On March 29, 1976, a tornado cut through Cabot, leaving destruction in its wake. Tom Brannon was a third-grader when his hometown was left devastated, and that is when he developed an interest and passion for weather.
After graduating from Cabot High School in 1985, Brannon went on to get a bachelor’s degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and his certificate in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State University. He’s been the co-host of THV This Morning on KTHV since 1998.
Brannon is one of five Cabot natives who will be inducted into the Cabot Panther Hall of Fame at the Cabot Panther Foundation’s annual banquet, which will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Cabot Junior High School North Cafeteria. For the 2011 banquet, which was the foundation’s third year to honor former Panthers who have provided distinguished service, Brannon was the master of ceremonies. Now he’s an inductee.
“I have mixed feelings,” Brannon said about being inducted into the Hall of Fame. “I’m actually more comfortable hosting events. … I’m just a weatherman.”
Although Brannon now lives in Little Rock, he said he will always consider Cabot his home, and he is humbled by being recognized.
“It’s a huge honor just to be considered,” he said. “I do think there are more prominent, difference-making individuals in Cabot that are more deserving of being inducted into the Hall of Fame at this juncture.”
The Cabot Panther Foundation will honor the five inductees at the 2012 Hall of Fame banquet, and Liz Massey — who is also a Cabot native — from television station KTHV will be the guest speaker.
This year’s honorees are Brannon; Dr. Sam Jirik; J.M. Park, posthumously; Steve Burks; and Shelby Galen Bryant.
• Brannon was nominated by Bobby Doyle and James Staats. Brannon joined KTHV in April 1996 as a weekend meteorologist. Two years later, he joined B.J. Sams and Robyn Richardson as co-anchor of THV This Morning. Brannon volunteers with charitable organizations such as the Arkansas Food Bank Network, Special Olympics and Stuff the Sleigh.
• Dr. Sam Jirik was nominated by Greg and Michelle Young, Tracy French, and Bob and Brenda Bailey. Jirik is a 1978 Cabot High School graduate and continued his education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in health science. He received a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Tennessee in 1986. Jirik has practiced general dentistry in Cabot since 1986. He serves on a number of professional associations. Jirik is also the only dentist in Arkansas who is a Fellow of American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Outside of his professional career, he is a member of First Baptist Church in Cabot.
• J.M. Park (1930-2011) was nominated by Dearl Dixon. Park graduated from Cabot High School in 1949, then from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1953. After his service in the U.S. Army in Korea, he returned to Cabot, where he began his 41-year career with the Bank of Cabot. During his time at the bank, he climbed to be president and chairman of the board before he retired in 1996. Park took a deep interest in his community, serving on the Cabot City Council, 19 years on the Cabot School Board, the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, the Cabot Water Commission, Lonoke County Safe Haven and the Cabot Lions Club.
For his community service, Park was three times elected as Cabot’s Man of the Year by the Cabot Chamber of Commerce. His service extended to the larger community of Arkansas. He served on the CARTI Board, the Arkansas Student Loan Authority, the Arkansas Independent Bankers Association and the board of Home BancShares. He was also the founding director of the Arkansas Bankers Bank,.
• Steve Burks was nominated by Mike Verkler. Burks graduated from Cabot High School in 1971, and that same year, he was named the Arkansas Democrat’s Male Athlete of the Year. He also set the Cabot school record for the decathlon, which he still holds. According to the NFL’s website, Burks played three seasons for the New England Patriots, 1975-1977. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1975 draft as a receiver after playing his collegiate career at Arkansas State University.
• Retired Brig. Gen. Shelby Galen Bryant was nominated by John C. Thompson. He graduated from Cabot High School in 1964. In 1968, Bryant enlisted as an airman basic in the Arkansas Air National Guard and was commissioned as a second lieutenant later that year. After completing pilot’s training, he became an instructor. He was ultimately promoted to brigadier general on March 30, 2000, and became chief of staff of the Arkansas Air National Guard in 1999. He served as assistant adjutant general for air and commander of the Headquarters Arkansas Air National Guard in 2004. He retired in August 2006.
“The Cabot Schools Hall of Fame was created in 2008 to celebrate the successes of public education by honoring talented graduates of the Cabot Public Schools, as well as local leaders who have provided distinguished service to influence public-school excellence,” Cabot Panther Foundation President Sarah Owens said.
The Cabot Panther Foundation added the Hall of Fame to the new Panther Arena that was completed this year. The banquets began not only to induct honorees into the Hall of Fame, but also as fundraisers for the foundation.
The Cabot Panther Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that was formed in 2006 to raise money and support the students of Cabot schools.
For more information on the foundation, visit the Cabot School District website at www.cabotschools.com.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame banquet are $25 each or $200 for a table of eight. To reserve tickets, contact Amanda Elizandro at (501) 843-3363, ext. 1059, or by email at Amanda.Elizandro@cps.k12.ar.us.
Staff writer Jeanni Brosius can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or jbrosius@arkansasonline.com