President. Although he has long been active in the community, some feel his most notable work is his commitment to preserve a piece of Weatherford history.
When Mr. George was a child, he attended the Mount Pleasant Colored School. In 1953, after he graduated from the ninth grade, his dad drove him and several other children into Fort Worth every day so they could attend I.M. Terrell High School. It was almost an hour each way, but he did that so his children could continue their education.
After graduating from Terrell, Mr. George went to work for Southwestern Bell, retiring after 40 years of service in 1997. But he never really stopped working. For several years, the Mount Pleasant Colored School has been his passionate restoration project with the goal to transform the building into a museum.
Since 2011, the Mount Pleasant school has been renovated and repaired – each improvement the result of generous donations. The project is nearly complete with an opening planned for this fall. The facility is scheduled to be turned over to the City of Weatherford on February 28, 2015 to be integrated into the city’s park system.
Mr. George has 6 children: Rosiland George of Mineral Wells, Andrea Carrington of Seagoville, Jennifer Williams of Aledo, Anthony George of Brandywine, Maryland, and Scotty George of White Settlement. He also just recently lost his son, Darwin.
Picture Information
Pictured (from left) are Mac Smith, Janice Smith, David Rothrock, Raymond George, and Sharmayne Bierschenk (photo by DERIK MOORE).