WithLove To TSU
How one man’s vision became a yearly tradition that helped Texas Southern stay strong. Some retirees are passionate about classic cars or boats. Others take up hobbies like wine tasting or stamp collecting. But Walter Prevost, our cover model, is passionate about education — and making sure students have access to it. Could it have something to do with the fact that he and Texas Southern University met the world the same year, 1927? Possibly. Prevost will turn 85 this October. “It’s not hard to love education after what it has done for my family and me,” Prevost explains. All four of his daughters received college educations; three of them — Lorna, Cathy and Tina — graduated from Texas Southern University. The daughters of Walter and Leona Prevost are passionate about education as well, as evidenced not only by their credentials, but also their chosen fields. Lorna Prevost Patterson and Tina Prevost Thompson both received degrees in education from TSU. Thompson works for HISD as the administrator of Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) program and Patterson is associate director of Children’s Education at Windsor Village United Methodist Church. Cathy Prevost
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Inside TSU Now
Jones, who also received a degree in education as well as a Master’s Degree in Mid-Management from TSU worked for 33 years in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. She is now a retired elementary school principal. And even though she graduated from Texas Woman’s University, daughter Gwen Prevost Cherry, an occupational therapist, is an honorary member of the Diamond Club who has supported the University and her father’s endeavors since day one.
“It’s not hard to love education after what it has done for my family and me.” -Walter Prevost Several years ago, Prevost decided to do something to give back to the community and to the school that gave his family so much. His dream: a circle of friends who would raise money for student scholarships. So he assembled a team of close friends, family members, and business owners to roll up their sleeves and
go to work. With that, the Diamond Club was born. Here’s how the club’s plan worked — almost like clockwork: Prevost and friends hosted three events a year – at the same time each year, the same place each year, and following the same format so that donors would easily remember the dates, times, locations (and most importantly their checkbooks). The Diamond Club’s season always began with a Palm Sunday Breakfast at the Quail Valley Country Club. After dining on a great southern breakfast, Eva Pickens would call the program to order beginning with an invocation, which was performed mainly by Reverend Kirbyjon Caldwell; the occasion, most of the time by Mr. Dave Moss, then president of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association; or Ron Jenkins, Halbert Bearden or Tammy Campbell. The program would continue with a keynote address by a prominent Houstonian or TSU graduate, perhaps Milton Carroll, Senator Rodney Ellis or the president of the University, Leonard Spearman, James Douglas, or William Harris who were all loyal supporters.