Beth Riley Thames, Spring, serves as the coordinator of the Texas Bluebonnet Award after retiring from 34 years in Aldine ISD. She and her husband, John Thames `74 are enjoying granddaughter Samantha, daughter of Scott `04 and Katie Thames Chirhart `03.
An absorbing tale of grand dreams, shady politics, daring engineering experiments, greed, ambition, and westward expansion, Rails across the Mississippi is the first book-length history since 1881 to document the planning, financing, and construction of the first bridge across the Mississippi River at St. Louis, a national engineering landmark completed in 1874 that is now known as the Eads Bridge.
“I believe in the worth and dignity of individuals. I believe in value-centered education. I believe in looking at life’s issues from a balanced perspective.”
Rick received the 2001 Hall of Fame Award from District IV of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. The award honors a professional who no longer works in a formal advancement operation but has made a long-term impact on the profession, institution and district. Eason is now a consultant with Marts & Lundy, an advancement consulting firm.