Distinguished Alumnus Award

Cori Ann Harbour began her educational journey at Liberty ISD’s kindergarten “on the hill” in 1976. A proud Liberty ISD graduate, Cori distinguished herself as an exceptional student, dedicated leader, high achiever, and loyal friend. By the time she graduated from Liberty High School in 1989, she had served as senior class president, student council president, yearbook editor, and TAFE vice president. She ranked fourth in her graduating class and was named Miss LHS. Cori’s classmates also voted her as “Most Unpredictable” and “Most Spirited” all four years of high school.  

Cori continued her education at The University of Texas at Austin, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1993. She then attended Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where she served on Law Review and earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, in 1997.

During her distinguished legal career, Cori has spent more than 28 years practicing criminal defense, civil litigation, and appellate law. She is also a licensed mediator. She has represented a diverse range of clients—from individuals and small-business owners to nonprofit organizations and Fortune 500 corporations, as well as individuals accused of crimes—in both state and federal courts. Licensed to practice law in Texas and New Mexico, Cori is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and numerous federal district and appellate courts across the country. In recognition of her outstanding legal skills and professional achievements, she has been selected as a Texas Super Lawyer every year since 2008.

Cori has provided extensive leadership to the legal community at both the state and local levels having served as President of the El Paso Bar Association, the El Paso Young Lawyers Association, and the El Paso Women’s Bar Association. She is the only woman from El Paso ever elected President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) in its 96-year history. She currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer for the Texas Bar Foundation and previously served as Chair of the Texas Bar College and Texas Bar Historical Foundation. She likewise served two terms as a Director for the State Bar of Texas and served on the TYLA Board of Directors for eight years. 

The El Paso Bar Association recognized Cori as the Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney in 2010, and she was named Outstanding Young Lawyer of El Paso in 2001. Her lasting influence is also recognized by the El Paso Young Lawyers Association, which presents the annual Cori Harbour Outstanding Prelaw Student Award to an exceptional student pursuing a future in law. Cori is a frequent continuing legal education speaker on such topics as the 4^th Amendment, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and legal ethics.

Cori spent a decade as an adjunct professor at The University of Texas at El Paso teaching aspiring attorneys about the American justice system in her course, “Courts in Action.” In 2013, Cori expanded her service to the legal profession and community when she was appointed as an associate judge for the City of El Paso. Since that time, she has presided over hundreds of trials for matters involving violations of the Texas Transportation Code and El Paso City Ordinances. 

Beyond her work as a judge, advocate and teacher, Cori frequently serves as a guardian ad litem, protecting the best interests of children involved in difficult cases, including custody disputes, wrongful-death claims, and medical-negligence matters. She also volunteers with David’s Legacy Foundation to provide anti-bullying presentations and technology safety training to children, parents, and educators. 

Outside the courtroom, Cori’s passions include live music, travel, and sports—especially watching her beloved Texas Longhorns, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Astros. Cori has likewise demonstrated an extraordinary passion for animal welfare, particularly through her work with Luna’s Fosters Animal Rescue. As a member of its board of directors, she oversees adoption agreements and other legal matters, raises funds, donates food and supplies, fosters and rescues dogs, facilitates adoptions, and provides financial assistance during times of crisis.

Cori also participates in and raises funds for the National Brain Tumor Society in honor of her late brother, Clint. Together with her mother, Cathy, she established the Clint Harbour Memorial Scholarship through Liberty ISD, creating a meaningful legacy that supports future generations of students.

Although her education and career have taken her beyond Liberty, Cori’s love for her hometown and school district has never wavered. For more than 37 years, she has remained a dedicated leader among her classmates, organizing reunions, gatherings, and other opportunities to maintain their lifelong connections. She was instrumental in establishing a class flower fund to support classmates and their families during times of loss. She has also played an integral role in helping the class donate more than $1,200 to the Liberty ISD Education Foundation in memory of former faculty members and classmates.

Cori Harbour’s remarkable life reflects excellence, leadership, compassion, service, and an enduring devotion to Liberty ISD. Through her professional accomplishments, advocacy for children, commitment to animal welfare, support of meaningful causes, and continued service to the Liberty community, she embodies the qualities of a truly distinguished alumna. 

 

Following his graduation from Liberty High School, Dr. Hayes attended Blinn College, Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, and East Texas State University, earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. He began his career in education by returning to his hometown of Liberty, where he served as a science teacher at Liberty High School. He later became a Counselor and Principal of San Jacinto Elementary School, and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum.

While serving Liberty ISD, Dr. Hayes remained active in the community. He was scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 55—the same troop in which he had earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a young man. He was also a member of the Jaycees, which named him Outstanding Young Educator of the Year, and later became a member of the Rotary Club.

In 1975, Dr. Hayes decided to pursue a career as a school superintendent. He moved to Longview, where he served as personnel director for three years, and later joined Spring Branch ISD as deputy superintendent. In 1981, he was selected as superintendent of Lancaster ISD. During his four-year tenure, he led the passage of a major bond proposal, restructured the district’s educational services, and served as president of the district University Interscholastic League Executive Committee.

Dr. Hayes became superintendent of Texarkana ISD in 1984, guiding the district through a challenging period of statewide educational reform that included the implementation of “No Pass, No Play.” In 1986, he was recruited to lead Ector County ISD, a district serving more than 25,000 students. When falling oil prices created significant financial challenges, he successfully guided the district through a 20 percent reduction in its annual budget. During his tenure, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Buzz Bissinger chronicled the Permian High School football team’s pursuit of a state championship in the acclaimed book Friday Night Lights.

After three years in Odessa, Dr. Hayes was selected as superintendent of Katy ISD, where he served for five years. In addition to leading the rapidly growing district, he served on the University Interscholastic League Executive Committee and the Texas Commissioner of Education’s Advisory Committee.

Following his retirement from the Texas public school system, Dr. Hayes became superintendent of the Pascagoula School District in Mississippi. During his three-year tenure, he oversaw the construction of two new high schools within a limited budget. Upon returning to Texas, he was appointed deputy commissioner of the Texas Education Agency, where his primary responsibilities included implementing and overseeing the state’s charter school program. He later became chief operating officer of Region 4 Education Service Center.

Dr. Hayes has also shared his knowledge with future educational leaders as an adjunct professor at East Texas State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and Sam Houston State University. He served for 13 years on the Region 4 Education Service Center Board of Directors, holding the offices of secretary, vice president, and president.

During his college years, Dr. Hayes was an athletic scholarship recipient and competed as a sprinter in track and field. After many years in school administration, he entered semi-retirement and established an educational consulting business. Through this work, he assisted school boards with policy development and administration and conducted superintendent searches for districts. One of the proudest moments of his career came when he returned home to serve as Liberty ISD’s interim superintendent while helping the district select its next leader.

Dr. Hayes credits the City of Liberty and Liberty ISD with having a profound and lasting influence on his life. He considers recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus an honor not only for himself but also for the entire Liberty High School Class of 1958, including the many classmates who are no longer here to share in the celebration.

Dr. Hayes is married to Glenda Benge Hayes, a master teacher. Together, they have four children, each of whom followed the family’s tradition of service by entering the field of education as a teacher or administrator. His life and career reflect a remarkable commitment to educational leadership, public service, and the Liberty community that helped shape him.

 

In the grand equation of life, some individuals become constants—steady, dependable, and essential to the success of generations. James “Coach T” Turner was such a man. For more than four decades, his life represented an extraordinary combination of faith, scholarship, athletics, discipline, service, and excellence.

Born and reared in Liberty, Texas, Coach Turner distinguished himself early as both a scholar and an athlete. At West Liberty High School, he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track, while maintaining an exceptional academic record. In 1954, he graduated as Valedictorian of the West Liberty High School Lions, demonstrating the pursuit of excellence that would characterize the rest of his life.

His abilities earned him full athletic scholarship opportunities to Grambling State University, under legendary Coach Eddie Robinson, and to Texas College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree. He later earned a Master’s Degree from Texas Southern University and pursued graduate studies in mathematics at Arizona State University in Tempe. He was also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Coach T devoted 45 years to education, serving generations of young people as a teacher, athletic coach, academic coach, department chair, administrator, mentor, and role model.

His career began at West Liberty High School during segregation, where he taught mathematics and coached athletics. When Liberty schools integrated, Coach Turner became part of a historic generation of Black educators who successfully made that transition while continuing to educate and inspire students throughout the community. At Liberty High School, he served as Head of the Mathematics Department and Assistant Principal, while also coaching football, basketball, and baseball.

His competitive spirit eventually moved from the athletic field to the academic arena. For 17 years, he coached students in UIL Mathematics, Calculator Applications, and Number Sense, developing young minds with the same discipline and determination he once demanded of athletes.

His influence extended beyond Liberty ISD through assignments at C.E. King High School and Crosby High School. One especially meaningful chapter came when he taught for a semester in the classroom next door to his son, Dedric James Turner, who followed his father's footsteps into mathematics education, academic coaching, and department leadership.

Coach T's excellence was recognized repeatedly. He was named Liberty High School Teacher of the Year at least nine times and received the E.T. Branch Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, the Liberty ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year Award, the West Liberty High School Honor Award, and the City of Ames Award for Devoted Service to West Liberty Schools. His recognition as Liberty ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year placed his photograph on display at Region 4 Education Service Center in Houston.

His contributions to competitive academics were also recognized through the UIL/Southwestern Bell Academic Sponsor Excellence Award and by the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association (TMSCA) for his extraordinary service to UIL academic competition.

TMSCA summarized his impact beautifully:

“TMSCA appreciates the contributions that James Turner made to U.I.L. and TMSCA Math competition. TMSCA Coaches love and respect James Turner—a truly great man.”

Yet Coach T's greatest accomplishments cannot be completely measured by trophies, certificates, championships, or awards. They are measured in people.

They live in the students who discovered they were smarter than they thought; the athletes who learned discipline under his leadership; the young competitors who discovered that academics could be pursued with the same intensity as athletics; the teachers he influenced; and the generations who witnessed a Black educator lead with dignity and excellence through both segregation and integration.

Away from school, James Turner was a man of faith and family. His Christian foundation began at Trinity Valley Baptist Church, and for more than 40 years he was a faithful member of First Missionary Baptist Church of Crosby, where he served on the Finance Committee.

While pursuing graduate mathematics studies at Texas Southern University, he met Dorothy Robbins, the woman who would become the love of his life. Their marriage became one of his life's most treasured equations—a partnership of love, commitment, and family spanning more than half a century. Their only son, Dedric, extended his father's educational legacy into another generation.

Students remember Coach T's demanding standards, unmistakable voice, quick wit, and insistence upon mathematical accuracy. His familiar correction—

“Oh, oh, oh! ‘O’ is not a number!”

—became more than a classroom expression. It represented the precision with which he approached teaching and life: details mattered, preparation mattered, discipline mattered, and doing things correctly mattered.

Today, as we honor James “Coach T” Turner posthumously, we celebrate far more than an accomplished educator.

We honor a trailblazer who taught across the dividing line of segregation and integration.

We honor a four-sport athlete who became a champion of academic competition.

We honor a mathematician who taught students how to solve problems—and a mentor who taught them how to face life's problems.

We honor a teacher, coach, administrator, husband, father, man of faith, and community servant whose influence multiplied across generations.

In mathematics, some values change while others remain constant.

James “Coach T” Turner was a constant.

His 45 years of service may be counted, his awards may be listed, and his accomplishments may be recorded—but the full measure of his influence can never be calculated.

For in the final analysis, the sum total of Coach T's life is found in the lives he changed.

And that legacy does not diminish. It multiplies. It continues. It is infinite.