BLINN COLLEGE INDUCTS SIX INTO HALL OF HONOR

  

Blinn College inducted six new members today (Friday) into the Blinn Alumni and Friends Association Hall of Honor. 

A luncheon was held at the Brenham Campus Student Center to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of six individuals.  This year’s honorees are Don Adam, John Dujka, Joel Franke, Lillie Ann Turner-Beatty, Robert Giles and Charlie Matejowsky.

Don Adam is chairman and CEO of The Adam Corporation/Group, which is comprised of companies that include the banking industry, residential and commercial real estate development, country club ownership and management, insurance inspection, aircraft charter service, and thoroughbred horse breeding and racing. 

Adam spoke on the relationship he had with Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler and their connection to Blinn.

John Dujka is a musician who is known around Texas and the country.  He and his brother Mark have played polka music as “The Dujka Brothers” since 1986, and he also performs regularly with the Bluebonnet Opry in Brenham and the Fayette County Country Music Show in La Grange.  He has been a music instructor at Blinn for over 30 years and was honored in 2022 with an endowed scholarship in his name. 

Dujka thanked all those in his life who have guided him and brought him to where he is today.

The late Joel Franke taught for over 30 years at Blinn, joining the College in 1971 as a government instructor.  In 1983, he was named Division Chair of the Division of Social Sciences, a role he held until retiring in 2003.  Every year, the Texas Junior College Student Government Association honors his legacy with the Joel Franke Advisor of the Year Award, given to the best student government advisor in Texas.  

Joel’s widow, Pam, said teaching was his greatest passion.

Lillie Ann Turner-Beatty has worked in the insurance industry for 43 years and currently owns and operates Duncanville Insurance Services.  She was named Blinn’s homecoming queen in 1971, and upon attending Sam Houston State University, she joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, where she is still an active member and mentors young ladies that have aspirations to attend college.  In 2022, she organized a 50^th reunion of the Blinn College Ebony Club that donated an endowed scholarship on behalf of the organization.  She also supports homeless veterans by donating thousands of clean socks.  

Turner-Beatty credited her family with instilling in her the understanding of how important education is.

The late Robert Giles served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II and in the U.S. Air Force.  After retiring from the military, he studied to become an educator and spent the last 22 years of his career and life to teaching history at Blinn.  He was the Phi Theta Kappa sponsor for the Beta Alpha Chapter of PTK at Blinn for 20 of his 22 years at the College.  The Robert Giles Distinguished Advisor Award was created after his passing, and the Robert L. Giles/Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship was established in his memory. 

Christopher Giles Siemsglusz, Robert’s oldest grandson, said while he never met his grandfather, he has learned valuable lessons from what was passed on through his family.

Charlie Matejowsky is the vice president of financial sales and services at Van Dyke Rankin Insurance.  He formerly served as the head football coach and athletic director for Brenham ISD and as a public address announcer and track meet official at Blinn.  He has served as an ordained deacon and pastor at several area churches, was an original member of the Brenham ISD Foundation and an original organizer of the Blue Bell Fun Run, has been part of the Brenham Booster Club for over 40 years, helped revive the Little Dribblers youth basketball program and served in the Washington County Umpires Association. 

Matejowsky said he is humbled and honored by this recognition and wants the community to know how much of an impact they have had on him. 

Each year during homecoming week, Blinn celebrates its distinguished alumni, local business leaders and those who have made a significant impact in their communities or professions.