Personal Stories

Bittersweet Goodbye

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Personal Stories
Guitar with David's face

Although there are a few more days before it’s official, this week we celebrated the retirement of a great person who dedicated 24 years to ESC Region 11. David leaves the organization as our Director of Management Information Systems, a mentor to many, and a friend to all. To me personally, he is one of the best individuals that I have ever met. Humble, trusted, service-minded, and patient are just a few words that can be used to describe David. I truly feel like a better person because I got to be around him every day at work for 7 years.

One thing that I have always admired about David for is how he treats other people. He listened when that’s what a person needed. He shared his thoughts when the situation called for that. He was the ESC rock for anyone who needed advice or just simply to be heard.

For this reason, I inherited a team that he helped build and a culture that he cultivated daily. I don’t take credit for the positive culture that was built when I arrived at the ESC 7 years ago. I just hope to not mess it up.

For his retirement, we got him a guitar (he plays in his church band), and I made a vinyl decal from one of his staff photos.

McMurry Outstanding Alumni Award

Posted on October 16, 2021 by Personal Stories Work Projects
Outstanding Alumni Award

I know this one is going on my professional work and personal store categories, so I am going to continue to type in my own words while trying to keep it more professional in nature. As excited as I am to share this, trying to keep it professional is going to be hard!

I received a call while attending a Ponder High School baseball game one evening from McMurry University. I have had several conversations with them over the years regarding football, as this was my identity to most around campus for the 4 years I attended. However, this time the call was different. It was from a director on the academic of the house.

The person on the other end of the line proceeded to tell me that I had been nominated and chosen for my work that I had done in the field of education, and that I would be receiving the “Outstanding Alumni Award for Education” at their Night of Distinction banquet in October. My mouth slightly dropped and then a sense of “this is why I do what I do” came over me. To clarify, I don’t do it for the recognition. I do my work in this field to make a difference in the lives of our future…the kids!

The night was great! It was such an honor to be sharing the stage with other alumni from their various career fields. I guess they remembered me going a little over on my Hall of Honor speech for football back in 2018 because they chose to cut out the speeches for these awards. Guess I educated them on that part too. 😉

McMurry Hall of Honor

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Personal Stories
McMurry Hall of Honor

Yesterday was an amazing day and such an honor to be inducted into the McMurry Hall of Honor for my time there on the football field. Former teammates, former coaches, and most importantly my family was there to share this day with me.

The day started out with a luncheon and the presentation of inductees. Each of us got the opportunity to say our Thank You’s to those that helped us along this road. They asked us to keep it to 5 minutes, and I obviously took that as a “recommendation” versus a “requirement.” I mean really…this isn’t going to happen again so why not!?!?

It truly is an honor to now share the Hall of Honor with my mother who was inducted during the 90s for her achievements in basketball. Not only did she play and dominate on the court and set records that still exist today (most points in a game & most rebounds in a game), she did it while raising me the first four years of my life! And YES…I gave her a VERY big thank you during my speech!

Maybe in the next handful of years some more of my family will be able to join the list.

Rory Peacock

Rory Peacock

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”
– Lao Tzu

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