Alumnus Clarence Lynch
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eginning as a member of the Cowboys basketball team in 1950, Clarence Lynch served Connors State College for 33 years as both a teacher and coach. Lynch is the Cowboy’s first junior college basketball All-American, that honor coming in 1952. Lynch, along with teammate and 2012 CSC Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Lou Henson, led the Cowboys to seventh place in the NJCAA National Tournament in 1952. Following graduation, he attended East Texas State University and, later, spent time in the military. At ETSU, Lynch earned All-Lone Star Conference first team honors and was named NAIA All-American in 1955, leading the Lions to the NAIA National Championship. He is a member of the East Texas State Hall of Fame. He took his first coaching assignment
with Dustin Junior High, and became the high school coach in 1958, posting a 28-1 record. Moving to Gallup, N.M., Lynch led that team to a 23-6 record. Lynch returned to Connors in 1961 as the assistant football and head men’s basketball coach, compiling a 206-87 record in 10 seasons. He also coached baseball and founded the softball and tennis programs. His men’s tennis teams won four regional titles, while the women won three titles. His softball team was 167-49 and captured two regional championships. He also served as the CSC athletic director. Lynch was inducted into the CSC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013. Lynch and his wife, Mary Jean, have two sons, Steve and Kevin.
Mallory Smith, PLC President
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allory Smith, a sophomore at Connors State College has been part of Connors community for a few years now. Smith starting taking concurrent courses as a student at Stigler High School, where she was class president. Now at Connors she holds the position of President’s Leadership Class President and is an active member of Phi Theta Kappa. After graduation, Smith plans to pursue a degree in chemistry from Northeastern State University with aspirations of working in the world of Pharmaceuticals. “At Connors, they really want you to complete your education,” said Smith.
“They offer courses that will help you in your future careers, which was the best thing about coming to Connors.” Around the Warner campus you may see Mallory working alongside other members of the PLC while setting up the hospitality room during home basketball games, assisting during graduation commencement and doing fundraisers which help beautify the Warner campus. “I love every single teacher and faculty advisor I have. It was hard going to my high school classes and college at the same time, but the advisors and instructors worked with me and my schedule to help me succeed.”
CONNORS CONNECTION
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