Pamela Lockwood-Cooke Named WT’s First Clair Mayes Professor in Mathematics

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — A new professorship named for a legendary Amarillo coach and teacher will be filled by longtime West Texas A&M University mathematics professor Dr. Pamela Lockwood-Cooke.

The Clair Mayes Professorship in Mathematics is the first such endowed professorship in the mathematics department, part of the University’s College of Engineering.

“I am so proud that mathematics would receive its first professorship, but to be the recipient is just overwhelming,” said Lockwood, WT’s associate dean of mathematics and director of the Attebury Honors Program.

Mayes, who received a master’s degree from WT in 1969, played football for the University of Oklahoma and competed with his team in three Sugar Bowl games, including in the national championship-winning squad in 1950. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1951, but was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he served as an office from 1952 to 1954.

He began his teaching and coaching career as one of the first faculty members at Palo Duro High School in 1955. He joined Tascosa High School’s administration in 1967, then was appointed assistant principal at Amarillo High School in 1971. In 1974, he began working at Amarillo College as director of vocational programs before ultimately retiring in 1995 after 40 years of working in Amarillo education. He died in April 2010.

For Lockwood, the professorship will serve as a reminder of the importance of primary and secondary educators, such as those who study under Lockwood and her WT colleagues.

“My parents are retired high school mathematics teachers who spent most of their careers in Floydada. My husband is a retired high school basketball coach. I have worked with high school teachers from across the Panhandle in our master’s program over the years that have achieved their master’s degree for the sole purpose of providing greater opportunities for their students,” Lockwood said. “Daily I am reminded of how important K-12 educators are to our future. Every day that these teachers walk into the classroom or onto the field or court is a day that they change lives.

“To be awarded a professorship that honors Coach Mayes, a lifelong educator in the classroom and on the field, is the highlight of my career thus far as an educator,” Lockwood said.

The impact on the College of Engineering “cannot be measured,” said Dr. Emily Hunt, dean.

“First, it honors mathematics and mathematics education, which is the cornerstone of critical thinking. The mathematics faculty teach all majors on campus and provide a foundation for problem solving that empowers students for the rest of their lives,” Hunt said. “Secondly, Dr. Lockwood has had a direct impact on the lives of students in numerous ways. She leads by example as a female in STEM and was one of the first women faculty members in STEM promoted to full professor at WT. She has tirelessly mentored students through their undergraduate education, as their MS thesis advisor, and through the Honors program. She knows which of our students are teaching at schools all over the Panhandle and takes great pride in their contribution to the next generation of mathematicians, engineers and future citizens.”

Gifts to WT, such as that which established the Mayes Professorship, may be used to endow professorships, offering opportunities for exceptional faculty members by providing additional resources for teaching, research and professional activities and development. Faculty members benefit from the coveted title, and students glean from the professor’s academic insight and leadership. This helps enrich the life of the University and strengthen the foundation of academic excellence.

“As WT prepares to go public in the fall with a comprehensive fundraising campaign, the highest priority will be investment in people — students, faculty and staff,” said Dr. Todd Rasberry, vice president for philanthropy and external relations. “Establishing faculty endowments are essential for WT to become a doctoral granting regional research university as envisioned in WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.”

The Mayes Professorship, established this year by an anonymous donor, will be filled by faculty members with a desire to mentor and inspire students in a positive way that is consistent with Coach Mayes’ legacy.

Lockwood joined WT in 1999. She earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Texas Tech University in 1992, and a master of science and a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from Tech in 1994 and 1998, respectively.

Other recently announced professorships include Dr. Patricia J. Tyrer, the first Jenny Lind Porter Professor of English; Dr. Marty Kuhlman, the first Jenny Lind Porter Professor of History; Dr. Mary Liz Brooks, the first Jenny Lind Porter Professor of Communication; Dr. Jeffry Babb, the first Stan Sigman Professor of Business; Dr. Beth Garcia, the first Sylvia Nugent Professor of Education; Dr. Bruce Brasington, the first Twanna Caddell Powell Professor of History; and Dr. Shanna Peeples, the Dr. John G. O’Brien Distinguished Chair in Education.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. With enrollment of more than 10,000, WT offers 60 undergraduate degree programs, 40 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 15 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WTAMU—