Eagle Pass Independent School District Board Approves Naming Student Activity Center in Honor of Lynn Purcell
By: Dominic Valdez, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2022
The Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Student Activity Center, located at 5021 East U.S. Highway 277, in Eagle Pass, Texas in honor of former school teacher, principal, and youth sports enthusiast, Lynn Purcell, at their regular meeting held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, announced Samuel Mijares, EPISD Superintendent.
Mijares placed the item on the School Board meeting agenda for discussion and possible action. Mijares recommended the naming of the District’s Student Activity Center in honor of long-time EPISD educator Lynn Purcell.
Mijares wrote and read a memorandum to the EPISD Board of Trustees recommending the approval of the naming of the District’s Student Activity Center in honor of Lynn Purcell. Mijares stated “Mr. Purcell was employed by the Eagle Pass Independent School District for 36 years and three years in the La Pryor Independent School District for a total of 39 years [as an educator.]. He served as an EPISD School Board Member for two years. He was also an active member of the Student Activity Center Committee designated to promote the Bond election to the local community for construction of the facility. He volunteered for many years his personal time to broadcast the school district sports events.”
Mijares noted Mr. Lynn Purcell was his teacher and eventually a colleague as a school principal with the EPISD. Mijares stated “the Student Activity Center would not have been possible but for Mr. Purcell being on the Board….There is not a better person to name the Student Activity Center than Lynn Purcell.”
Board of Trustee Dr. Hector Alvarez stated that “those of us who were blessed to have had him, somewhere he touched our lives and hearts it was a blessing. They don’t make them like that anymore….For me, he was a man of few words, but what he said you did. It was a pleasure to have shared with him those moments….Mr. Purcell had it all….I am very pleased this is being presented.”
During Recognition of Visitors, local youth sports promoter and entrepreneur Morris Libson, Jr. addressed the Board of Trustees concerning Agenda Item No. 7-Consideration and possible action on the selection of a name for the Student Activity Center. Libson noted that the Bond election for the Student Activity Center failed several times before it was finally approved, citing one person’s (Lynn Purcell) “tenacity, belief, and persistence” in the Student Activity Center contributed to the eventual approval of the Bond election. Libson added that this individual (Lynn Purcell) stated that the Bond election was going to be passed because “we are going to keep at it until it passes.” Libson worked with Purcell as his radio co-broadcaster of local sports events, promoted youth baseball and softball leagues, and was a long-time friend and ally of Purcell.
Board of Trustee Victor Perry made the motion to approve the naming of the Student Activity Center in honor of Lynn Purcell and was seconded by Trustee Hilda P. Martinez. Trustee Glenna Purcell, wife of the late Lynn Purcell, abstained from voting on the agenda item. The Board unanimously approved the motion with the abstention of Trustee Glenna Purcell. Trustee Lupita Fuentes was not present at the meeting.
Trustee Glenna Purcell stated after the unanimous vote that “on behalf of the family, I thank you. He loved sports, baseball, and he loved this community. And we are very appreciative for this recognition.”
Eagle Pass Independent School District voters finally approved a $22.8 Million Bond election on its third attempt in 2007. EPISD held the grand opening of the Student Activity Center on August 21, 2010 with some of the sports fields and facilities still under construction.
Effective June 21, 2022, the EPISD Student Activity Center will now be known as the Lynn Purcell Student Activity Center.
