TASA Remembers TASA Co-Founder and Past President Denny Fraze

TASA Remembers TASA Co-Founder and Past President Denny Fraze

Denny Turner Fraze, 75, of Amarillo died October 31, at home. Denny Fraze was one of the three founding members of TASA. Denny served as the co-chair of the Core Curriculum Committee and as President of TASA in two different terms twenty years apart, hosting two of TASA’s state conventions in Amarillo. Amarillo College hired Denny to teach art courses in 1965. Two years later, he was named Professor of Art and Chairman of the Art Department. Read more from Denny's obituary...

In Denny's honor, Denny's friends and colleagues share their remembrances of him below.

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Remembering Our Long Time TASA Colleague Darold Dean Smith

Darold Dean Smith: 1942-2013

TASA member, friend, and colleague Darold Dean Smith, 71, of Canyon died Saturday, November 23, 2013. Darold served on the TASA Board from 1991-1997 and served as TASA Recorder on the Board from 1993-1997. Darold faithfully attended TASA conferences for many years to reconnect with old friends and colleagues.

Darold was born Oct. 24, 1942, in Council Grove, Kan., to Alvis and Doris Smith. He served his country honorably in the Army Special Forces as a Green Beret. He married Janet K. Harms in 1963. In 1970, Darold joined the faculty at West Texas A&M University as a professor of art, retiring in 2008 after 38 dedicated years. Survivors include two daughters, Heather Johnson and husband Mike of Canyon and Dawn Tangri and husband David Groneck of Orlando, Fla.; and six grandchildren. His obituary is here http://amarillo.com/obituaries/2013-11-24/darold-dean-smith#.UpPeV7DJ3co.email .

TASA HEROES / BOB HEXT: 1948 - 2007

TASA HEROES / BOB HEXT: 1948 - 2007

NOTE from Linda Fawcett, TASA Past President:

Former TASA Board member and Sul Ross State University art professor Robert Charles "Bob" Hext, 58, passed away on February 11, 2007 of an apparent heart attack.

Hext, a native of Canadian, had taught at Sul Ross since 1974. He joined the faculty as an instructor and was subsequently promoted to assistant professor, associate professor and to his present rank. He was named chair of the Art Department in 1989. "Bob Hext's presence extended far beyond the campus," said Sul Ross President R. Vic Morgan. "He was a talented artist and extremely committed teacher. He will be sorely missed as a colleague and friend."

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