MHS / LHS Teacher Billy Gilbreath Inducted into LHS “Wall of Honor”
Long-term MHS / LHS biological sciences teacher Billy Gilbreath was recently inducted into the Robert E.
Lee High School Legacy Wall of Honor. The Wall of Honor is an award open to LHS students and faculty /
staff members who make a contribution to a “substantial profession”. Awards are made to people who
are good role models.
Upon being notified of the award, Mr. Gilbreath wrote that “Annalon and I both had . . . tears of joy at
the honor.”
Mr. Gilbreath served as a teacher of biology and physiology first at Midland High and then at Lee High
starting in the fall of 1961. He was a school master of the Mr. Chips variety. His classes in biology and
physiology were well taught. However, his most important lessons were not the subject matter but the
way he helped teach a generation of students how to live a better life and be better people. During his
35 years as a teacher in Midland, he was loved by the students. And many remember his gifted platform
manner and leadership with affection.
Mr. Gilbreath attended Winona High School in Winona, Minnesota, graduating in 1949. He graduated
from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.
Mr. Gilbreath was nominated for the Wall of Honor by MHS / LHS class of 1962 members Betty Melzer
Moore, Mike Goslin, and others. In her letter of recommendation, Betty wrote that “several [of us] have
had science careers and have remembered him as influencing our lives”. Betty recently retired as a
teacher of a special program serving LHS, MHS, and Greenwood HS and was chairperson of the MHS /
LHS class of 1962 reunion. In his letter of recommendation, Mike Goslin wrote: “Mr. Gilbreath served
as a role model and inspiration for my own career in academia”; and “No teacher compares in the
respect and affection our class holds for this fine man.” Mike was student body president during the
1961 – 1962 inaugural year of LHS. He recently retired from his position as Professor of Sociology at
Tallahassee Community College in Florida.
Contact information for Mr. Billy Gilbreath
bgilbreath32@hotmail.com
6013 78th Street Lubbock, Tx 79424
806 368-6244
Comments of Billy Gilbreath on receiving the Award
From: billy gilbreath <bgilbreath1949@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Apr 27, 2013 at 8:57 AM
Subject: Wall of Honor
To: Betty Moore <bettymoore79701@gmail.com>
Hello Betty. I just received a letter from the principal at Lee High School concerning the selection for
this year. Annalon and I both had a session of tears of joy at the honor. You will never know the
feelings I have and all because of the efforts of you and others who wrote letters. It never could have
happened without the forward movement of you and the class reunion group. I will keep you informed
of the events being planned. Please send my thanks for all of those who took the time and effort to
prepare letters. With much appreciation, Billy
Nomination Letter Submitted by Betty Melzer Moore
March 1, 2013
Betty M. Moore
Administrator of Class of 62 website (http://www.classreport.org/usa/tx/midland/mhs/1962/
1604 McClintic
Midland, Texas 79701
Bettymoore79701@gmail.com 432 559-6886
Lee High School / Midland High School
Lee Senior High School
Attn: Debbie Imken
3500 Neely Avenue
Midland, Texas 79707
To whom it may concern,
On behalf of our class of 1962, we as a group would like to nominate Billy Gilbreath to the Lee Legacy
Wall of Honor. He was our science teacher (Biology and Physiology) at Midland High and then Lee High
when many of our senior classmates attended there the school year of 1961-62. Mr. Gilbreath taught at
Lee High its very first year and continued teaching there until the 90’s when he retired after 35 years of
service. He now resides In Lubbock and attended our 50th reunion this past fall. Many of us have kept
in touch with Mr. Gilbreath through the years and several have had science careers and have
remembered him as influencing our lives. We have submitted several recommendations letters from
our classmates, among them a letter from the first Class President of Lee High School, Mike Goslin.
We are also including just a few of the biographies wherein Mr. Gilbreath was mentioned and
remembered.
I personally remember him as my Biology teacher at Midland High in 1960 and also remember his class
and teaching style vividly.
We have been in touch with Mr. Gilbreath recently and he has submitted for your convenience many of
his honors, credentials, and awards. If you would need anything from him, he is aware that we as a class
are nominating him. His present address is 6013 78th Street and his phone number is 806 368-6244
Any questions you may have, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Betty Melzer Moore, Administrator of website for Midland High School and Lee High School Class of 62
Enclosures
Letters of recommendation or biography enclosures of 1962 graduates Mike Goslin, Kay Blevins Cox,
Jean Fitzpatrick Johnson, Marilyn Cross Harper, and former student Allen Chase
Articles from Midland Reporter Telegram
Listing of awards bestowed on Billy Gilbreath (3)
Professional documentation
Nomination Letter Submitted by Mike Goslin
515 N. Ride
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
January 26, 2013
Chairman
Legacy Committee
Robert E. Lee High School
RE: Mr. Billy Gilbreath
Dear Sir or Madam:
The purpose of my letter is to support the nomination of Mr. Gilbreath to the Lee Hall of Fame. I am
honored to write this letter in his behalf, because I can think of few people more deserving than this
teacher of science.
In 1960 I was a student in Mr. Gilbreath’s biology class at Midland High. It was an experience that I’ve
long remembered. Mr. Gilbreath combined serious pursuit of learning and professionalism, while also
caring personally for his students. It is often said that one goes into teaching because he/she had able
teachers. Mr. Gilbreath served as a role model and inspiration for my own career in academia.
With the advent of the new school (Lee) in 1961, Mr. Billy Gilbreath was a charter member of its faculty
and continued to teach for the next three decades, serving as Chairman of the Science Department for
several years.
In the 50th Reunion of the Lee Class of 1962 Mr Gilbreath was in attendance again as he has been over
the years. No teacher compares in the respect and affection our class holds for this fine man. I am
confident that the classes that came after ours would express similar sentiments.
It is altogether fitting to honor this esteemed teacher by adding his name to the Lee Hall of Fame.
Sincerely yours,
Michael E. Goslin, Ph.D.
President, Student Government
Lee Class of 1962